This Minnesota Wild team will get better. They will play hard for 60 minutes, and apply a strong offense. They will have a forecheck to be reckoned with, and the goaltending will be stellar. The defense will help out, and the stars on the team will be allowed to shine.
But right now, and until that happens, watching the games could be difficult for more fair-weather fans. Part of what the previous regime did to the Wild through consistent competitiveness is to strip the cupboard bare, and the Wild aren't keeping pace with other teams when it comes to young talent. Add to that an extremely road-heavy schedule to start the season, and it isn't much of a shock that the Wild had barely any fire, even after a goal-scoring flurry in the second period. The team needs a win badly, and they need some confidence, but they're skating on tired legs after having lived on a plane for the first month of the season. The tide will turn, but how long will Wild fans give the team before the sell-out streak ends?
Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. The oldest member of the team is still showing that he wants to get the Wild going in the right direction, and his skate-to-stick play leading to his goal was an example of what kind of puck handling skills he can possess.
- John Scott. The big defenseman almost put the puck in the net, most notably during a scrum in front. The fact that Scott was heading to the goal mouth is a great sign. Hopefully, the rest of the Wild pay attention to this.
- Opening of the second period. For three minutes, the Wild showed just what kind of team they can be. However, after firing off three quick shots, getting three goals, and chasing the Nashville netminder, the Wild sat back on their heels, waiting to give the lead back.
Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. Plenty of times this young season, Backstrom has kept the Wild in games. Against Nashville, he was one of the big reasons that they were out of it, giving up three relatively soft goals, which is something he doesn't do often.
- James Sheppard. While the officials certainly didn't help, Sheppard once again showed a lack of awareness of his surroundings, or what he was doing with his stick.
- Possession. The Wild couldn't keep the puck on their sticks. One of the more glaring times came when Marek Zidlicky got his pocket picked on the way to Nashville's game-winning shorthanded goal, but none of the Wild seemed to have a good handle on the puck.
Next up: The Wild have their work cut out for them, but they get to stay home through Friday, when they take on the New York Rangers. Former Wild star Marian Gaborik is currently sitting with an injury, so he may be out of the line-up, which would be a bit of a blessing for the Wild, given that Gaborik is leading the Rangers in scoring thus far.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
2009-10 Game Eleven: Wild 1, Blackhawks 3
Maybe it's the fact that the team finally gets to play two consecutive home games for the first time this season. Maybe it's a lack of talent, something that was hidden by the previous system. Maybe they just don't have the drive on the road to get things done. Whatever the cause, the Minnesota Wild found themselves in a similar position against the Chicago Blackhawks. After playing hard for the first ten minutes, a defensive lapse gave Chicago a lead, and the Wild just couldn't put things together after that. Even when handed power play after power play, the Wild offense was completely ineffective, as the Blackhawks powered straight through the Wild on the way to the victory.
The Wild look lost, as they became the first team in over a decade to go without a point in their first eight road games. The scorers are either not making shots, or taking bad angle shots, hitters aren't hitting with their usual force, and the defense keeps trying to pinch in for an extra attacker, but leaving themselves open for an opposing breakaway. If it wasn't for the goaltending the Wild have gotten the last few games, they wouldn't have even had a chance to pull even. The team needs to find the fire within themselves to get it done, or they may be letting go of any thoughts towards a post-season before Thanksgiving.
Game pluses:
- Andrew Brunette. The Wild are offensively futile for the most part, but Andrew Brunette continues to display a veteran's patience, and is one of the few players for the Wild that can be counted on to put a point onto the score sheet.
- Greg Zanon. A game after he almost scored the OT winner, Zanon was again a force for blocked shots.
- Faceoffs. An area of trouble for last year's Wild team, this year, the Wild are winning the puck battle right away. Unfortunately, they aren't keeping it for long, or aren't doing anything with it when they do have it.
Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. True, Sheppard didn't get into the game much thanks to all the special teams play. By the same token, what better way to display your desire than taking those few minutes and working hard? Sheppard spent too much of the game looking, and not enough playing physically.
- Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky didn't have the worst game of his Wild career, but he's quickly becoming a bit of a liability for puck possession. He also had more trouble clearing the defensive zone last night than he's had in awhile.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat started the game strong, and almost put together a beautiful play for an early Minnesota lead. However, he was stifled, and proceeded to frustrate himself into ineffectivenesss for the remainder of the game.
Next up: The Wild return home, to the site of their only victories this season. Their opponents? The Nashville Predators, giving Zanon and Zidlicky a chance to skate against their old team.
