Game Thirty-Five: Wild 1, Flames 2

There's just something about playing in the Saddledome that dooms the Minnesota Wild. They've floundered there, and they entered Monday night's game against the Calgary Flames one defensemen short (said defensemen happened to be the team captain), fresh off of a stinging blowout loss against the Chicago Blackhawks, and still missing their most potent offensive player.

And they almost pulled it off. The Wild played the Flames tight, hard, and strong all game long, and if it wasn't for a few bounces going for Calgary instead of for Minnesota, this game could have had a very different result. When even Derek Boogaard is able to generate offensive chances, somethings clicking, and, while the Wild couldn't solve Miikka Kiprusoff, they found a way to get pressure going, and have to look at the Calgary loss as a step in the right direction. Of course, this is the NHL, and there's no time to dwell on the good or bad, as the Wild take the ice again on New Year's Eve.

Game pluses:
- Stephane Veilleux. Veilleux's goal was shot so hard the officials almost didn't call it. The fiery redhead looks like he's starting to pick up his intensity.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The Wild spark plug was once again a physical force on the ice, and almost got himself a goal thanks to good follow through.
- Josh Harding. He took the loss, and blamed himself at the end of the game. But, in truth, Harding's played spectacularly in the few games he's been called on. The Wild just haven't found a way to get him any goal support.

Game minuses:
- Special teams. Not only do the Wild not convert any of their own power plays, but both of Calgary's goals came on special teams, with the winner coming while the Flames were shorthanded.
- Benoit Pouliot. Maybe the Wild is snake bit in the Saddledome, but it certainly doesn't help when a player on a breakaway loses the puck through poor stick handling.
- Antti Miettinen. Another botched breakaway, this time because Miettinen decided to look for the pass when he had an open shot.

Next up: The schedule stays tough for the Wild, as they face the best in the NHL on New Year's Eve, playing against the 28-4-4 San Jose Sharks.

Game Thirty-Four: Wild 1, Blackhawks 4

The Minnesota Wild got an early Christmas present on December 23rd, with a game against an Eastern Conference opponent. On December 28th, it was a return to the West, and, even worse for Minnesota, the opponent was the red-hot Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks entered the game on an 8-game winning streak, and hadn't lost in the month of December. Meanwhile, the Wild's been lucky to win in that same stretch of time.

This game was over well before the final minute had ticked off the clock, as well. The Blackhawks outplayed the Wild in every area of the ice, except for hits, and the Wild proceeded to spot Chicago a three-goal lead. Minnesota never really got skating well, and they were badly outshot all game long.

An interesting note, as we mentioned before, was the Wild's decision to keep Marian Gaborik out of the line-up. Either Gaby is still nursing back to health, or the Wild is shopping him around and look to move him soon. Not much else makes sense, especially for a team that now finds itself in 11th place in the conference.

Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. Physical play, open ice checks, and a beautiful breakaway goal. He brought a spark to a team that needs something to get itself going.
- Krys Kolanos. Kolanos played a physical game as well, and almost created opportunities.
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu may not have been able to help the puck find the net, but he continued scrapping for every inch of real estate he could get, and his skill alone created chances.

Game minuses:
- First goal. Again, the Minnesota Wild are not a team that comes back easily. When skating against the fast, young, and aggressive Blackhawks, the first goal alone made a mountain for Minnesota to climb.
- Defense. None of the team's defenders played well. One of the worst, at least when it came to puck control, was team captain Kim Johnsson. Any doubts that the "C" will be getting moved again in a couple of days?
- Antti Miettinen. The defense wasn't the only thing that was bad. Chicago's first goal came from right in front of Miettinen, on a puck that, depending on the camera angle, it looked like he might have accidentally tipped in. Miettinen has looked lost on the ice for more than a month.

Next up: It doesn't get any easier for Minnesota, as tonight they head to Calgary to play the 20-11-4 Calgary Flames. The Wild are only 2 points out of 8th in the Conference, but they're also only 5 points away from the bottom of the pile.

Game Thirty-Three: Wild 3, Hurricanes 2

At the start of the game, it looked like the Minnesota Wild were going to give the Carolina Hurricanes a gift. Less than two minutes into the second period, and the Wild, falling fast in the standings, found themselves in a two-goal hole. That's when the line of Marian Gaborik, Mikko Koivu, and Andrew Brunette was assembled, and, from that point on, it was a very different game.

The Wild came out with three unanswered goals, and didn't give the lead up for the remainder of the game, including during a long 5-on-3 disadvantage. While Carolina had some chances down the stretch, the Wild, and goalie Niklas Backstrom, stood strong in the end, entering the holiday break with a win.

Minnesota will need to take that win and keep moving forward, especially with the news that Gaborik will be held out by the team for the first two games after the break. Could this mean a trade is looming? The team says, "No", but it is one of the few things that makes sense as to why Gaby is being kept out of the line-up.

Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. He got the Wild on the scoreboard, and assembled enough hits to take over the team record for hits in a season. Clutterbuck has provided some much needed grit to the roster.
- Marian Gaborik. He tallied the tying goal, and assisted on Clutterbuck's goal. Maybe he should play with Koivu and Brunette more often.
- Penalty killers. Not only did they kill off the full two minutes at 5-on-3, but it was a shorthanded goal by Stephane Veilleux that decided the game.

Game minuses:
- Early scoring. Again, the Wild couldn't get the puck into the net in the first period, and again, they had to play from behind.
- Antti Miettinen. After Krys Kolanos took a bad penalty, Miettinen took a worse one, giving the 'Canes that game-changing 5-on-3. Luckily for the Wild, they killed the penalty off.
- Nick Schultz. True, he started the play that lead to Veilleux's goal. He also was the direct cause of Carolina's second goal.

Next up: The Wild have a long break, not playing again until Sunday, when they face the 18-6-7 Chicago Blackhawks.

Games Thirty-One and Thirty-Two

Call it one step forward, one giant leap back. On Friday night, the Wild took on one of the weakest teams in the Eastern Conference, and came out with a resounding 4-1 victory. On Saturday, they took on one of the weakest teams in the Western Conference, and found themselves on the losing end of a 4-2 tilt.

When it rains it pours, huh? It's not like the Wild haven't been getting chances, but too many missed nets, hit posts, and shots straight into the goaltender have made an already anemic offensive team look even worse. While the Wild are playing well against the East, they reside in the West, and need to piece things together quickly if they want to find themselves on the inside of the playoff bubble.

To make matters worse, the Wild also lost Marc-Andre Bergeron to injury during Saturday's game. While Bergeron hasn't been stellar defensively, the Wild will definitely miss his 16 points from the blue line. And, with the holiday roster freeze in effect until the 27th, no help will be coming before tonight's game against Carolina.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu was captain for the winningest November in team history, and has continued to play well without the "C". Maybe it's time to give it back.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The kid's continued to play a physical game, and should eclipse the team record for hits tonight. He's also starting to find his NHL shot.
- Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Could the playmaker be settling down? A couple of good games could help Bouchard find his game, after a rough start to the season.

Game minuses:
- Goal, then let-up. The Wild have had a habit all season of surrendering a goal quickly after scoring. They can't allow that to continue.
- Scoring first. The Wild haven't put the first tally on the board in eight games. Minnesota is not a team that can easily come from behind.
- Lines. We know coach Jacques Lemaire likes to juggle lines, but leaving Marian Gaborik on the third line until late in the game makes little to no sense. Sure, he's recovering from an injury, but he's also the biggest offensive threat. Partner him regularly with Koivu or PMB, and things might turn around.

Next up: The Wild look to enter the Christmas break on a strong note, but have to go through 16-13-5 Carolina Hurricanes to do so. The Wild take their 8-1-1 record against the East into the game, while the Hurricanes are only 3-4-1 against the West.

Game Thirty: Wild 2, Flames 3 (OT)

When you're struggling with a long losing streak, it's hard to see any positives. And yet, the Minnesota Wild need to see some positives from their game Wednesday night against the Calgary Flames. True, the Wild dropped their sixth game in a row, but they were able to gain a point in the standings for the first time since December 3. And, while he may not be long for the team, Marian Gaborik was back on the ice to remind the Wild of what they have.

True, Gaborik had rust to shake off, but after having missed twenty-seven games thus far this season, it was good to see him work the puck and contribute the flashes of brilliance he is so well known for. In fact, Gaborik contibuted to both Minnesota goals, setting up Andrew Brunette for the first, and taking the feed from Brunette for the second.

Unfortunately for the Wild, Todd Bertuzzi got a great opportunity in the overtime period, and he was able to bury the shot, closing out the game for the Flames in dramatic fashion. While the season hasn't even reached the midpoint, the Wild have to find a way to quickly restore the magic they had for the early part of the season.

Game pluses:
- Marian Gaborik. Was he flawless with the puck? Not by a long shot. And yet, he was able to get two big points, helping the Wild at least force overtime.
- Andrew Brunette. Bruno seemed to be the player who got the most benefit from the return of #10, as he notched a goal and an assist of his own.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The kid has been playing with a spark all season, and that spark is starting to turn into chances to skate with players like Mikko Koivu and Marian Gaborik. Not only does he provide a front-of-net presence, but he can be an intimidating force.


Game minuses:
- Kim Johnsson. Calgary's go-ahead goal after the 1-1 tie came after Johnsson tipped the puck towards a Flames player. The only good thing was that he tipped it away from Jerome Iginla.
- Antti Miettinen. Not only has Miettinen gone ice-cold since his early hot streak, but his errant pass lead to Todd Bertuzzi's game winner.
- The Bergeron/Zidlicky pairing. Maybe they were just victimized by Miettinen's pass, but Bergeron and Zidlicky together have not been consistent on defense. Maybe it's time for the Wild to work a little different defensive rotation.


Next up: The Wild need to get things moving, and facing another struggling team might be enough to get Minnesota back into the top 8 teams in the conference. They play the 10-18-3 New York Islanders tonight.

