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.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 27, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, October 24, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 20, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, October 17, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 13, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, October 10, 2008
A captain shall ascend
Today, the Wild announced who gets to wear the "C" on the front of their sweater for at least the month of October. The choice?
One of the two guys who were told yesterday that they'd be wearing the "A", and the one that many fans think could hold the "C" on a permanent basis.
So congratulations, Mikko Koivu! We expect the "A" to be transferred to Johnsson for the beginning month, especially since he was acting as the team's captain througout the preseason.
In looking at last night's season opening games, it appears that the moves the NHL has made over the years to improve scoring have finally started showing results. All four of the games featured at least 5 goals scored. In fact, two of the teams scored 5 themselves, with Boston needing the extra talley to top Colorado, and Vancouver only needing one on their way to a 6-0 shutout of Calgary. In the other games, San Jose topped Anaheim 4-1 and Toronto spoiled Detroit's banner-raising with a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings.
Another pile of games on the slate tonight, but we're still waiting for tomorrow when the Wild face the Bruins.
One of the two guys who were told yesterday that they'd be wearing the "A", and the one that many fans think could hold the "C" on a permanent basis.
So congratulations, Mikko Koivu! We expect the "A" to be transferred to Johnsson for the beginning month, especially since he was acting as the team's captain througout the preseason.
In looking at last night's season opening games, it appears that the moves the NHL has made over the years to improve scoring have finally started showing results. All four of the games featured at least 5 goals scored. In fact, two of the teams scored 5 themselves, with Boston needing the extra talley to top Colorado, and Vancouver only needing one on their way to a 6-0 shutout of Calgary. In the other games, San Jose topped Anaheim 4-1 and Toronto spoiled Detroit's banner-raising with a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings.
Another pile of games on the slate tonight, but we're still waiting for tomorrow when the Wild face the Bruins.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Opening Night
Well, technically, the NHL season opened over the weekend in Europe, with a couple of sets of back-to-back games. And it's true, the Minnesota Wild (who we unabashedly follow) don't have their first game until Saturday night against the Boston Bruins. But that's not going to stop the eight teams that do have games scheduled tonight, including three of the Wild's in-division rivals. The Colorado Avalanche are playing Boston, and the Calgary Flames are taking their re-tooled offense across Canada to play Pavol Demitra and the Vancouver Canucks.
Meanwhile, here in St. Paul, the Wild are getting ready to start on their division title defense. The roster has a lot of youth, but also some good experience and leadership in some of the grizzled veterans. And, at least for now, the team still has the services of #10. Of course, two of their defensemen are starting the season injured, but they should be able to absorb that, as well.
Here's what we're guessing (thanks to tips from others) the lines will look like on Saturday:
Forwards
Veilleux - Sheppard - Gaborik
This line clicked in Montreal last Saturday. Sheppard's got some skills that work well with both wingers, Gaby can be the offensive focal point, and Steph can play the gritty offense he's known for, digging pucks out of the corners and harassing the goaltender.
Brunette - Koivu - Bouchard
This could be a big offensive line for the Wild, and we think pairing Bouchard with Brunette might be able to rekindle some of that spark from the '03 campaign. Watch for Koivu to continue his progress to being a terrific two-way center.
Nolan - Belanger - Miettinnen
We admit, we differ from some sources on this line and the one prior to it. We just think that putting these three together allows the Wild to have a line that's got offensive potential, but also the grit and tenacity to make things happen that shouldn't. Nolan and Miettinnen both have good skills in the offensive zone. It remains to be seen if Belanger can find his groove from the beginning of last season.
Gillies - Pouliot - Weller
A young line, but a tough line. We could also see Gillies and Miettinnen swapped during the season, if the Wild are looking for a little more experience to guide the rookie in his first campaign.
Healthy Scratch - Derek Boogaard
While the Boogeyman is a force on the ice, he doesn't provide much offensively, and the Wild are going to need offense to keep up with Boston. The Bruins have a stronger team, especially with the return of Patrice Bergeron, but they aren't the Bruins of old, who would bruise people into submission. We expect Boogaard to not play game one, but could be wrong.
Defensive pairings
Johnsson - Burns
The teams top two defensemen. Both are steady in their own zone, and both can provide a spark of offense when needed. Plus, Burns brings a youthful exuberance to the ice.