The Wild look lost, as they became the first team in over a decade to go without a point in their first eight road games. The scorers are either not making shots, or taking bad angle shots, hitters aren't hitting with their usual force, and the defense keeps trying to pinch in for an extra attacker, but leaving themselves open for an opposing breakaway. If it wasn't for the goaltending the Wild have gotten the last few games, they wouldn't have even had a chance to pull even. The team needs to find the fire within themselves to get it done, or they may be letting go of any thoughts towards a post-season before Thanksgiving.
Game pluses:
- Andrew Brunette. The Wild are offensively futile for the most part, but Andrew Brunette continues to display a veteran's patience, and is one of the few players for the Wild that can be counted on to put a point onto the score sheet.
- Greg Zanon. A game after he almost scored the OT winner, Zanon was again a force for blocked shots.
- Faceoffs. An area of trouble for last year's Wild team, this year, the Wild are winning the puck battle right away. Unfortunately, they aren't keeping it for long, or aren't doing anything with it when they do have it.
Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. True, Sheppard didn't get into the game much thanks to all the special teams play. By the same token, what better way to display your desire than taking those few minutes and working hard? Sheppard spent too much of the game looking, and not enough playing physically.
- Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky didn't have the worst game of his Wild career, but he's quickly becoming a bit of a liability for puck possession. He also had more trouble clearing the defensive zone last night than he's had in awhile.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat started the game strong, and almost put together a beautiful play for an early Minnesota lead. However, he was stifled, and proceeded to frustrate himself into ineffectivenesss for the remainder of the game.
Next up: The Wild return home, to the site of their only victories this season. Their opponents? The Nashville Predators, giving Zanon and Zidlicky a chance to skate against their old team.
Monday, October 26, 2009
2009-10 Game Ten: Wild 3, Hurricanes 2 (OT)
Eventually, both trends will have to turn. The Wild will eventually win a game on the road, and, alternately, they will eventually lose a game at home. Here's hoping that they win a home game in regulation first, as Minnesota keeps proving that leaving before the end of the third period means missing the outcome. Take a couple of returning players, some home ice, and a Carolina team that's been struggling as well, and you've got the recipe for another Minnesota Wild home-ice overtime victory.
It didn't necessarily start out looking like the boys in green were going to pull this one off, giving up a goal in the first period while shorthanded, largely due to an inability to clear the puck. However, the Wild didn't give up, and they tied the game before the first intermission. In the second, they took a lead, but gave it back thanks to another puck handling miscue. Then the stage was set for overtime, as both teams played tight defensively through the third period. Cal Clutterbuck, who was supposed to be out until December due to his ankle injury, ended up being in perfect position to put the puck into the net in overtime, keeping the Wild perfect at home.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. How about this? Clutterbuck returns two weeks after sustaining an ankle injury that was supposed to keep him out of the line-up for months, plays his physical game, and gets a fantastic goal while being tackled in overtime.
- Niklas Backstrom. Once again, the Wild's star goalie stood tall in the net, making some unbelievable saves, including stifling a fantastic Carolina breakaway.
- Greg Zanon. When Backstrom couldn't make the save, Zanon seemed to find a way to block the shot. Zanon keeps placing himself in front of the puck, and saved a goal himself.
Game minuses:
- Antti Miettinen. Miettinen looks like he's trying to do too much with the puck, and his giveaway at the Carolina blue-line in the second period lead to the game-tying goal. It was a poor decision at that moment, and it had the potential to send the Wild into a nosedive.
- 5-on-5. At one point in the game, the Wild only had shots while on the power play. While they did start turning the tide, they need to get offense at all times, not just with the man advantage.
- Mikko Koivu. Overall, Koivu played a standard game, creating chances and working some magic with the puck. But how many times did he find himself thrown out of the faceoff circle? While the officials may have been a little sensitive, Koivu needs to keep himself involved in the draws.
Next up: The Wild are flying high again, but, unfortunately for them, they have to go back on the road. Can Martin Havlat find his game in his first game against the Chicago Blackhawks? Or will the Wild be distracted by the return of Marian Gaborik later this week?
It didn't necessarily start out looking like the boys in green were going to pull this one off, giving up a goal in the first period while shorthanded, largely due to an inability to clear the puck. However, the Wild didn't give up, and they tied the game before the first intermission. In the second, they took a lead, but gave it back thanks to another puck handling miscue. Then the stage was set for overtime, as both teams played tight defensively through the third period. Cal Clutterbuck, who was supposed to be out until December due to his ankle injury, ended up being in perfect position to put the puck into the net in overtime, keeping the Wild perfect at home.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. How about this? Clutterbuck returns two weeks after sustaining an ankle injury that was supposed to keep him out of the line-up for months, plays his physical game, and gets a fantastic goal while being tackled in overtime.