Games Twenty-Eight and Twenty-Nine

The Wild fared poorly in California, and are now in the middle of their longest losing streak in team history. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings beat the Wild 3-1 in a game deserved to be much more lopsided. In fact, the empty net goal scored by the Kings was a goal that had been earned much earlier, thanks to the play of the two teams. The Kings came out playing hard, and the Wild couldn't do anything more than chase the puck for the full 60 minutes. Honestly, if the Wild had found a way to stage a comeback against Los Angeles and force an overtime period, it would have been an undeserved gift. In fact, the sloppy play looked like it might lead to a return for a certain player with a bad lower body.

That wasn't meant to be, as Marian Gaborik sat again on Sunday, when the Wild ended up falling to the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 4-2. Admittedly, the Wild was able to tie the game at 2, and they played with more intensity, but costly defensive mistakes, one by team captain Kim Johnsson, cost the Wild the game in the end of it.

Speaking of team captains, ever since Johnsson took over the captain's "C" from Mikko Koivu, the Wild have been disjointed. While the return of Gaborik, which could happen Wednesday, should allow Brent Burns to return to the blue line and give some rest to the defensemen who haven't been sharp, it might be in the Wild's best interest to switch up captains before January starts. The Wild started the month of December in first place in the Northwest Division. Now, they're struggling to hold a playoff position, barely within the top eight teams in the conference.

Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. In the King's game, if it hadn't been for a great performance by Backstrom, the Wild wouldn't have had a chance after the first 20 minutes. The team should work on his contract extension right now.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The kid continues to provide a spark with his checks, and he's got a shot that will find the net eventually. He needs to continue getting the time on the ice.
- Eric Belanger. He scored a goal and an assist in the Anaheim game. If he continues to find an offensive touch, it'll take the pressure off of Gaborik and Koivu.

Game minuses:
- Kim Johnsson. Another game at -3. He hasn't played as a captain throughout this month, and, as a result, the entire blue line is in disarray.
- Shots. Again, the Wild keeps skating and trying to make the perfect pass to get a clear shot. When you aren't scoring a lot, you just need to throw the puck at the net, and fight for a rebound.
- Intensity. The Wild started to find some intensity against Anaheim, but had absolutely none against Los Angeles. Will a division opponent get a spark back into the team?

Next up: The Wild face the 16-11-3 Calgary Flames, with perennial Wild killers Jerome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf. Will Gaborik's presence on the ice fix the Wild's problems?

Game Twenty-Seven: Wild 1, Coyotes 3

Talk about a missed opportunity. The Minnesota Wild, looking to stave off a 3-game losing streak, headed to Phoenix, to play a team they'd beaten nine times in a row. To help the Wild, the Coyotes had played the night before in Dallas, and, for the first ten minutes, it showed. The Wild peppered the net with shots, and it was only Ilya Bryzgalov's play that kept the Coyotes in the game.

Then things began to turn. The Wild struggled on the power play, and had more troubles even strength, as they couldn't seem to get much of an offense mounted. The last 50 minutes of the game, the Wild spent too much time chasing the puck around in the defensive zone, and it was also apparent that only scoring one goal in the past two games was getting to them. Still, with less than a minute remaining in the second period, the Wild and the Coyotes were still scoreless.

That didn't last, as, with under 30 seconds to go, Phoenix scored two quick goals, and added a third in the third period. If it wasn't for Antti Miettinen's shot that had eyes, the Wild would have been shut out for the second game in a row, something that hasn't happened since March 2003. Now the team has a trip into California for games on Saturday and Sunday, and they need to find an answer to their offensive woes, and their sudden defensive lapses.

Game pluses:
- James Sheppard. Maybe the knowledge that the Wild are looking at centers sparked something in the kid, who played well, and had some good looks at the net.
- Antti Miettinen. He snapped his goal-scoring drought, and had some chances to make the game a little tighter.
- Penalty kill. The only time the Wild looked comfortable defensively was while they were skating a man down.

Game minuses:
- Controlling the rebounds. Both goaltenders left huge rebounds throughout the game. The Coyotes were consistently able to beat the Wild to the puck.
- Power play. It was a new look, as the Wild changed their power play stance. It resulted in no goals, and few good shots. The late third period power play was completely unfocused, and the Wild cleared the offensive zone themselves at least four times.
- Defense. Phoenix scored three goals when the Wild left Niklas Backstrom hanging in the breeze. The biggest sign that the defense needs some help? Brent Burns was moved back to the blue line for the third period.

Next up: The Wild find themselves at the bottom of the playoff rankings, and need to get things turned around if they want a hope of playing meaningful games in March. They face off against the 12-12-4 Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, before heading to Anaheim on Sunday.

The Wild West; Gaborik on ice

The Minnesota Wild have headed West for a short road trip, one that will see them returning home next Wednesday for their first meeting of the season against the Calgary Flames. The team has been trying to keep their offense around for more than a couple of games at a time, and they're looking for their young players, specifically James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot to step up.

But the Wild may also have a player returning to the ice that could help, at least in the short term. For the first time in a long time, Marion Gaborik laced up the skates and practiced with the team. Gaborik hopes to play by the end of the road trip, but coach Jacques Lemaire doesn't seem to think it's likely. Best guess is that Gaby might take to the ice against Calgary.

Many Wild fans and media alike are saying that Gaborik's already as good as gone from the Wild, and, while that may be true, if he's able to get back on the ice, it can only benefit both the team and the player. The Wild need a guaranteed offensive threat, and Gaborik can provide that. As for Gaby, he needs to prove that, even though he's been sidelined with a "lower body injury", he still has the skills needed to make an impact on the league. And, if there is serious talk of a trade looming on the horizon, both sides need the vision of Gaborik shooting a wicked wrist shot past a goaltender to prove that there's a value in the Slovak All-Star.

Tonight the puck drops in Phoenix. Can the Wild reverse their fortunes from the last few games?

Games Twenty-Five and Twenty-Six

Game Twenty-Five: Wild 1, Canucks 2

On Friday night, clinging to a one-point lead in the Northwest Division, the Minnesota Wild faced off against the team sitting just behind them in the standings. Vancouver had played the night before in Detroit, but the Wild were the team that couldn't get things moving in the first, putting a season-low three shots on net. Early in the second period, Mikko Koivu tied the score at 1, but Vancouver was able to get a second goal, and that was all they needed. Meanwhile, the Wild once again made a rookie goaltender look like a long-time All-Star, as they just couldn't get the puck into the net. Of course, with only 17 shots total in the game, they didn't have a lot of opportunity. The Wild had to look ahead to Nashville, hoping that the site of a 6-2 win would help revive things.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild star scored 27 seconds into the second period, extending his points streak.
- Niklas Backstrom. True, the Jaffray goal was misplayed, but Backstrom once again held the offensively challenged team in the game.
- Intensity. When you aren't scoring, you pick up other aspects of your game. The Wild played a rough, physical game, but still couldn't get things moving.

Game minuses:
- Owen Nolan. His injury definitely hampers an already rattled Wild team.
- Fights. Intensity is a good thing. All the scuffles that happened derailed any chance for momentum.
- Officiating. Both teams should have spent more time in the box. The officials kept letting things go.

Game Twenty Six: Wild 0, Predators 1
The site of the Wild's scrappy win brought a very different game. Like the Vancouver game, the Wild chased all night long in the shot category. Thankfully for the team, Josh Harding was incredibly solid all night long, keeping the Predators shots from sneaking past him for much of the game. Unfortunately for Minnesota, when a JP Dumont goal midway through the third period put Nashville up, there wasn't a clear chance to get the puck into the net. The Dumont goal came just after the Wild had killed off a late penalty, and, in a game filled with stoppages thanks to icings and offsides calls, there wasn't any coherent flow, and it wouldn't have been shocking to see the game enter overtime still tied at zero. Unlike last week in Nashville, neither team seemed all that willing to drop the gloves, with the only exceptions being Derek Boogaard and Wade Belak. Later in the game, the shots came harder, faster, and more frequent, but both goalies stood up to the challenge presented by the other team, with the help of a few posts.

Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. The Wild netminder was spectacular. Dumont's goal would have been hard for most goaltenders to stop, but Harding kept the Wild in by making stellar saves all night long.
- Penalty kill. The Wild didn't allow any power play goals this time around, and seemed to have figured out their penalty kill, at least against Nashville.
- Late pressure. The Wild almost got the equalizer twice, but Nashville's Pekka Rinne was assisted first by a post, and later by his 6'5" frame.

Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild defeated Nashville a week before with the assistance of 5 power play goals. On Saturday, the power play looked disjointed, and the team could barely muster a shot.
- First period. One game after putting only 3 pucks on net in the first twenty minutes, the Wild almost matched futility by shooting 4 pucks at Rinne.
- Antti Miettinen. The Wild winger was able to dance and move with the puck. However, he should have been trying to pull the trigger a little more frequently.

Next up: The Wild have a long break before heading west, playing Thursday night against the 12-13-2 Phoenix Coyotes, who host the Dallas Stars the night before.

Game Twenty-Four: Wild 4, Blues 0

What a difference a game makes. After turning in the worst defensive performance of the season, the Minnesota Wild was able to get back to basics, and to what they do so well, as they shut down the St. Louis Blues, 4-0. The Wild also rode on the backs of a couple of milestone goals for their players, and a stellar performance from Niklas Backstrom.

Speaking of Backstrom, the best attempt in the first period was shut down by the Wild goaltender through an amazing stick save. Brandon Crombeen fired a shot that looked destined for the net, but Backstrom somehow was able to throw his stick in the way, knocking the puck aside with the toe of the blade. This kept the scored knotted at 0-0, and cleared the way for the second period, and Eric Belanger making personal history.

The third period started with only Belanger's goal standing, but Andrew Brunette wasn't content to let his teammate have all the glory. He scored a milestone of his own, and put the Wild up 2-0 on the power play. Marek Zidlicky scored another power play goal, helping the Wild go to 10 for their last 20 times with the man advantage. As for the fourth goal? The Blue had pulled goaltender Chris Mason, and Antti Miettinen was able to approach the net on a breakaway, before getting tripped from behind. Given that the Wild have already seen a number of calls that don't normally come up (closing the hand on the puck, two players getting waved out of the face-off circle), it shouldn't surprise anyone that a little called ruling allowed the officials to credit Miettinen with his first goal in 16 games.

