ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Wild controls the puck most of the time, and players are getting quality looks on net.
But the power play still hasn't been able to deliver and in a goaltending stalemate Monday against the Ducks, that was the difference in a 1-0 loss at Honda Center.
"Honestly, it's a matter of execution," coach Dean Evason said after the game during a virtual interview. "As much as we've worked on it literally every day, there's a little bit of a chemistry thing going on probably is our thought.
"No question it needs to score. I'm not making excuses for it. It needs to help us in a hockey game like this, there's no question. But we're staying the course with it, that's for sure."
Like it did from Game 1 to Game 2 in Los Angeles, the Wild (2-1) switched up its look with the man advantage against Anaheim.
One unit included four forwards (Kirill Kaprizov, Zach Parise, Kevin Fiala and Nick Bonino) and the other featured three defensemen (Matt Dumba, Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin). By loading up on defensemen, the Wild was hoping to release Dumba's shot down low, but the team couldn't get any pucks by Ducks goalie John Gibson – who posted 34 saves for the shutout.
Overall, the Wild power play is now 0-for-16 this season.
"We've hit pipes," Parise said. "We've missed some good looks. We could have a couple, but unfortunately we have a zero there and that's all that really matters at this point."
