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.