Game pluses:
- Eric Belanger. The Wild forward scored his 100th career goal, to give the Wild the first lead of the game. And he did it while outnumbered in the offensive zone.
- Andrew Brunette. When Brunette first went to Colorado, Minnesota fans definitely had to wonder if he'd ever be back in a Wild jersey. How fitting that he was able to score his 200th career goal, giving the Wild an insurance marker, and doing it in the hometown arena?
- Niklas Backstrom. After giving up six goals in forty minutes, the Wild netminder got enough help from his defense to turn away all twenty-two shots he faced on Wednesday.

Game minuses:
- First period. Maybe the Wild was still shell-shocked from their game against Colorado on Monday, but it took them awhile to get rolling, even though they were outshooting the Blues.
- Antti Miettinen. True, he was given the goal, but if he'd been able to pull the trigger a little earlier, the ruling might never have come up. By the same token, Miettinen has been having problems finding the net as of late, so maybe it was better for him to get the tally this way.
- Empty net. The Wild only has two empty net goals all season, and one came last night when Miettinen got hauled down. They need to find a way to close out the games more definitively, espeically with a yawning net at the other end.

Next up: The Wild will dance with division rivals, the 14-9-2 Vancouver Canucks, who play Detroit tonight. Will the Wild still be in first place in the division when the puck drops on Friday?

Game Twenty-Three: Wild 5, Avalanche 6

The Minnesota Wild finished November with a resounding 6-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. While the Wild brought their offensive game back with them, they apparently left the defensive side in the Music City, as they lost a high-scoring game to the Colorado Avalanche 6-5.

If it wasn't for the power play, the Wild would have been out of this game sooner. While they held leads of 1-0 and later 3-2, it was the power play that kept the team in it. Well, the power play, and the horrendous play of Peter Budaj, who allowed five goals in just 17 shots.

That's not to say that Niklas Backstrom did much better, giving up 6 goals in 26 shots. The difference? The Wild goaltender had little to no support from a defense that is often one of the best in the league, and had been playing fairly strongly as of late. Budaj had the benefit of a Colorado defense that stepped in and blocked shots, turned the puck away, and simply held the Wild out of their zone for long enough to secure the victory.

Of course, the way that the game was going, both up and down the ice, it wasn't a surprise that the Wild wished for two extra seconds on the clock at the end. If those seconds had existed, Benoit Pouliot would have tied the game at 6, and forced overtime. In all honesty, the Wild didn't play a game that deserved to have that chance.

Game pluses:
- Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Bouchard notched two goals and an assist, to help hold the Wild in it.
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu also had three points, one goal and two assists, in his first game without the captain "C" on his sweater.
- Brent Burns. Burns played with grit and intensity, something that much of the Wild seemed to be missing. He scored the goal that pulled the Wild within one with six minutes remaining.

Game minuses:
- The defense. The entire defensive corps was horrible. The best of the blue liners for the night was Martin Skoula, who only had one glaring error (as opposed to three or four for most of the rest). Again, it seems like it might be time to move Burns back to where he belongs.
- Kim Johnsson. Johnsson gets special attention, as the normally solid player looked like he had no idea what to do on the ice. In his first game as the captain, he found himself with a +/- rating of -3. Quite a difference in captains.
- Outlet pass. There were other problems throughout the game, but one thing we noticed was that the Wild kept trying the long outlet pass. Colorado allowed one to sneak through, which was too far for Antti Miettinen. Other than that, the Avalanche stopped each attempt the Wild made, and yet they kept going to the well.

Next up: The Wild tries to get its defense back on track while maintaining its offense on Wednesday, as they face off against the 10-10-2 St. Louis Blues. Any bets on Clutterbuck being back in the line-up?

Game Twenty-Two: Wild 6, Predators 2

This was the offensively challenged Minnesota Wild? Not only did they pour on six goals against the Nashville Predators, but over the last five games, they've averaged 4.2 goals per game. This is all still without their best scorer, but a player who's jersey number is only off by one digit has been working to see that become a non-issue.

The Wild jumped out to an early start, scoring twice in the first period while on the power play, once 5-on-3, and then immediately after while 5-on-4. In fact, the power play came alive for the Wild, as five of their six tallies came with the man advantage. With as much time as both teams spent in the penalty box, the resurgence of the power play for the Wild was a good sign.

One of the more interesting points in the game came during the second period. Stephane Veilleux fought with Nashville's Scott Nichol, the ensuing faced off saw Derek Boogaard drop the gloves against Wade Belak, and the very next face off featured Craig Weller (in his second fight of the game) squaring off against Jordin Tootoo. That ugliness didn't last for the remainder of the game, but it will definitely make next Saturday interesting, as the Wild will be back in Nashville to visit again.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Earlier in the season, it seemed like Antti Miettinen was trying to get Wild fans to forget about Marian Gaborik. Maybe fans just needed to wait for Koivu to hit his stride. The Wild captain through October and November notched two goals, added an assist, and was strong all over the ice.
- Craig Weller. Playing for the first time in awhile, Weller got his first goal with the Wild on a third-period power play. His fight with Shea Weber in the first period also directly resulted in the Wild's 5-on-3 that resulted in two goals.
- Josh Harding. Admittedly, when your team scores six goals, you don't need to be perfect in net, but Harding reminded the Wild that they have two viable starting goaltenders.

Game minuses:
- Fights. While the Wild came out ahead with regards to the fighting, a few of the scuffles shouldn't have happened. It was almost a shame that Derek Boogaard's only shift of the game resulted in his fight with Belak.
- Penalty kill. Admittedly, the Wild spoiled fans by only giving up four power play goals in the first sixteen games of the season. Since then, they've given up five tallies.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger didn't play due to an injury. With an already thin center corps, the Wild have to hope that Belanger will be back in the line-up soon.

Next up: The Minnesota Wild return home, and to the Versus Network, as they face off against a division rival, the 11-12-0 Colorado Avalanche.

Game Twenty-One: Wild 4, Lighting 2

The last time that the Minnesota Wild and the Tampa Bay Lightning faced off, the only scoring happened in the shootout. But that game wasn't an afternoon game, and it didn't feature a Wes Walz tribute beforehand. This time around, it didn't even take 20 minutes for the goals to start coming.

After giving up late leads and letting teams come back in the third, it certainly didn't look good for the Wild, as they entered the third period down 2-1, thanks to a Ryan Malone goal that almost didn't count. On the Malone goal, the Wild were facing a delayed penalty. During a scramble in front of the net, it appeared that Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom swept the puck away, which normally would have resulted in a whistle and play stopping. No whistle came, and Malone scooped the puck into a wide-open net, positioning Tampa well, especially in an arena that has been full of weird bounces and bad luck for the home team.

And yet, something just started clicking for the Wild in the third, as James Sheppard, tipping a Marc-Andre Bergeron shot, tied the score early in the period. A few minutes later, Mikko Koivu took a shot while on his stomach, sneaking the puck past Tampa goaltender Mike Smith. With the Wild up 3-2, the home team simply had to hold on for another 14 minutes.

Leave it to the Wild to keep it interesting, though. With just over five minutes remaining, Nick Schultz took a high sticking penalty, and, at the same time, captain Mikko Koivu must have said something wrong to the officials, as he was flagged for a game misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. This gave the Lightning a 5-on-3 power play, only down by a goal. However, some late minute acrobatics by Backstrom, coupled with an empty net tally by Eric Belanger, allowed the Wild to end this homestand on a high note.

Game pluses:
- James Sheppard. The kid had a goal and an assist, and is seeming to find his game. And to think, a few games ago, he seemed like a candidate to be sent to Houston.
- Mikko Koivu. The game winner was a beautiful goal, and it was redemption of sorts for Koivu, who had two goals waved off in the Dallas game.
- Niklas Backstrom. Again, the Wild netminder stood strong when he needed to, notching his 13th win of the season. How is he not higher in the All-Star balloting?

Game minuses:
- Penalty kill. True, the Wild killed off the late, high-tension 5-on-3, but the late first period penalty kill was spent with the Wild looking confused in their zone. They gave up four power play goals over the homestand, after having been ridiculously stingy earlier in the season.
- Mikko Koivu. Yes, we credit him for the beautiful stomach goal. But we have to flag him for the late misconduct, which was a penalty that simply should never have been taken.
- Officiating. The Wild just couldn't seem to catch the breaks over their recent time at the Xcel, and the most glaring came before the Malone goal. To make matters worse, until a scoring change, the goal was considered unassisted, almost proving that the Wild had possession before Malone.

Next up: The Wild take a one-game road trip tonight, visiting with the 11-9-2 Nashville Predators. It's a homecoming for Marek Zidlicky.

Game Twenty: Wild 3, Stars 4

The Minnesota Wild spent Thanksgiving Day hoping to erase the bad taste of a game that was full of weird bounces, questionable calls, and one huge momentum change. The visiting Dallas Stars were able to get an early 1-0 lead, but, before the first 20 minutes had expired, the Wild had erased that and were up 2-1. The second period featured the Wild continuing to pressure Dallas goaltender Marty Turco, extending their lead to 3-1. A little later in the period, on a power play, Mikko Koivu fired a shot at the net. The light went on, and the on-ice officials declared it a goal.

But that's also where everything started going wrong for the Wild. The goal was reviewed, and the replays fairly conclusively showed that the puck never actually went into the net. However, it took almost 10 minutes for the officials to come to that conclusion. The long delay allowed Dallas to get their footing back, and, before the period ended, they were able to close the gap to 3-2.

The third period featured two Dallas goals, and the Wild having great opportunities, but failing to capitalize on them. An Antti Miettinen shot needed to be swept off of the goal line, Eric Belanger missed an open net, and Mikko Koivu, thanks to a sprawling Turco, had a second goal disallowed. Turco had knocked the net off of its moorings, and, even though Koivu's shot would have gone in even with the net secured, it was waved off. On top of that, the Wild seemed to have no problems hitting posts all game long, but they couldn't quite get the puck into the net after the long momentum-killing delay.

Gmae pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. True, both of his goals were disallowed, but Koivu was taking great chances. His second goal deserved to stand, but Turco and the Stars took advantage of the dislodged net rules.
- Owen Nolan. Nolan's been flying around the ice for a few games now, and has been diving for the puck to create opportunities. It was nice to see the grizzled veteran score his second of the year.
- Martin Skoula. While he wasn't credited with the goal in the second, Skoula has been playing fairly solid for the Wild blue liners, and the shot that he fired (tipped at the last second by Andrew Brunette) was a smart attempt.