Skoula - Bergeron
Martin Skoula has drawn the ire of Wild fans over the years. Will pairing him with Marc-Andre Bergeron and his booming shot help?
Schultz - Reitz
If Reitz can play strongly in this first game, he should be able to have a good shot at staying in the line-up. If not, he might be the first one removed when Zidlicky returns from his ankle injury.
Healthy Scratch - Tomas Mojzis
Mojzis was impressive in training camp. He could easily take Reitz's spot in the line-up, but we think Lemaire is going to go with Reitz against Boston.
IR - Foster, Scott, Zidlicky
Two injured ankles, and we know what happened to Foster last year against the boards. When these guys are healthy, the entire defense (aside from Burns and Johnsson) could be scrambled, and that could spark a Wild team that's got some tough times ahead of it if it wants to repeat as division champs.
Meanwhile, here in St. Paul, the Wild are getting ready to start on their division title defense. The roster has a lot of youth, but also some good experience and leadership in some of the grizzled veterans. And, at least for now, the team still has the services of #10. Of course, two of their defensemen are starting the season injured, but they should be able to absorb that, as well.
Here's what we're guessing (thanks to tips from others) the lines will look like on Saturday:
Forwards
Veilleux - Sheppard - Gaborik
This line clicked in Montreal last Saturday. Sheppard's got some skills that work well with both wingers, Gaby can be the offensive focal point, and Steph can play the gritty offense he's known for, digging pucks out of the corners and harassing the goaltender.
Brunette - Koivu - Bouchard
This could be a big offensive line for the Wild, and we think pairing Bouchard with Brunette might be able to rekindle some of that spark from the '03 campaign. Watch for Koivu to continue his progress to being a terrific two-way center.
Nolan - Belanger - Miettinnen
We admit, we differ from some sources on this line and the one prior to it. We just think that putting these three together allows the Wild to have a line that's got offensive potential, but also the grit and tenacity to make things happen that shouldn't. Nolan and Miettinnen both have good skills in the offensive zone. It remains to be seen if Belanger can find his groove from the beginning of last season.
Gillies - Pouliot - Weller
A young line, but a tough line. We could also see Gillies and Miettinnen swapped during the season, if the Wild are looking for a little more experience to guide the rookie in his first campaign.
Healthy Scratch - Derek Boogaard
While the Boogeyman is a force on the ice, he doesn't provide much offensively, and the Wild are going to need offense to keep up with Boston. The Bruins have a stronger team, especially with the return of Patrice Bergeron, but they aren't the Bruins of old, who would bruise people into submission. We expect Boogaard to not play game one, but could be wrong.
Defensive pairings
Johnsson - Burns
The teams top two defensemen. Both are steady in their own zone, and both can provide a spark of offense when needed. Plus, Burns brings a youthful exuberance to the ice.
Skoula - Bergeron
Martin Skoula has drawn the ire of Wild fans over the years. Will pairing him with Marc-Andre Bergeron and his booming shot help?
Schultz - Reitz
If Reitz can play strongly in this first game, he should be able to have a good shot at staying in the line-up. If not, he might be the first one removed when Zidlicky returns from his ankle injury.
Healthy Scratch - Tomas Mojzis
Mojzis was impressive in training camp. He could easily take Reitz's spot in the line-up, but we think Lemaire is going to go with Reitz against Boston.
IR - Foster, Scott, Zidlicky
Two injured ankles, and we know what happened to Foster last year against the boards. When these guys are healthy, the entire defense (aside from Burns and Johnsson) could be scrambled, and that could spark a Wild team that's got some tough times ahead of it if it wants to repeat as division champs.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Preseason Games Six & Seven; Mascot and Roster
Friday night, the Wild skated into Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets in the penultimate preseason warm-up. And, well, maybe the team wishes that they'd stayed at home, after getting knocked around to the tune of a 5-3 loss. The Wild were down at one point 3-0, but they weren't able to come back all the way, and a late Minnesota power play ended up resulting in a Columbus short-handed goal. And this all coming less than 24 hours before the Wild were scheduled to take on Montreal, a team picked by many to be a legitimate challenge for the Stanley Cup this year.
