Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Minnesota’s anemic offense needs ‘attack mentality,’ says Yeo

mikeyeogetty

One of the Wild’s main areas of concern last year was a lack of scoring -- the team only averaged 2.46 goals per game, 22nd in the league.

This year, the lack of offensive production (2.11 goals per game) is an issue once again.

That’s why head coach Mike Yeo is stressing a need for creativity and aggression heading into tonight’s affair with Nashville, hoping the Wild can bust out of a slump that’s seen them score just five goals over the last four games.

“We’ve got to create more chances. We have to have an attack mentality,” Yeo told Fox Sports Minnesota. “When there’s an opportunity to finish, we’ve got to finish.”

Getting pucks on goal hasn’t been a problem thus far. Minnesota is averaging 30 per game.

The power play isn’t an issue, either. The Wild are going at a 26.3 percent clip, fourth-best in the NHL.

But it’s at even strength where the team suffers. Minnesota only has nine 5-on-5 goals this year -- third-fewest in the league -- are is the only team in the league with more power-play goals than even strength ones.

According to Zach Parise, the solution to these goalscoring woes is simple -- less perimeter play, more guys crashing the goal.

“Right now, we’ve just got our guy in the high slot waiting for a one-timer, and our other guys on the outside,” he told the Minnesota Star-Tribune. “That’s not how you score. We need to get some guys going through the middle and getting around the net, penetrating the defense a little bit.’’