Game minuses:
- Third period. The Wild hasn't been able to figure out the third period as of late. Far too often this season, the third period has either let the opposing team back into the game. They need to figure out the final frame over the rest of the season.
- Defense. This ties largely into the third period woes, but maybe it's time for the Brent Burns Experiment to end. Burns is a solid defensemen, and, while he was put on the wing to help increase scoring, it might be time to move him back to the blue line, and let him quarterback the plays from there.
- Disallowed goals. The first Koivu goal was clearly not a goal, and yet took ten minutes to review. A James Neal goal may have come off of a high stick, but wasn't investigated in the slightest. And the second Koivu goal that was disallowed? It may be time to look at the rules regarding dislodged nets. After all, even if Turco hadn't fallen against the post and knocked the net off, Koivu's shot would have sailed in free and clear into the open net. It wasn't the Wild killer, but it was just an additional frustration to top off a bizarre game.

Next up: The Wild welcomes home Wes Walz as they take on the 6-8-7 Tampa Bay Lightning. The last time these teams met, the Wild won 1-0 in a shootout.

Game Nineteen: Wild 4, Capitals 3

For 55 minutes of a 60 minute game, it certainly looked like the Minnesota Wild were set to take an easy victory, once again stifling a top offense on national television. Not only did they break out of their team scoring doldrums, but James Sheppard notched his first of the year, and Cal Clutterbuck, better known for aiming his body at opposing players, scored his first two goals of his career, including one on the powerplay. The Wild built a 4-0 lead, and things were looking good.

That is, until the last five minutes of the third period. Suddenly, in a span of 3:33, the Washington Capitals had to pulled to within one goal, and they were continuing to press. Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom had played well, but Matt Bradley, Alex Ovechkin, and Washington center Nicklas Backstrom were able to beat the normally solid Wild defense, setting up a late flurry, complete with an empty net in the Capitals end. The Wild weathered the storm for their 12th victory of the season, but after having dominated so well for the majority of the game, the third period collapse should lead to some questions.

Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. The kid was once again leading with his body, but this time, it wasn't just by throwing it at the other team. Both of Clutterbuck's goals were the results of good positioning on his part. As for his shot? It's a beautiful thing to watch in action.
- The fourth line. True, Clutterbuck getting the two goals helped out his linemates getting notice, but again, it felt like the Clutterbuck/Pouliot/Boogaard line was playing tighter than many of the other lines.
- Brent Burns. The forward-turned-defensemen-turned-forward notched two assists, and created some havoc with a good forecheck.

Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. Yes, the sophomore center got his first goal of the season, but he spent a good deal of the game looking out of step with the Washington skaters.
- Kim Johnsson and Nick Schultz. The Wild defenders both stopped skating at points in the last five minutes, and opened up the chances for Washington. After having played well for most of the game, they fell apart, and brought the team with them.
- Shortening the bench. It's something Coach Lemaire has done time and time again, especially with the lead. And yet, while the Wild were rolling four lines, they played tight, with intensity, and kept out-skating Washington. As soon as Jacques took the team down the three lines, Washington was able to put the pressure on, and almost forced overtime.

Next up: The Wild will see a familiar face as Mark Parrish and the 6-10-4 Dallas Stars come to town.

Game Eighteen: Wild 1, Blues 2

Fans in downtown St. Paul Saturday night were able to take in an intense game, filled with tough defense, scoring bursts, and a thrilling come-from-behind victory.

At least, fans who were at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium watching the Minnesota Rollergirls. For fans next door in the Xcel Energy Center, it was more of the same, as the Minnesota Wild fell to the St. Louis Blues, 2-1, thanks largely to another lackluster performance against a team playing its second of back-to-back games.

The Wild had plenty of chances, including practically starting the game on the power play, but they were only able to convert once in the second period, thanks to Stephane Veillieux. Goalie Chris Mason, for the Blues, stood tall, stifling the already-struggling Wild offense.

In other words, Houston, we have a problem. But maybe the Wild shouldn't be calling Houston, maybe they should be calling out for something to get done with #10. Marian Gaborik has been missing since the second game of the season, and, while he can't answer all of the troubles the Wild currently have, something has to be done to get the team moving offensively. Although who knows? Maybe sending Mojzis down to the Aeros is a sign that the Wild might be getting offensive help soon.

Game pluses:
- Stephane Veillieux. Number 19 proved that forwards who aren't named Koivu can score for the Wild. Will the rest of the team pay attention.
- Marek Zidlicky. Not only did he start the play that gave the Wild its (brief) lead, but he registered a team-high (with Owen Nolan) 5 shots.
- Shot totals. The Wild was shooting the puck at the net, tossing the rubber towards Chris Mason.

Game minuses:
- Shot selection. To contrast with what was said above, sometimes getting the puck on net isn't enough. The shots need to be smart. Not every shot needs to result in a goal, but the Wild haven't been playing for rebounds, either.
- Play after scoring. It's a story as old as time. The Wild gets a goal, and then suffers a collapse shortly thereafter. For the fourth game in a row, the Wild gave up a goal within two minutes of scoring themselves.
- David Backes. The St. Louis Blues player received a game misconduct for a late boarding call against Brent Burns. While Burns seems to be alright, those hits are always frightening, and should be avoided.

Next up: Maybe the glare of national television will inspire the Wild. It certainly did when they played a brilliant game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight, they play host to Alex Ovechkin and the 11-6-3 Washington Capitals, who have never won at the Xcel.

Game Seventeen: Wild 2, Canucks 3

Thursday night, the Minnesota Wild showed exactly why it's important to clear the front of your net, and to stay out of penalty trouble. Unfortunately for them, they displayed those reasons in front of a Vancouver Canucks team that took advantage.

Through the first period, and much of the second, the Wild controlled the play. However, even with Mikko Koivu trying to carry the team alone, defensive lapses in front of Niklas Backstrom gave Vancouver the chances that they needed to carry the game. A couple of rough shifts for Eric Reitz resulted in Vancouver tying the score at 1, and, after a beautiful shorthanded breakaway by Koivu, Pavol Demitra was able to ring his former team for another tying goal, knotting the score at 2-2.

Then came the third period, and, if you didn't know, you would have had trouble determining which team had played the night before. It certainly didn't help when, all game long, one of the best offensive flurries came from a bunch of Wild bruisers, but the Canucks just seemed to pick up speed as the night wore on, while the Wild were struggling to keep pace.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. He tried to do it all himself, and almost succeeded. The shorthanded goal was a thing of beauty.
- Pouliot/Clutterbuck/Boogaard. A line that is more known for it's physicality put together some of the best offensive chances for the Wild. That is, until the third when the Wild was short-benched.
- Brent Burns. Maybe it's time for Burns to go back on D, but he created opportunities. Too bad his linemates didn't help.

Game minuses:
- Kim Johnsson. A bad tripping call lead to the Wild killing a long 5-on-3. The gassed Wild ended up giving up Demitra's goal while defending a 5-on-4.
- Eric Reitz. A lackluster game overall. Reitz took unnecessary penalties, and didn't do a good job cleaning up the front of the crease.
- Pierre-Marc Bouchard. "Butch" has been a ghost all season, and last night was no exception. Instead of aiming for the perfect play, the diminutive forward needs to try pulling the trigger more often.

Next up: The Wild try and find their offense on Saturday night as they play the 6-8-2 St. Louis Blues, who face Anaheim tonight. Can the Wild solve their problems as the second team for a back-to-back series?

Game Sixteen: Wild 2, Penguins 1 (SO)

Sure, it would be nice if the Minnesota Wild found the offense that they seemed to leave behind after the early rush to start the season, but it's hard to argue with the results from last night, as the Wild defense shut down the high-flying Pittsburgh Penguins, only allowing one goal. Technically, Pittsburgh scored twice, but one of those two goals went past Dany Sabourin, and gave the tally to the Wild.

That flukey goal, officially credited to Mikko Koivu, gave the Wild an early lead, but it didn't last, as Matt Cooke was able to bang home a rebound a mere ten seconds later. While it seemed that the game may have tilted in favor of the Pens, and their offense, it was the Wild defense that stood strong, after having looked out-of-sorts for the first ten minutes. The Wild was able to frustrate both Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, with the latter showing his frustration more visibly than the former.

One of the best chances in the game came off of the stick of Eric Belanger, who zipped a shot over Sabourin's shoulder. Unfortunately for Belanger, he happened to hit the post, and it trickled away from the goal mouth. A diving Owen Nolan just missed the puck, and the score stayed knotted. In the overtime, thanks to a Brent Burns penalty, the Penguins had good chances, but an amazing penalty kill thanks to Koivu, Belanger, and Niklas Backstrom helped the Wild skate to the shootout. There, Marek Zidlicky scored the only goal that Backstrom needed, as he stopped all three Pittsburgh shooters.

Game pluses:
- Defense. Anytime you can stop Crosby and Malkin, you've had a good defensive game. Even better, both players entered the game riding hot streaks.
- Niklas Backstrom. Once again, the netminder won the game for the Wild. Is it too early to start talking Vezina?
- Marek Zidlicky. The shootout goal was a nice capper to a strong defensive game.

Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. Again, Sheppard seemed to give the puck away at the wrong times and to the wrong players. Maybe there's too much pressure on him by playing him with other young skaters, like Colton Gillies and Cal Clutterbuck.
- Shooting. The Wild not only need to take more shots, but they need to take better shots. Two many shots were blocked by the Pens in the game.
- Matt Cooke. Cooke may have gone East, but he continues to antagonize Minnesota. His goal was a direct result of nobody trying to push him aside. By the same token, being in Pittsburgh seems to have allowed Cooke to remember that he's a hockey player.

Next up: The Wild tries to get revenge on the 10-6-2 Vancouver Canucks, who beat Minnesota 2-0 last time the teams played. Meanwhile, Vancouver will be trying to steal first place in the division back. The Canucks play the New York Rangers tonight.

Game Fifteen: Wild 3, Blue Jackets 2 (SO)

Saturday night, one of the teams was coming off of a game the previous evening, having landed in the host city at a little after one in the morning.

