John Torchetti’s arrival helped generate a momentary burst from the Minnesota Wild, but now they’re gasping from another brutal punch to the gut.
In Thursday’s case, it came via a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, a game that ended in regulation thanks to an absolutely bonkers save by Michal Neuvirth will mere seconds remaining.
Sam Gagner called the save “disgusting,” an analysis that likely left his Wild opponents sadly nodding their heads.
Gagner: Just a disgusting save
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) February 26, 2016
NHL.com’s Dan Myers took a few screens of it:
These are taken as close to the puck hitting the stick as I can get it. Puck appears to hit the ‘U’ in ‘BAUER'. pic.twitter.com/AAGe5tSVAw
— Dan Myers (@DanMyers) February 26, 2016
Here’s the GIF:
ARE. YOU. KIDDING. pic.twitter.com/wHjwwY2iEq
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) February 26, 2016
Minnesota is now 27-24-10 with two straight defeats, and this one stings. Does this nudge GM Chuck Fletcher even a little bit from his stance that the Wild might be buyers?
#MNWild GM Chuck Fletcher: "We're not looking to sell. We expect to make the playoffs."
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) February 26, 2016
For emphasis: The league determined that the puck didn’t cross the line.
Wild coach John Torchetti: "We missed this game by a half an inch."We have to give another inch more."
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) February 26, 2016