Mats Zuccarello knows that the victory against the Los Angeles Kings was significant for the Minnesota Wild, and he clarified what that win meant for all of his teammates. Head coach John Hynes also shared some interesting thoughts about the team and the win.
According to comments collected by Joe Smith for The Athletic, Zuccarello emphasized how important the Wild’s win over the Kings was, saying, “I think it was huge for all of us,” knowing that before this game, they had lost to the Rangers and Blues. Reflecting on the more recent loss, the 37-year-old veteran admitted it was embarrassing.
Zuccarello acknowledged the team’s recent losses, recognizing that they made mistakes, just like everyone else: “We’re human beings as well, you know. We care.” He also criticized the Wild’s recent performance, saying, “So I think everything just — you feel like you’re playing worse than you are. Like those couple of games that we lost, I felt like we played good, we could have won. A couple of games we lost, deservedly.”
Hynes also spoke honestly, saying, “I think there’s so much noise and probably criticism and things of, ‘well you can’t score’ and it’s hard to play that way.” He acknowledged how negatively the team has been talked about but emphasized that playing in the league isn’t easy, adding, “It’s the NHL. Every night is a hard night. You got to find ways to win, and just because you don’t, sometimes the scoring doesn’t come easy.”
Zuccarello Knows the Wild Is a Dangerous Team
The victory against the Kings showcased the Wild’s strong form, and Zuccarello acknowledged it, stating, “Yeah, we have some bad games, we have some tough stretches, but there’s always a bounce-back. There’s always a response. To me, what we showed tonight was what makes us a really good team. We’ve got a hell of a hockey team.”
see also
Ranking all 32 NHL teams by social media popularity: Who has the most followers?
Hynes Ready to Utilize Both Goalies
Hynes has a clear strategy for managing Gustavsson, recognizing his strong performance against the Kings, while also keeping Fowler ready for other games. The coach said, “There’s a lot of hockey, so you’re going to need both guys. The schedule right now lends itself, where you can go with Gus a little bit right now. Flower does a good job of staying sharp. We’re going to need both players.”