It was hard to tell that the Minnesota Wild were not the team in question. The Wild skated like they were fighting through molasses for most of the game, unable to put together any sort of flow, unlike the display they put on against Phoenix two nights earlier. The Blue Jackets, coming off of a big 6-1 victory over Buffalo the night before, kept pace with the Wild all night long.

There were some offensive flurries, but they were few and far between. The first period didn't see any sustained pressure until the end, as Benoit Pouliot scored a power play goal, and Kristian Husselius answered, bringing the period to a close at 1-1. After a scoreless second, the Wild got a goal from Eric Reitz (his first ever), but after a bad turnover from James Sheppard, Rick Nash scored to once again tie the game. Just as it did against Tampa Bay earlier this season, the game ended up falling to the shootout.

In the shootout, Niklas Backstrom stopped two Columbus skaters, with Nash prepared to come down the ice. Meanwhile, shooting second, Marek Zidlicky scored, and to keep Nash from getting his opportunity, Antti Miettinen, the Wild's previous shootout hero, slammed a shot past Steve Mason, as the Wild skated away with the 3-2 victory.

Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. Once again, the kid proved that he was willing to throw his body around the ice, and once again, he led the Wild in hits.
- Antti Miettinen. A goal in regulation would have been nice. Clinching the shootout? We'll take it.
- Brent Burns. Not only was the defenseman creating on the wing, but he showed class by scooping the puck out of the net for Eric Reitz after his first career NHL goal.

Game minuses:
- Legs. The Wild were the rested team, and yet they didn't show it. A speedy team needs to showcase that to do well.
- James Sheppard. Sheppard still hasn't calmed down offensively, and his miscue in the third period gave Rich Nash an easy goal.
- Shots. This goes along with the team's legs, but when they weren't skating, they also weren't getting quality shots. Both being missing will hurt them down the stretch.

Next up: Tomorrow night against the 11-4-2 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Game Fourteen: Wild 4, Coyotes 0

How do you recover from an injury-plagued and up-and-down road trip? If you're the Minnesota Wild, you get a couple of those players back, and you then lean on Marek Zidlicky. The Wild defensemen, who hadn't scored a goal yet this season, put two tallies on the board, both during 5-on-3 situations, as the Wild improved to a 9-4-1 record, reclaiming a share of first in the Northwest Division.

The last time that the Wild had four days off, they came back to play Buffalo, and looked shaky while finding their legs. This time, Minnesota kept up the pressure on a young Phoenix team, and kept the Coyotes from really getting their legs under them. The Wild was even able to re-energize its power play, after having been lackluster with the man advantage. The team knocked home all four goals while a Coyote player sat in the box.

Of course, the return of Brent Burns and Owen Nolan to the line-up added something else that the Wild has been missing; Jacques Lemaire juggling lines. He hadn't changed the lines around since the start of the season, partially due to injuries, but with only Marian Gaborik out, the Wild coach was able to make some adjustments, and, for one game at least, those adjustments provided a spark.

Another spark on the ice, as has been the trend as of late, was Cal Clutterbuck, who dropped the gloves with Keith Yandle. Given that the kid has been finishing checks all season, we're actually a little surprised that it took this long for him to get called to fight.

Game pluses:
- Special teams. Not only did the Wild go 4-for-7 on the power play, but they were perfect on the penalty kill. They also had a couple of impressive short-handed chances.
- Marek Zidlicky. The defenseman was shooting from all over the ice, but each shot was a good one. His presence on the point seemed to give the Wild a killer instinct with the man advantage, and they pounced on opportunities.
- Niklas Backstrom. On a night where he didn't need to be spectacular, thanks largely to the Wild putting together an impressive offensive display, the Wild goaltender pulled a shutout from his bag of tricks.

Game minuses:
- Breakaways. A few times, the Wild had good opportunities on the breakaway, but they weren't able to convert, sometimes by not pulling the trigger, and sometimes by trying to make one too many passes.
- Even strength. Yes, the Wild dominated the entire game, especially on shots. However, even strength, they weren't able to really get any bodies in front of the Phoenix net and create chances. They can't rely on special teams.
- Clearing the net. Most of the game, the Wild gave Backstrom a clear view of the puck. When Phoenix was able to plant someone near the crease, the Wild didn't make enough effort to move them from the front of the net. That lack may have led directly to Niklas Backstrom getting bowled into his own net late in the game.

Next up: The Wild host the 7-7-2 Columbus Blue Jackets, playing the second of back-to-back games. Columbus takes on the Buffalo Sabres tonight.

Game Thirteen: Wild 0, Canucks 2

It's never easy when facing a goaltender on an incredible hot streak, as the Minnesota Wild had to on Saturday night when they played Vancouver. Roberto Luongo for the Canucks came into the game having posted back-to-back shutouts, and was looking to notch a third in a row against a team that's frustrated him in the past. Unfortunately for the Wild, Luongo was in top form, and stifled every chance that they got, as the Canucks were able to edge the Wild and leap frog them into first place in the Northwest Division.

There were a number of great chances for the Wild, but they were unable to turn those chances into goals, thanks to Luongo's sparkling play in net. Pierre-Marc Bouchard alone had to feel snakebit, as some of the best chances for Minnesota came off of his stick. Andrew Brunette also had a couple great opportunities, including one on a breakaway, but the Wild were unable to solve the Canucks goalie.

On the other end of the ice, Niklas Backstrom was almost as proficient, but a great Vancouver screen lead to the first goal, and a defensive lapse created the second. Overall, though, the Wild put together a good game, and returned home from an injury-depleted road trip with a 2-2 mark. The Wild will play 10 of their next 12 at the Xcel Energy Center.

Game pluses:
- Pierre-Marc Bouchard. "Butch" was creating chances, and had some beautiful looks at the net. It just seemed like Luongo was in perfect position all night long.
- Andrew Brunette. The breakaway alone should have resulted in a Wild goal. He was also creating havoc around Luongo's crease, but, again, couldn't find an answer.
- Niklas Backstrom. If Salo's power play goal hadn't come off of a screen (and possible tip), we could easily have been staring down a 0-0 tie late in the game.

Game minuses:
- Colton Gillies. Maybe it was nerves from playing in his hometown, but Gillies took the boarding penalty that led directly to Salo's goal.
- Defense. For large portions of the game, the defense held strong. However, Vancouver was able to put the game away because the Wild found themselves out of position, forgetting about the Sedin twins.
- The first period. It was the end of a long trip away from home, but, with only 4 games played, the Wild couldn't have been that tired yet. In the first period, they were unable to come out strongly, and the march to the penalty box put them into an early hole.

Next up: The Wild have off until Thursday night. Their last four day stint had them come back against a Buffalo team that ripped them apart in 5 minutes, and they haven't looked the same since. Will they fare better against the 7-6-0 Phoenix Coyotes, who play Columbus the night before?

Game Twelve: Wild 3, Avalanche 1

The Minnesota Wild still seem to have struggles playing a complete game, especially once they get a lead. However, thanks to stellar play by goaltender Niklas Backstrom, and Andrew Brunette's first goal against his former team, the Wild was able to skate away with a 3-1 win, improving their record to 8-3-1, holding onto a share of first place in the Northwest Division.

The Wild opened the scoring with two rebound goals, one by Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and one by Benoit Pouliot, taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. But, after the listless Avalanche were given 3 consecutive power plays by Wild miscues, the dynamic of the game changed. While Andrew Brunette scored in the second period to put the Wild up 3-0, Darcy Tucker answered in the same period for Colorado. In the third period, the Wild seemed content to once again sit on their heels, throwing pucks into the far end, but not getting any real sustained pressure. Meanwhile, Tucker may have found himself bumping up the list of hated Avs players, after taking a run at Nick Schultz and attacking his knees. Meanwhile, Enemy #1 (according to many Wild fans), Ian Laperierre picked a combatant bigger than Marian Gaborik, fighting with the Wild's Craig Weller.

Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. We're starting to sound like a broken record, but the other key Wild player who could become a UFA after this season is largely responsible for the Wild's strong start. The team needs to give him some better support, after giving up 80+ shots the last two games.
- Physical play. Cal Clutterbuck was joined by Eric Reitz in throwing bodies around. Craig Weller proved an impressive presence, and tussled with Laperierre. Plus, the physical play lead to blocked shots, which was key for both teams.
- Marek Zidlicky. True, he dropped the puck to Ryan Smyth while on a penalty kill. He also notched two assists, and, if it hadn't been for impressive saves by Peter Budaj, those assists might have been goals instead.

Game minuses:
- Penalties. The Wild are one of the least-penalized teams in the league. And yet, they kept Colorado in the game by marching to the penalty box.
- Shots allowed. We mentioned this above with our praise of Backstrom, but the Wild have given up over 80 shots in the last two games. If Backstrom hadn't been as sharp, this game would have had a much different outcome. The Wild defense needs to step up, not even allowing the other teams to get the shot off.
- Finish. The Wild put together a little more than 30 minutes of solid hockey. Luckily for them, they were facing a slumping Colorado team missing it's strongest player in Joe Sakic. If they want to have a chance of finishing this road trip 3-1, they have to play a strong 60 minutes against Vancouver.

Next up: Saturday night against the 8-6-0 Vancouver Canucks. Then the Wild have a few days off before returning home to the Xcel Energy Center and the Phoenix Coyotes.

Game Eleven: Wild 1, Sharks 3

Maybe the Minnesota Wild were thinking about the historic election. Maybe they were just a little too-banged up. Either way, the team fell to 7-3-1, losing to the San Jose Sharks by a score of 3-1. While the Wild opened the scoring first, they simply couldn't match the Sharks intensity, or their shots. When the second period ended tied 1-1, it became clear that the only reason Minnesota still had a chance in the game was because of the tremendous play of Niklas Backstrom in net. By the end of the game, Backstrom had registered 46 saves, but the Wild couldn't put together enough offense to give him the win.