- Niklas Backstrom. Once again, the Wild's star goalie stood tall in the net, making some unbelievable saves, including stifling a fantastic Carolina breakaway.
- Greg Zanon. When Backstrom couldn't make the save, Zanon seemed to find a way to block the shot. Zanon keeps placing himself in front of the puck, and saved a goal himself.
Game minuses:
- Antti Miettinen. Miettinen looks like he's trying to do too much with the puck, and his giveaway at the Carolina blue-line in the second period lead to the game-tying goal. It was a poor decision at that moment, and it had the potential to send the Wild into a nosedive.
- 5-on-5. At one point in the game, the Wild only had shots while on the power play. While they did start turning the tide, they need to get offense at all times, not just with the man advantage.
- Mikko Koivu. Overall, Koivu played a standard game, creating chances and working some magic with the puck. But how many times did he find himself thrown out of the faceoff circle? While the officials may have been a little sensitive, Koivu needs to keep himself involved in the draws.
Next up: The Wild are flying high again, but, unfortunately for them, they have to go back on the road. Can Martin Havlat find his game in his first game against the Chicago Blackhawks? Or will the Wild be distracted by the return of Marian Gaborik later this week?
2009-10 Game Nine: Wild 1, Blues 3
If the Wild want to find a way to win on the road, they need to get a quick start to the game. The St. Louis Blues showed just how to do that, taking a 1-0 lead before the first minute had ticked off of the clock. Once again playing from behind, the Wild fought and scrapped for every inch of ice, but they just couldn't pull even, let alone ahead.
Once again, Niklas Backstrom did what he could to hold the team in the game, but defensive lapses and a lack of being able to put things together offensively lead to the defeat. While the Wild are trying to employ a forechecking system, the Blues showed what an effective forecheck can be, and what one with good size and speed for all players can show. The way Minnesota got banged around the ice, it's a surprise that the score wasn't more lopsided.
Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild netminder did everything he could to keep the team in the game. He's putting up solid numbers, but he hasn't had the goal support needed to secure more wins.
- Chuck Kobasew. The newest member of the team scored his first goal in a Wild sweater, and continues to play with fire.
- Perseverance. The Wild have played from behind almost every game this season. Perhaps as a surprise, they haven't turtled yet, but instead keep playing hard, trying to get themselves back into the game. However, playing from behind gets to be tough every night.
Game minuses:
- Martin Havlat. Havlat is still obviously struggling, and can't develop a touch. Hopefully an upcoming game against his former team will help him rediscover his game.
- Kim Johnsson. He's been much bemoaned here, but the last thing the Wild needed was another injured player.
- Power play. Chris Mason is a big goaltender, but the Wild just didn't generate enough against him with the man advantage. With the Wild's 5-on-5 woes, the power play needs to spark the offense.
Next up: The Wild played another back-to-back, heading home from St. Louis to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
Once again, Niklas Backstrom did what he could to hold the team in the game, but defensive lapses and a lack of being able to put things together offensively lead to the defeat. While the Wild are trying to employ a forechecking system, the Blues showed what an effective forecheck can be, and what one with good size and speed for all players can show. The way Minnesota got banged around the ice, it's a surprise that the score wasn't more lopsided.
Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild netminder did everything he could to keep the team in the game. He's putting up solid numbers, but he hasn't had the goal support needed to secure more wins.
- Chuck Kobasew. The newest member of the team scored his first goal in a Wild sweater, and continues to play with fire.
- Perseverance. The Wild have played from behind almost every game this season. Perhaps as a surprise, they haven't turtled yet, but instead keep playing hard, trying to get themselves back into the game. However, playing from behind gets to be tough every night.
Game minuses:
- Martin Havlat. Havlat is still obviously struggling, and can't develop a touch. Hopefully an upcoming game against his former team will help him rediscover his game.
- Kim Johnsson. He's been much bemoaned here, but the last thing the Wild needed was another injured player.
- Power play. Chris Mason is a big goaltender, but the Wild just didn't generate enough against him with the man advantage. With the Wild's 5-on-5 woes, the power play needs to spark the offense.