Well, the Wild put together most of their season starters (minus a couple of injuries) and they proceeded to wallop the Canadiens 3-0 to close out their preseason. Gaboik and preseason scoring phenom Stephane Veilleux contributed goals, and Niklas Backstrom shut the door repeatedly on the talented Montreal offense. The Wild now has to find a way to keep their focus as they await their first real game of the season on Saturday, against the Boston Bruins.
But that's not the only Wild news from over the weekend. The team unveiled its first-ever mascot yesterday, showing "Nordy" off to the gathered crowd. Yup. A mascot. In all honesty, as strange as a mascot seems to us here, we have to admit that he'll connect with kids that might not be all that thrilled to watch a little black puck on a big sheet of white.
Finally, the Wild seems about ready to lock down their final rosters, and it looks like Benoit Pouliot is in, as well as Erik Reitz. Injuries to Marek Zidlicky and Josh Harding could extend the stay of Tomas Mojzis and Barry Brust. It also seems as though the Wild are going to give another teenager a shot to prove himself in the NHL. No, not this year's first-round pick, Tyler Cuma, even though he had a great preseason. It looks like last year's pick, 19 year-old Colton Gillies has done well enough that he'll get the chance that James Sheppard got last year. The Wild has definitely cultivated a young core of players, and if Gillies can do half as well as Sheppard did last year, this could be a very interesting season for the defending Northwest Division champions.
Well, the Wild put together most of their season starters (minus a couple of injuries) and they proceeded to wallop the Canadiens 3-0 to close out their preseason. Gaboik and preseason scoring phenom Stephane Veilleux contributed goals, and Niklas Backstrom shut the door repeatedly on the talented Montreal offense. The Wild now has to find a way to keep their focus as they await their first real game of the season on Saturday, against the Boston Bruins.
But that's not the only Wild news from over the weekend. The team unveiled its first-ever mascot yesterday, showing "Nordy" off to the gathered crowd. Yup. A mascot. In all honesty, as strange as a mascot seems to us here, we have to admit that he'll connect with kids that might not be all that thrilled to watch a little black puck on a big sheet of white.
Finally, the Wild seems about ready to lock down their final rosters, and it looks like Benoit Pouliot is in, as well as Erik Reitz. Injuries to Marek Zidlicky and Josh Harding could extend the stay of Tomas Mojzis and Barry Brust. It also seems as though the Wild are going to give another teenager a shot to prove himself in the NHL. No, not this year's first-round pick, Tyler Cuma, even though he had a great preseason. It looks like last year's pick, 19 year-old Colton Gillies has done well enough that he'll get the chance that James Sheppard got last year. The Wild has definitely cultivated a young core of players, and if Gillies can do half as well as Sheppard did last year, this could be a very interesting season for the defending Northwest Division champions.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Preseason Game Five: Minnesota 3, Buffalo 2
This time, the Wild didn't need to wait for overtime. After amassing three goals in the first period, courtesy of Antti Miettinen, Owen Nolan, and the returning Brent Burns, the Minnesota defense was able to hang on, giving them the victory over the visiting Sabres. In fact, it looked like it would be a strong two-goal victory, until a late, and potentially questionable, call against Krys Kolanos gave Buffalo an end-of-game powerplay. It wasn't until after they'd pulled goaltender Ryan Miller that they eventually scored, bringing them within one. Fortunately for Minnesota fans, the last goal happened with under one second remaining in the game.
Last night's game was a triumphant return from injury for both Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who demonstrated his playmaking abilities on the Nolan goal. Unfortunately, for Minnesota, there was a scare in the third period, courtesy of the stick of Martin Skoula, which found its way into Josh Harding's facemask.
This could be bad for the Wild. Sure, the team is most likely looking to ride Backstrom as long as they can, but without a steady back-up, the goaltending could be in shambles. Backstrom is a strong goaltender when confident, but, shake him a bit, and he looks lost between the pipes. In those times last year, Harding was able to step in, help right the team, and get Backstrom some of that confidence back. Not that Harding was perfect in net, either, but he's definitely got a leg up on the third goaltender, Barry Brust. Brust has played in the NHL before, but he's something of a journeyman, and is likely being considered in case of serious injury to one of the top two netminders.
We'll learn more about the Harding injury in the next couple of days. In the meantime, the Wild have the day off, as they travel to Columbus for their six preseason game, before finishing out in the town that so many of their management played in; Montreal. Only nine more days before the Bruins come to the X.