In the first two periods, while the Wild did seem to hold its own, San Jose spent time acting like their namesakes. The Sharks were circling, delivering crisp passes, big checks, and shots from all over the ice. As the third period opened, the San Jose style paid off, and they got goals off of a couple of nice bounces. Meanwhile, the Wild, who had been struggling to keep their footing through much of the game, seemed to fall a little more apart. Obviously, the injury to Brent Burns affected the team, as the entire night, the Wild looked a little sluggish, with the exception of brief flashes of speed.

Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. The netminder deserved a win, stopping 46 shots, but that was a daunting task for the Wild, who never really seemed to click on offense.
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu was once again a force on the ice, making something out of nothing most of the times he touched the puck. Too bad for him his linemates coated their skates in molasses.
- Aeros. Both Krystofer Kolanos and Cal Clutterbuck started the season in Houston. Both players tried to provide a spark to the Wild in the game against San Jose. Kolanos did it with a goal, and Clutterbuck did it with his body.

Game minuses:
- Speed. The Wild are usually the faster team on the ice. In San Jose, they never got their legs under them.
- Shoot it. Again, the Wild fell victim to being heavily outshot. Too many shots were lost because the Wild keep trying to get the perfect pass. When they did get the puck on net, they couldn't get a body in front to scoop out a rebound.
- Defense. Maybe it was the fact that Burns (and his replacement, Tomas Mojzis) were out, but the defense needs to stop opposing teams. No goaltender should be expected to make 40+ saves on a semi-regular basis.

Next up: The Wild visit their first divisional opponent on Thursday, as they head to Denver to take on the 5-7 Colorado Avalanche.

Game Ten: Wild 3, Coyotes 2

Not a whole lot that we can really say about this game, since it wasn't televised, and we weren't able to catch a flight to Phoenix to see it live. From the sounds of it, though, the Wild was able to grit out a tough one, made tougher with all of the injuries. For those that didn't know, Brent Burns was injured before the game even started, and Tomas Mojzis got hurt during the game, depleting an already short Wild team.

But don't tell that to Benoit Pouloit, Mikko Koivu, and Eric Belanger, as each scored to give the Wild the 3-2 victory, and improve the Wild to 7-2-1 on the season. It was a nice game for Koivu, as well, as he continued his captaincy into the month of November. If he keeps playing at the level that he has been, could the Wild finally be looking at their first season-long captain?

Again, we didn't see the game itself, so the pluses and minuses are shorter.
Game pluses:
- Playing through adversity. With Marian Gaborik and Owen Nolan sitting at home, the last thing the Wild wanted to see was Brent Burns out of uniform for the game. And yet they still found a way to grit it out over a physical Coyotes team.

Game minuses:
- Special teams. After having been so strong while short-handed, the Wild gave up a power play goal to a player that we were really hoping would end up in Minnesota, Olli Jokinen. They also gave up their first shorthanded goal of the year, again to Jokinen. We're not sure what's more frustrating, giving up the goals, or the fact that Jokinen spurned the Wild for the Coyotes.

Next up: Tuesday night against the Western Conference leading 10-2 San Jose Sharks. The banged-up Wild could easily have their work cut out for them.

Game Nine: Wild 1, Canadiens 2

On the second night of back-to-backs, the Minnesota Wild found themselves on a huge number of power plays. Unfortunately for the Wild, they weren't able to convert any of the chances, even more frustrating after having spent over half of the second period with the advantage.

The scoring opened early, with Brent Burns taking a beautiful pass from James Sheppard, but the Wild weren't able to capitalize on any of their other chances. Josh Harding did his best to keep the team in the game, but offensive futility kept the Wild from putting any overly tough shots on Montreal's Carey Price.

Of course, one of the stories coming into the game was the showdown between Mikko Koivu for Minnesota, and his older brother Saku Koivu for Montreal. While both Koivus were buzzing with the puck, neither was able to turn the tide heavily for their team.

For the record, if Marian Gaborik had been on the ice, the game could have been very different. The Wild needed one more piece of offense, with a bit more precise of a shot, and Gaborik (and, to a lesser extent, Nolan) being injured took away the Wild's best options before the puck even dropped. Not saying that Gaby is the answer to what's currently plaguing the Wild, but the Canadiens play a style that is suited to his talents.

Game pluses:
- Brent Burns. Burns was able to play forward and defense, and was causing problems for the Canadiens. By the same token, he was only one skater.
- Josh Harding. After coming into the Dallas game in relief, Harding pulled together another strong showing, keeping his team in a game they could have lost by a lot more.
- Cal Clutterbuck. Once again, the kid used his body to make an impact. Need proof? Ask Roman Hamrlik.

Game minuses:
- Special teams. Going 0-for-10 on the power play hurt. Giving up a long 5-on-3 (questionable call or not) hurt even more. The Wild started the season amazing on the special teams. They need to get their groove back.
- Shooting. The Wild spent the game taking poor shots, or not shooting at all when they should. A prime example was the breakaway by Eric Belanger, who delayed too long before snapping a shot at Price.
- Dealing with speed. All three games that the Wild have lost this season have been to teams with a lot of speed. While the Wild is a fast team themselves, they seem to be unable to keep up with other teams' quickness.

Next up: The Wild begin a long road trip, not returning to the Xcel Energy Center until Nov. 13. The first game is Saturday, against the 4-4-0 Phoenix Coyotes.

Game Eight: Wild 2, Stars 4

When the home team scores 13 seconds into the game, you know it's going to be a rough one for the visitors. That was how it went in Dallas, as the Minnesota Wild became the last team to lose in regulation, getting throttled by the Stars 4-2.

In all honesty, the Wild had no chance in the game. Maybe the early goal shook them too badly, but Minnesota had no puck possession, no control, and couldn't get the puck out of their own end far too often. Meanwhile, most of the time that the Stars had the puck, they were able to get quality shots on goal. Admittedly, some of the goals against Backstrom were the result of bad bounces, but, after such a strong start to the season, fans knew something had to give. Against the Stars, what gave was defense.

Not only did the Wild spend the game chasing, resulting in their first regulation loss of the season, but they gave up their first power play goal of the year, just as time was expiring on the penalty. Truth be told, it was one of the few pretty goals of the night, too, as Matt Niskanen floated a shot high over Josh Harding. Meanwhile, Tobias Stephan, the rookie goaltender for Dallas, wasn't ever really challenged, which was a shame for the Wild, as the kid was giving up rebounds left and right.

Game pluses:
- Power play. True, the goal scored by Andrew Brunette wasn't pretty, but the Wild were able to keep their power play running at a good clip. If only the team had been able to put together something even strength.
- Josh Harding. Coming into a game in relief is never easy for a goaltender. Josh Harding proved why he's got the potential to be a starter, as he was solid in relief. Who knows how the game would have ended if he'd been in net at the start.
- Physicality. Something that's been missing from a number of the Wild this season has been a willingness to take the body. Possibly because they were losing, the Wild finally started finishing their checks, showing a grit that's been missing for much of the first month.

Game minuses:
- Puck possession. The Wild couldn't get anything going. Certainly, it was partly due to the Stars smothering defense. It was also due to the fact that the Wild couldn't connect most passes, and seemed to be tossing the puck forward, hoping that a white sweater would catch up to it.
- Defense. Part of why Niklas Backstrom was pulled after the first period was that Dallas was able to line up too many scoring chances against a suddenly porous Minnesota defense. When Harding came in, the defense tightened up slightly, but still not enough to help turn the tide of the game.
- Fighting for the rebound. Stephans was giving up rebounds on hard shots, and on soft shots. The Wild seemed to never be in position to dig the puck out and attempt a follow-up shot. More than a few times, the puck trickled towards a Wild player, but they didn't seem to have an offensive push.

Next up: The Wild have to put the game against the Stars behind them. They had a flight from Dallas back to Minnesota to do so, as tonight they take on the 6-1-1 Montreal Canadiens. The similarities between the teams don't end with the identical records. Each time has a Koivu as captain; Mikko in Minnesota, and older brother Saku in Montreal.

Game Seven: Wild 3, Blackhawks 2

Two key players for the Minnesota Wild are in their final contract years. One has been fighting off an injury as his team has improved to 6-0-1, becoming the last team without a regulation loss. The other has been instrumental in bringing the team to that mark. If this keeps going, people will definitely start asking, "Marian Who?", while clamoring for Niklas Backstrom to get a good contract.

Keep in mind, though, that the Wild are a team with two starting goaltenders. Backstrom's hot right now, as he proved once again against a young, energetic, and talented Chicago Blackhawks team last night, but Josh Harding also has the skills to be the number one guy between the pipes. As for the Gaborik situation, well, as long as Mikko Koivu keeps doing what he's doing, the Wild may have already replaced their superstar.

One game after we called out Antti Miettinen and Andrew Brunette here on this site, they stepped up, along with NHL assist-leader Koivu, and put together 7 points amongst the three of them. Both Brunette and Miettinen scored goals, and Koivu was dishing the puck everywhere, including on the power play goal of Brent Burns. This all came after the Wild fell down 1-0 relatively early in the first period, and had to scramble back.

The second period is where the Wild has dominated opponents this year, and, on the scoreboard, they were able to do it again. A few too many times, they got trapped back in their own end, watching Chicago cycle the puck and fire shot after shot at the net. But that's where you're glad to have a netminder like Backstrom, who stood strong. When the third period came, in a welcome change, the Wild continued throwing pressure at Chicago's Christobel Huet, instead of their recent scheme of playing defense and nothing else. True, Chicago scored to bring the game to within 1, but, by continuing to spend time in the attack zone, the Wild kept pressuring for another tally, which forced Chicago to play in both ends.

Game plusses:
-Niklas Backstrom. One of three goalies in the league to play every minute for his team thus far, Backstrom shined the brightest against the 'Hawks, shutting them down in spite of their heavy shot total.
- AMA. Again, we called them out after the Columbus game. They might be reading us, because Miettinen, Koivu, and Brunette put together one of their strongest games. Every time their line was on the ice, the Wild had chances.
- Penalty kill. Killing off over a minute of 5-on-3 hockey is no small feat. Another thing that's no small feat? Not giving up a power play goal of any kind through the first seven games.

