Much of the work the Wild did at Saturday's practice was focused on unclogging the neutral zone, hoping that will provide some flow for the team's offense.
While being outscored 7-3, outshot 84-37 and falling behind 0-2 in their first-round playoff series with Winnipeg, the Wild has had its offense through the neutral zone disrupted by the Jets.
"Our play through the neutral zone with the puck hasn't been good, at all,'' said Zach Parise, who scored the Wild's lone goal Friday, making him the Wild's all-time playoff goal leader (13). "That's a big reason we're not getting offensive zone time. We're getting stymied in the neutral zone a lot. So, if we can be cleaner with that, get a little more speed through there, hopefully it would back them off a little bit and allow us to get some entries.''
Easier said than done.
Jason Zucker said the Jets have run what he called a version of the 1-2-2 trap in which they don't contest the first pass, then apply significant pressure after that. "They're staying very patient,'' Zucker said. "They're aggressive, but they sit back. They let our D-men have control and one guy kind of forcing. And then, once you start coming up, they have two guys kind of waiting in the weeds. So, if you come with speed, they're in trouble.''
Problem is getting that speed.
"We understand [the Jets] are doing a great job in the neutral zone," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "They're not giving us much space. A lot of it is what we're doing. If we start doing it correctly, maybe we'll get pucks deep and we'll be able to get in on the forecheck.''
Reunited line
Boudreau had Zucker, Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund back together as a line at practice Saturday. That group combined for 26 points in a three-game stretch earlier this season. The three combined for one point — Granlund's assist — in the first two games of this series.
