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ST. PAUL - The Wild first put together a line of Marcus Foligno, Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi. That line provided the Wild with a strong first line and really propelled Rossi and Boldy for the four games they were together.
But with Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek coming back into the lineup on Wednesday, the Wild constructed a line that shall be referred to as the 'BEEF' line.
Instead of the Wild’s old 'GREEF' line with Jordan Greenway with Eriksson Ek and Foligno, Boldy has now taken the spot.
Boldy and Foligno have played the last five games together on a line. Boldy has two goals and seven assists in that span. Foligno has one goal, three assists, and 18 hits.
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'He's A Huge Part': Marcus Foligno Has Brought A Different Element To Wild's Top LineST. PAUL - Ever since Wild head coach John Hynes moved Marcus Foligno to the top line, Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy have been playing better. We all know the chemistry between Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello so Wild head coach John Hynes elected to put Rossi between the two based on previous success. Earlier in the season that line was one of the best in the league in terms of creating chances.
“Yeah, for sure. I think with Ekky coming back, obviously we know his style of game, and I think moose has played really well all season for us,” Hynes said before the game about rolling the BEEF line in the playoffs. “But I think as of late, even with Rossi and Boldy, he has been a major factor. His physical presence, turning pucks over and allowing those guys to get scoring chances and some big goals for us. I think that line's had three goals in three games. So there is a possibility of that combination of guys. I think the way that moose is playing, and hopefully Ekky comes back and can get right up to speed in the way that he plays, then you're adding another big, strong, physical presence that plays the game hard and has the ability to score.”
Well, in the debut of the new line, the trio combined for four goals and six assists on 15 shots and nine hits.
"Yeah, I feel like I don't have to really do anything,” Boldy said on playing with them. “They just go on the forecheck, get the puck back and try to make plays. But they're special. I think moose has been great the last handful of games I've been playing with him. Just hunting pucks, getting them back, and physical. And then you got Ekky. I don't think anyone can take the puck from him. He's a beast. So, like I said, I just let them do hard work and I sit there and wait for it."
Eriksson Ek's first goal of the game was one of the best executed goals by a line I have seen in a while. It all started when Eriksson Ek came guns a blazing into the offensive zone to pressure Alex Wennberg in the corner.
Wennberg tried to avoid a big hit from Eriksson Ek and turned the puck over. Boldy picked up the loose puck as he was in on the forecheck as well, then found Foligno in the high slot.
Foligno wrapped it around the net as Eriksson Ek went hard to the blue paint. Foligno went behind the net and centered it for Eriksson Ek who got a shot off despite having four Sharks on him.
His first shot was stopped but Eriksson Ek did not give up on the play. He barreled his way through and got the rebound before banging home his first of four goals on the night.
Foligno and Eriksson Ek are the two strongest guys on the team. You can't move them. The way they play is hard and physical and it's the only way they know how to play. Eriksson Ek's presence was enough for Wennberg to turn the puck over in the corner. It was all because he didn't want to be hit by Eriksson Ek who was quickly approaching.
Boldy then out-muscled his guy on the boards and centered it to Foligno. Despite four Sharks players in front of the net, none of them could out-muscle Eriksson Ek.
"I mean he only knows one way," Hynes said on Eriksson Ek. "That’s the thing with Ekky, that’s how he plays. As I said, I thought that those guys are workhorses. When they said that they’re going to be ready to play, you knew that they were going to be ready to play the way that they need to play. And that’s how Ekky plays, regardless of the situation."
Nonetheless, if Wednesday was a precursor to what we could see out of that line in the playoffs, holy crap watch out.
"Yeah, you know what? Both players are special. They are so big and strong on pucks, but also have the skill set that makes anyone want to be around them on a given night. I'm happy to find chemistry with those guys," Foligno said. "I think they are two players that whoever they play with, they make them better and I have been a benefactor of that. It's one of those things that if I play my game, they appreciate it, work hard and that makes me want to do my job even more. The way we have been getting chemistry is big and now you get Ekker back, it can be scary."
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