Game minuses:
- Shots. The Wild were heavily out-shot, by about 2-1. While Minnesota got better quality from their shots, they need to help keep the pressure off of the goaltenders. While Backstrom's riding a hot streak, he probably would like to work a little less hard during the game.
- The kids. Again, Pouliot and Gillies seem to have a lot of skills that they need to work on. This could very well be Pouliot's last chance to make the NHL roster, and he hasn't shown what he needs to show. Gillies is a question from game to game. James Sheppard also seemed a lot out of place, which was odd given how many of the Blackhawks are just as young.
- Injuries. Owen Nolan left the ice at one point. So did Brent Burns and Antti Miettinen. While we don't know if any of the injuries are serious, having them all in the line-up for Wednesday will only help.

Next up: Wednesday against the 3-4-2 Dallas Stars. The Wild have allowed the fewest goals in the league, while the Stars have allowed the most. By the same token, the Wild haven't always performed well against the team that used to call Minnesota home.

Game Six: Wild 2, Blue Jackets 1

So far this season for the Minnesota Wild, home is where the heart attack just might be. In three games at the Xcel, the Wild have decided to make it interesting. Against the Boston Bruins, the Wild took a three goal leading before hanging on for the one goal victory. When the Buffalo Sabres came to town, the Wild took a two goal lead into the final five minutes before losing the game in overtime. And Saturday night, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Wild almost found a way to do it again.

The scoring didn't start until the last minute of the first period, with Pierre-Marc Bouchard banging home the puck for his first goal of the season. Then, after some very nice offensive play by both teams during the second, including long stretches where the defenses were pinned into their own zone, Owen Nolan scored his first goal as a member of the Wild eight minutes into the third, putting the Wild up 2-0. If anyone thought that the Wild didn't have butterflies from their loss to Buffalo still lingering, they were proven wrong when Rostislav Klesla floated a shot from the point past Niklas Backstrom. Suddenly, the Wild were staring at another one goal game, albeit from a team not as offensively gifted as the Sabres.

That's not to say that Columbus doesn't have players who can score, and, with 11.5 seconds remaining in the game, it looked like they had done just that. Christian Backman slapped a shot from the blue line, it floated, got tipped by Rick Nash, and found it's way into the net. The problem for Columbus? It certainly looked like the 6'4" Nash had his stick above the crossbeam of the goal, and the replay confirmed it. So, after making it look like they'd collapsed again, the Wild were able to escape the Xcel with a 2-1 victory. At 5-0-1, they're also the only Western team that hasn't been defeated in regulation.

Game plusses:
- Owen Nolan. Not only was it nice to see the veteran back in the line-up, but he was out creating chances. If it hadn't been for some great play by Leclaire and Norrena, he would have had more than one goal.
- Niklas Backstrom. Again, Backs was strong in net, making defensive mistakes null and void. Plus, he kept his strong play even after getting dumped behind his net.
- Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck is a force on the ice, throwing his body everywhere he can. The kid leads the team in hits, and is certainly looking like he's got a really good shot of staying in the bigs for awhile.

Game minuses:
- Brent Burns. We know that Jacques thinks that Burns has been playing great lately. Our problem? Burns hasn't been playing the strong defense that we need. A miscue in the Columbus game was only saved by Backstrom making an incredible stop.
- The "prevent" defense. The Wild have a tendency, especially at home, to pull back and play defense when they get a late lead. Against Buffalo, it blew up in their faces. Against Columbus, it almost happened again. Maybe it's time to adjust and keep attacking the opposing teams.
- Antti Miettinen and Andrew Brunette. These two were skating with the best player on the ice from either team, Mikko Koivu. And yet, too often, Koivu was the only one making plays. Both Antti and Andrew need to step up to where they were the first three games of the season.

Next up: Tonight at the Xcel, against the 3-2-3 Chicago Blackhawks.

Game Five: Wild 3, Sabres 4 (OT)

This was a hard game to swallow for Wild fans, and it probably wasn't that easy for Sabres fans, either. After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Minnesota Wild found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against the highly skilled Buffalo Sabres. It's never easy to see a team steal two points away from you, and it's that much harder to see it happen on your home ice.

The crazy thing is, for approximately 55 minutes, the Wild outplayed the Sabres in every aspect. They were skating better, shooting better, passing better, and defending better. After a great play by Brent Burns to give the Wild a 3-1 lead early in the third period, it certainly looked like Buffalo was on their way to their first regulation loss of the season. But a sloppy goal, a defensive lapse, and too much chasing turned the game completely on it's head.

From what we saw, the blame rests with the players, partly, but a good portion of it has to fall on coach Jacques Lemaire. After taking the two-goal lead against a top Eastern Conference team, Lemaire pulled the Wild out of attack mode, and encouraged them to play a defensive trap. He also started shortening the bench, which worked in the Sabres favor. Plain and simple, Buffalo was chippy all night, and they got more so in the third period, but there were no sightings of Craig Weller or Derek Boogaard. Plus, giving Buffalo the puck in the Wild zone for extended periods of time, especially without anyone clearing the front of the net, is a recipe for disaster, especially when Thomas Vanek is on the ice.

Ultimately, the Wild can't get too discouraged. Yes, they lost a game that they should have won. But they did it against a team that matches them in almost every single aspect of the game, and they still skated away with a point, keeping them on top (for now) of the Northwest Division. The next game will show if the Wild regain their killer instinct, or if they can't shake the Sabres attack from their heads.

Game plusses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. The kid looks like he's playing hard for a roster spot. He was all over the ice, in a positive way, throwing his body around and making some good plays. He's got the energy of Aaron Voros, but looks to have a bit more skill. It'll be tough to see him go back to Houston when Nolan and Gaborik come back.
- Derek Boogaard. The Boogeyman now has more points on the season (2) than fights (1). He even pulled a couple of nice dekes on the Buffalo defense, and almost banged home a goal.
- The first 55 minutes. Up until the late game collapse, the Wild were playing beautiful hockey, and were definitely out-playing the Sabres. Shifting their playing style at the end cost them the game, as they started chasing the Buffalo puck handlers.

Game minuses:
- Brent Burns. Yes, Burns had a beautiful play that gave the Wild the two-goal advantage. By the same token, he wasn't as strong in the defensive end as he has been in the past. He was also uncomfortably deep in the attacking zone a few too many times.
- Benoit Pouliot. We're hitting two of the goal scorers, but Pouliot needs to remember to play something more than offense. He picked up a rebound for a nice goal, but wasn't solid enough in his own end when push came to shove.
- Shortening the bench. We mentioned this before. The Sabres were getting fiesty. Putting Weller or Boogaard on the ice for a couple of shifts in the third might have taken some of their fight out. When Clutterbuck is the only guy really hitting, you need to add something else.

Next up: Saturday, against the 3-3 Columbus Blue Jackets, who play tonight against the visiting New York Rangers. Tonight is also Michael Peca's first game back from suspension.

Trade talk and Michael Peca

If you believe the rumor mill, then you've already accepted as fact the possibility that the Minnesota Wild is shopping around their only remaining original player. In fact, the local papers are even pointing to unnamed NHL executives saying that they've been personally asked if they are interested in Marian Gaborik, and his hefty contract hit. The unnamed execs are quoted as saying that they aren't interested in a trade.

Take that all with a grain of salt, though. Yes, Gaborik could be on the trade block. By the same token, the Wild could be inching closer to signing him to a long-term extension. The Wild bosses tend to hold their cards close to their chests, and this situation is no different. The biggest trick for the Wild, if they are trying to shop Gaby around, would be finding a team that could take him and his salary hit, and making sure to get players that make the deal look at least close to equal. However, when you couple Gaby's history of injuries with the fact that he's a year away from becoming a UFA, you realize how much more difficult it's going to be for a team to take a bite. After all, nobody wants to be like the Penguins with Marian Hossa.

As to where Gaby might end up if he does move, look for him to go east. The Wild are no fools in that aspect, and they'd make a point of shopping Gaborik out to some place that they might have to play him twice a season, unless there's a Stanley Cup match-up. After all, when he's healthy, he's always an offensive threat.

For now, it's just rumor. But rumors could spur action, so we might have more on this fairly soon.

Now, on to the Michael Peca incident. As many hockey fans now, Peca got suspended after a game against Dallas, where he initiated contact with an official. We've seen the video, and it's true that Peca grabbed the ref's arm, which is enough to merit the suspension. Peca did have an appeal, and got his suspension cut down to five games, due to circumstances that led to his grabbing the ref. Those circumstances?

Peca was tripped by Brendan Morrow on a power play. Shortly afterwards, Morrow scored a goal, which outraged the Blue Jacket veteran. So, in anger, and in trying to argue with the officials, he grabbed the referee's arm, and got slapped with his suspension. And yes, looking at the video, Peca was tripped. So was he justified?

Not in the slightest. There are calls that get missed every single game, and every single period. There are trips, crosschecks, holds, hooks, high sticks and elbows that change the course of the game and the officials don't send a player into the sin bin for them. Do some of those non-calls lead to goals? Yes. Was Peca right to be angry? Yes. But the problem here is that he grabbed an official. Say what you will about the refs at any sporting event, but they should be off-limits, except by accident. And Peca's been in the league long enough to know that, and keep his head in check. By grabbing the official, Peca took him from a position of authority to the same level as the players, and practically painted a target on him. And, in some ways, the NHL condoned Peca's actions by cutting his suspension in half.

Peca's able to return to the ice Friday night against the New York Rangers. Here's hoping he learned from his time off, and he is able to help reestablish the officials as the adjudicators of the sport.

Game Four: Wild 1, Lightning 0 (SO)

The game Saturday night reminded us why the game of hockey isn't played on paper. It also reminded us that sometimes, the best team doesn't get the bounces. After being outplayed for 60 minutes by Tampa Bay, Minnesota finally applied sustained pressure in the overtime period before sneaking away with the win in a shootout.

Defensively, both teams played strongly, as Tampa overcame penalty trouble with a very impressive penalty kill. Offensively, the Lightning had the edge, pouring more (and better) shots at Niklas Backstrom than the Wild were able to toss at Mike Smith. In fact, the only Wild line that seemed to be able to generate anything going offensively was the Brunette-Koivu-Miettinen line. Some of the best chances of the game for Minnesota came with Smith was caught out of his net, but the Wild weren't able to put the puck into the net. As for the best chances by the lightning, they were stopped by some tremendous saves by Backstrom, and some impressive blocks by both Nick Schultz and Eric Belanger.

