Simple Switch Producing Big Results For Wild's Vanek
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- You can point to Devan Dubnyk as the biggest reason the Wild are in the playoffs.
And you'd be right.
But give Thomas Vanek a lot of credit, too.
Sure, point to the arrival of Dubnyk for Minnesota's resurgence. But Vanek's resurgence after a rough start to his arrival in Minnesota can't be understated.
"I think if you feel good about your game, it's easier going into the game than when you're gripping the stick a little tight and you're trying so hard to score," Vanek said.
He scored just one goal in his first 21 games with the Wild. Before the Dubnyk trade, he had just seven in 42 games.
Since then, he's scored 14 goals in 38 games -- double the output in fewer outings. No one on the Wild other than Zach Parise has more goals or points since.
Not many in the whole league do, for that matter.
"He's scored some huge goals for us, made big plays," Parise said. "And I think that's what we all expected from him offensively."
Vanek attributes most of this to finally getting to play his natural position -- left wing. After being shuffled around the lineup all year trying to find a fit -- and often having to play right wing -- he found a home March 10, when he was moved to left wing on the third line with Charlie Coyle and Justin Fontaine. He scored twice that first night and has stayed there ever since, with seven goals in the 14 games.
"Going from the right side to the left side back to the right was a little bit difficult for me, because I'm mainly used to playing on the left," Vanek said. "A lot of this game is confidence, and I think once I got put on a line with Charlie and Justin there, I think we kind of got it going pretty good."
Seems like such a simple thing, moving from one side of the ice to the other, but it's made a big difference.
"It's not as simple as it seems, I guess, from an outside perspective," Vanek said. "I think for me on the left side, I've played there my whole life. So I know every angle of the ice. And shooting and passing. When I stop up. If it's low or higher. Where guys should be. And then you flip-flop sides, it's a little bit harder."
The Wild are in Nashville to face the Predators Thursday night. The puck drops at 7 p.m.