Wilbur

This will be an excellent test for us defensively. Mike Hastings teams will make you pay in the d zone for any shortcomings you may have. Ludvig will get a bit more of a workout. Tough to get into a game with 13 shots, 3 of them breakaways.

I thought that too. He's the reason the puck went across to Gaber.

I'm not sure if it was a set play or not, but if you watch Perron's goal again either A) Berg missed the pass from Gaber in the slot, or B) He purposely let the puck go by to Perron on his off wing for the clapper. If it's B then that's a great hockey play getting all eyes on Berg in the middle for Perron to find space. If it's A, then still a play we will remember with Perron getting his first.

Just a different look in goal this year. DeRidder all over the map, and Ludvig calm and no over movement, keeping his feet a few times as well. The post have helped him a time or two tonight on loose defensive plays.

This guy didn't read his roster close enough....man..... Need a cheat sheet with all these new numbers.

Being able to use Strinden and Albrecht for the PK is huge. Top three lines look good. Blake dominates every shift. See if he does it against Bucky.

Whit Merrifield will likely be a free agent soon. Wonder if the Twins will have interest.

And so it begins. Should be a team that we can run out of the rink tonight. Tomorrow, I dunno..... Goal Scorers: Blake, Perron, Gaber, Ness, McLaughlin. 5-1 Book it.

Post 2023 season thoughts: I'll give credit again to @SiouxBoys for putting me in my place on Correa way back when. The guy is a winner, and a leader. I wish we saw it more throughout the season, but the guy is our shortstop for the next five years thankfully (please get healthy). I think there is some promise there with the young kids. Our young bullpen arms give me a lot of hope. Duran should be here forever, Varland, Jax, Stewart, tons to be excited about. I could see them holding on to Pagan as a low leverage guy, but his numbers will get him some bigger money elsewhere. I don't know what you do with a Thielbar because the new face three batters rule just doesn't set up nicely for him, but you have Funderburk, who just doesn't have the velocity at this point. We've got Pablo, Ryan, Ober, Paddack as starters coming back, maybe Sonny sticks around, but thats going to cost them some money. Lineup wise we need to add a right handed hitter with some pop to play left field or first base. Or maybe you trade for one, we have a million outfielders at the moment. Got to get guys healthy now and 100% going into spring. Buxton has had two at bats since August. There are no excuses for him not to be 100% next April. If he was needing surgery they should have done it in August. Lastly, we need to take advantage of playing in the AL Central. There is no reason that this team coming back can't win 95 games next year and get a bye and host an ALDS series. You've can't lose 3 of 4 at home to Detroit, can't get swept by the Royals, can't let a Cleveland team stay with you down the stretch. I know its an unbelievably long season and you are going to lose a lot of games along the way, but win those series that you are supposed to win. The longest winning streak they had this year was 5 games. No reason they can't get on an 8-10 game streak with the division opponents that they have, albeit they don't play them as much anymore, but they do have stretches where they play them a lot. Fun run at the end, nice to see them get the monster losing streak off their back.

I told you all we missed out on Fighting Sun Dogs.....I fricken told you.....

Way too early look at next year's lineup. 1. Julien-2B 2. Lewis-3B 3. Correa-SS 4. Buxton-DH 5. Wallner-RF 6. Kiriloff-1B (Or a free agent) 7. Jeffers/Vasquez-C 8. Larnach/Castro-LF 9. CF-TBD....Can Brooks Lee play here? Imagine Farmer back, maybe Nick Gordon. Solano a free agent. Going to have a lot of cash after they buy out Kepler and Polanco. I'd only bring Polanco back on a restructured deal. Pitching wise they are in the best spot they've been in for many years. If Sonny doesn't come back they've still got four guys that can go 150 plus innings. February a long ways away.

A change is needed in the philosophy at the plate. Wow did they strike out....a lot. Got the monkey off their back, but lost to a more complete team. Interesting off season ahead.

Probably not.

Polanco. Royce, Kepler..... Down to this.

Hey, he at least put it in play.

He's for sure in for 6 outs.

8th inning. Looks like Duran. That leaves only Pagan after him.

All the right moves except Thielbar IMHO. Paddack, and Jax lights out.

Really a step in a great direction for Paddack. Could be excellent next season.

I think they should've pitched around Abreu. That's a terrible match up....then he gets the lefty and have Paddack come in. Instead it's 3-1.

Thielbar in now? Thought you'd use him later.

Got to battle here guys. Not even fouling off pitches.

I'd say let Stewart go another inning.

3. Stewart 4. Stewart 5. Paddack 6. Varland 7. Varland 8. Jax 9. Duran

Lavelle just tweeted he's out next inning.