When it came time for the shootout, it was obvious that Backstrom had practiced it in the off-season. Not sporting a great shootout record, he was able to stop all three Lightning shots (including a little help by Lecavelier just missing the post), while the only two Wild shooters who got the chance were Mikko Koivu and Antti Miettinen. Koivu attempted a different shot than his standard, which allowed Miettinen to take a page from his fellow Finn's book. The backhand roofer lit the lamp, and allowed the Wild to skate away with the 1-0 shootout victory, and improved their record to an impressive 4-0.

Good points from the game:
- Defense. All around, the Wild played a tight defensive game. Checking was physical, pucks were stopped everywhere, and Backstrom was given clear views of the net. Plus, keeping the penalty kill at a perfect 100% for the season is always golden.
- Shootout. We don't necessarily want to see a lot of these this year, but if the Wild can produce on the shootout the way they did Saturday, we might rest easier. No shock that the Wild's shooters were set at Koivu, Miettinen, and Brunette.
- Eric Belanger. He was the only Wild player not part of the top line that got a couple of decent looks at the net. Diving in front of those two pucks late in the third period saved the game for the Wild.

Negatives from the game:
- Power play. True, the Lightning found a way to tighten up their weak penalty kill, possibly because of coach Wes Walz's familiarity with the Wild power play. And true, the Wild had two very short chances. But the team wasn't really able to muster many shots on net, and should have been able to end the game sooner.
- Offense. Plain and simple, the team couldn't find a groove, offensively. They were badly outshot, and a good number of their attempts came from bad angles on the ice.
- Creating their own luck. The Wild admittedly had luck on defense, but none in the offensive zone. When a wandering goalie leaves the net open, and the puck is bouncing around, someone should have stepped up. And yet, when the Wild were in position, they tended to miss the net, or fan on the puck. Maybe some time off before the next game will get the team back on track.

Next up: Thursday night, against the 4-0-1 Buffalo Sabres, who have a game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

Game Three: Wild 6, Panthers 2

Alright. If anyone had said that the Wild were going to score 6 goals last night against a relatively tough defensive team before last night, it would have been easy to call them crazy. Especially when you look at the injuries, and realize that the Wild were missing the services of an entire forward line, with Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Owen Nolan, and (surprise!) Marian Gaborik sitting in the press box or back in Minnesota. Taking the Wild's youth into consideration, and the strength of the Florida D, it just didn't seem possible for that kind of offensive output.

Well, apparently nobody told Mikko Koivu, Antti Miettinen, or Andrew Brunette, as the Wild's "second" line (which has been playing like a first line since the first puck drop against Boston) notched ten points, and four of the goals for the team. Koivu turned in a brilliant performance, notching a late power play goal to go along with his four assists. Miettinen turned in another two goal performance, adding an assist of his own, and Brunette, once again, was the guy to get the lamp lit for the first time for the Wild, giving the team a 1-0 lead that they never looked back from.

Sure, Florida had their chances, but every time they brought it back within one, Minnesota stepped up and notched another insurance goal. One of the prettiest goals, after one of the more foolish plays, came off the stick of Benoit Pouliot. The kid went coast-to-coast, and, instead of smartly dumping the puck for a smooth line change, he battled 1-on-2, splitting the defense before turning Tomas Vokoun inside out. The Wild didn't let up in the third period when Craig Anderson took over the Florida net. Heck, even Derek Boogaard got into the fun, getting an assist for his first point since, well, the last time the Wild were in Florida (February 2007, for those playing at home).

Good points from the game:
- The "second" line. Obviously the line of Miettinen-Koivu-Brunette has yielded results. We're not quite to the point of saying "Marian Who?", but these three have just clicked, and carried the team to a 3-0-0 start.
- Defense. For the most part, the defense was strong, and bodies were flying all over the place. The only real scary spot? The first Florida goal, where Backstrom was screened by about three Panthers.
- Special teams. Again, the special teams has been huge for the Wild. Sure, they could have won the game without their power play goals, but they also could have won with just those tallies. Besides, the team still hasn't given up a power play goal.

Negatives from the game:
- Inexperience. Aside from Pouliot's beautiful goal, the rookies were a little scary to watch with the puck. Reitz was relatively strong, but too many fancy moves by Mojzis, Pouliot, or Gillies often led to missed chances.
- Boogaard vs. Belak. Not a good fight for Boogey, and not a great one for Belak either. Neither player could keep their legs under them, and they spun for awhile. Plus, after the penalties from earlier in the period (and the brawl), this fight just felt a little tacked on.
- The second period. Alright, most of the second period was actually really good. And it's hard to argue with any period that involves going from up 1-0 to being up 4-2. However, the Wild almost let Florida back into the game twice. The killer instinct from the third period needs to be more pronounced earlier.

Next up: Saturday against the 0-2-2 Tampa Bay Lightning. It's going to be imperative for the Wild to not look past the Lightning at this point of the season.

Game Two: Wild 4, Thrashers 2

Heading into last night's game, the Minnesota Wild had never lost in regulation to the Atlanta Thrashers. However, through two periods, it looked like the Wild and Thrasher goaltender Kari Lehtonen might find a way to make that first regulation loss happen. True, the score was tied at 1, thanks to an Andrew Brunette power play goal, and an answering goal from Ilya Kovalchuk, but the Wild offense just didn't seem to be clicking for the most part. When it did, Lehtonen stood huge in net, stopping pucks that he shoudn't have had a chance at.

And then the third period began, the strong defense that the Wild had been playing all night gave the team some good offensive opportunities, and the Wild skated away with the win. The catalyst may very well have been the gritty goal scored by Marian Gaborik (yes, we said gritty and Gaborik in the same sentence). After a nice wrap-around effort by Mikko Koivu, the puck trickled to Mathieu Schneider. Gaby decided that he didn't want Atlanta to move the puck out, so he lifted Schneider's stick, scooped the puck, and floated it past Lehtonen. That goal seemed to put some jump into the Wild's step, and especially into the step of Antti Miettinen, as he notched his second and third of the season to help the Wild win. A nice defensive play by Brent Burns at the end of the game kept the Thrashers from bringing it back to within one.

Overall, the team looked shaky on offense. Passes weren't crisp, and players seemed to be skating a little haphazardly, at least until the third. And no, we're not talking about Martin Skoula tripping over the center line. In spite of this, the defense held strong, helping Backstrom just enough to keep the game close, until the Wild's offense could click.

Good points from the game:
- Defense. We've said it before, and we'll say it again. Without the defensive play they received, the Wild would have been manhandled out there.
- Penalty kill. The Wild shut down the Thrashers power play, and, while they're only two games into the season, they haven't given up a power play goal yet.
- Back check. When Atlanta pressed into the Wild zone, Minnesota was able to help out Backstrom with some excellent back checking, including a huge hit by none other than Marian Gaborik.

Negatives from the game:
- Injuries. Nolan went down with a "lower body injury". Bouchard was sent home with back spasms. This will make things tougher on the young Wild.
- Power play. The first power play looked like a well-oiled machine. The following four looked like they'd forgotten how to drive.
- Rookies. Pouliot and Gillies were all over the ice, but not in a good way. Thankfully, Eric Reitz was strong in defense.

Next up: Thursday against the 1-1 Florida Panthers.

Game One: Wild 4, Bruins 3

The Wild opened their division champion defense Saturday night against the Boston Bruins. The Team of 18,o00 came into the game having never lost a home opener, but they were playing against a goaltender that helped them reach that mark. The game also marked the first in a Wild sweater for a number of players. Thankfully for Wild fans, those newcomers helped win the game.

The first period started out rough, but that was to be expected for a team that hadn't played a game in a week. After going down 1-0 on a goal by Boston's Phil Kessel, the Wild looked a little shell-shocked. They were being outshot, and had already had to fight off a 4 minute double minor to defenseman Brent Burns. The Wild got two chances on the power play in the first period, and, like last year, the team cycled the puck a lot, but didn't put together a lot of shots. By the same token, they may not need a lot of shots if the players can deliver good ones, like Eric Belanger did on the second power play. His goal tied the score as the teams skated into intermission.

In the second period, the flood gates opened for the Wild, and they were able to mount a strong showing. If it hadn't been for some spectacular saves by Manny Fernandez, the Wild could have put easily five or six pucks in the net. As it was, they were able to notch another three goals, coming from Marc-Andre Bergeron (on the power play), Antti Miettinen, and another goal by Eric Belanger. The Bruins skated well, but couldn't sneak anything past Nik Backstrom, and they went down 4-1 to end the second period.

In the third, the wheels came off a bit, and Boston's Marc Savard brought the game within one with two pretty goals. Where many of the Wild goals came thanks to scrapping in front of the net, the Boston goals just seemed to have great trajectory. However, much like Fernandez in the second period, Backstrom made some tremendous saves to keep his team in the lead. A late penalty against Stephane Veilleux led to a thrilling end-of-game, as the Bruins put the pressure on, pulling their goaltender to get a 6-on-4 power play. In the end, though, the Wild stood strong.

Good points from the game:
- Newcomers. Not only did Bergeron and Miettinen score in their first Wild games, but Owen Nolan, Andrew Brunette, and Colton Gillies notched assists. It was Gillies first NHL point.
- Special teams. The Wild power play went 2 for 3, while their penalty kill held the Bruins to 0 for 3.
- Surprises. The Wild lines didn't change, as has been the case in past seasons. Also, seeing Marian Gaborik on the penalty kill reminded us why he's more than just a goal scorer, something that couldn't be said a few years back.

Negatives from the game:
- Pressure. The Wild put a lot of pressure on the Bruins in the first period, but didn't have many shots to show for it. When Boston ramped back up, the Wild looked a little shaky, and Backstrom had to stand tall.
- The third period. The Wild didn't have a strong third period, which is a huge change from last season. Here's hoping that they get that figured out before too long.
- Shots. The Wild were outshot by a good margin. While the passes were fairly crisp, and players had good looks, they didn't always pull the trigger when they could have. A prime example of that? Both Colton Gillies and Marian Gaborik tried to feed Derek Boogaard when they had clearer paths to the goal.

Next up: Atlanta Thrashers, who are 1-0-1.