Last night's game was a triumphant return from injury for both Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who demonstrated his playmaking abilities on the Nolan goal. Unfortunately, for Minnesota, there was a scare in the third period, courtesy of the stick of Martin Skoula, which found its way into Josh Harding's facemask.
This could be bad for the Wild. Sure, the team is most likely looking to ride Backstrom as long as they can, but without a steady back-up, the goaltending could be in shambles. Backstrom is a strong goaltender when confident, but, shake him a bit, and he looks lost between the pipes. In those times last year, Harding was able to step in, help right the team, and get Backstrom some of that confidence back. Not that Harding was perfect in net, either, but he's definitely got a leg up on the third goaltender, Barry Brust. Brust has played in the NHL before, but he's something of a journeyman, and is likely being considered in case of serious injury to one of the top two netminders.
We'll learn more about the Harding injury in the next couple of days. In the meantime, the Wild have the day off, as they travel to Columbus for their six preseason game, before finishing out in the town that so many of their management played in; Montreal. Only nine more days before the Bruins come to the X.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Preseason Game Four: Minnesota 3, Chicago 2 (OT)
Well well well. It looks like the Wild decided to avenge their lone preseason loss by taking it to a Chicago team playing their third game in as many nights. Of course, by taking it to Chicago, we mean that they let the 'Hawks build up a 2-1 lead on goals from Patrick Kane and Brent Seabrook. The loan Wild tally? Colton Gillies, who's trying to prove that, just one year removed from being the team's first round pick, he's ready to play with the big boys.
Tyler Cuma seems to be trying that gambit as well, with another strong showing. The kid seems to know his defensive role, and blocked a few shots. He'll get another chance to prove himself tonight against the Sabres, but he's still very much on the outside looking in. With the Wild's defensive corps, it'll be hard to crack into that top 8, although a spot might open if Marc-Andre Bergeron doesn't figure out how to keep his gloves from dropping.
Of course, when Marian Gaborik's skating, the Wild seems to find ways to do things that they normally can't do. While Gaby wasn't able to put the puck into the net with any of his shots, he did log over 24 minutes of ice time, and even showcased some of his speed. Now to shake off the rust and get used to playing with Koivu and Brunette (could this be the year that Jacques doesn't shake up the lines?). The player that truly stepped up last night?
Stephane Veilleux. Playing in his first preseason since becoming his own agent, the fiery redhead has notched three goals in his four games, with two of them coming last night. True, once the season starts, everything starts from scratch, but knowing that Veilleux has found something of a scoring touch even during the preseason should help when the puck drops for real. As for scoring in overtime? That doesn't matter if it's preseason or postseason. It's always a big one.
Tonight, the Wild take on the Buffalo Sabres. Last time these two met, the Wild squeaked past with a PPG and a shootout victory. It might be time for the Sabres to get some vengeance. By the same token, this could be the first preseason game for Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and those two will be fired up.
Tyler Cuma seems to be trying that gambit as well, with another strong showing. The kid seems to know his defensive role, and blocked a few shots. He'll get another chance to prove himself tonight against the Sabres, but he's still very much on the outside looking in. With the Wild's defensive corps, it'll be hard to crack into that top 8, although a spot might open if Marc-Andre Bergeron doesn't figure out how to keep his gloves from dropping.
Of course, when Marian Gaborik's skating, the Wild seems to find ways to do things that they normally can't do. While Gaby wasn't able to put the puck into the net with any of his shots, he did log over 24 minutes of ice time, and even showcased some of his speed. Now to shake off the rust and get used to playing with Koivu and Brunette (could this be the year that Jacques doesn't shake up the lines?). The player that truly stepped up last night?
Stephane Veilleux. Playing in his first preseason since becoming his own agent, the fiery redhead has notched three goals in his four games, with two of them coming last night. True, once the season starts, everything starts from scratch, but knowing that Veilleux has found something of a scoring touch even during the preseason should help when the puck drops for real. As for scoring in overtime? That doesn't matter if it's preseason or postseason. It's always a big one.
Tonight, the Wild take on the Buffalo Sabres. Last time these two met, the Wild squeaked past with a PPG and a shootout victory. It might be time for the Sabres to get some vengeance. By the same token, this could be the first preseason game for Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and those two will be fired up.
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