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.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, December 19, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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?
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?
Friday, December 12, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
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?
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?
Monday, December 8, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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?
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?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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?
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?
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