Next up: The Wild played another back-to-back, heading home from St. Louis to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
2009-10 Game Eight: Wild 3, Avalance 2 (SO)
The Minnesota Wild returned home Wednesday for a short stay, given that they leave right away again for a game on Friday in St. Louis. Their opponents? The Colorado Avalanche, who were riding an incredible streak on the road, setting themselves up as one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now. Meanwhile, the Wild were looking to patch themselves up after being handed loss after loss away from the Xcel Energy Center.
Apparently, all it took for the Wild to complete another comeback victory was new jerseys, a "C" on the chest of Mikko Koivu, and the home crowd. Not that the game was easy, by any means. The Wild took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but they had to know that they should have been leading by a larger margin. Consequently, the second period was one of the worst periods of hockey the Wild have played in awhile, and the third featured the team struggling, up until the point that Captain Koivu stepped up, and hammered home the tying goal. After some shattered glass and a scoreless overtime, it was once again Koivu that notched the lone shootout goal, giving the Wild a perfect 2-0 record at the Xcel this season.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. No surprises here. Koivu got the "C" on his sweater, and played even better than he has through earlier games. His hockey smarts were on display, and his shootout goal past Craig Anderson was a thing of beauty.
- Niklas Backstrom. During the second period, Backstrom needed to be stellar, and he was. The two goals that beat him were either fluky or impossible to stop, but he held his team in the game until Koivu could complete the comeback.
- Chuck Kobasew. The Wild's newest player showed some speed, some skill, and a determination to scrap for every inch of ice. Kobasew drew penalty after penalty because of his effort.
Game minuses:
- Even strength. The Wild are having tons of problems getting their offense going when they're skating even-strength with other teams. They need to find a way to fix this problem if they have a hope of turning the season around.
- Defensive zone. The Wild once again had problems clearing their own zone, and it was particularly awful during the second period. Both goals against Backstrom came from horrible clearing attempts.
- Martin Havlat. In his first game back from injury, Havlat showed some of the skills that made him such a desirable off-season acquisition. However, he's missing shots that he should be making, possibly due to putting too much pressure on himself. Havlat needs to score soon, and the pressure should ease up.
Next up: The Wild get on a plane again, and head off to St. Louis, to take on the Blues Friday night, before returning home for a Saturday game.
Apparently, all it took for the Wild to complete another comeback victory was new jerseys, a "C" on the chest of Mikko Koivu, and the home crowd. Not that the game was easy, by any means. The Wild took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but they had to know that they should have been leading by a larger margin. Consequently, the second period was one of the worst periods of hockey the Wild have played in awhile, and the third featured the team struggling, up until the point that Captain Koivu stepped up, and hammered home the tying goal. After some shattered glass and a scoreless overtime, it was once again Koivu that notched the lone shootout goal, giving the Wild a perfect 2-0 record at the Xcel this season.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. No surprises here. Koivu got the "C" on his sweater, and played even better than he has through earlier games. His hockey smarts were on display, and his shootout goal past Craig Anderson was a thing of beauty.
- Niklas Backstrom. During the second period, Backstrom needed to be stellar, and he was. The two goals that beat him were either fluky or impossible to stop, but he held his team in the game until Koivu could complete the comeback.
- Chuck Kobasew. The Wild's newest player showed some speed, some skill, and a determination to scrap for every inch of ice. Kobasew drew penalty after penalty because of his effort.
Game minuses:
- Even strength. The Wild are having tons of problems getting their offense going when they're skating even-strength with other teams. They need to find a way to fix this problem if they have a hope of turning the season around.
- Defensive zone. The Wild once again had problems clearing their own zone, and it was particularly awful during the second period. Both goals against Backstrom came from horrible clearing attempts.
- Martin Havlat. In his first game back from injury, Havlat showed some of the skills that made him such a desirable off-season acquisition. However, he's missing shots that he should be making, possibly due to putting too much pressure on himself. Havlat needs to score soon, and the pressure should ease up.
Next up: The Wild get on a plane again, and head off to St. Louis, to take on the Blues Friday night, before returning home for a Saturday game.
Monday, October 19, 2009
2009-10 Game Seven: Wild 1, Canucks 2
After playing well and still getting beaten badly, nobody would have been surprised if the Wild completely collapsed, just hoping for a long trip back to St. Paul to tend to their wounds for a bit before their next game. That wasn't in the cards for Minnesota, as they played another tough game, this time against the Vancouver Canucks.
Part of the reason that the Wild didn't collapse completely is that the Canucks are in the middle of a slow start to their season, as well. It didn't help Vancouver that they had to play the game without one of the Sedin twins, and they had to face a Minnesota team scrapping for every inch they could get. When the Wild ended the first period with the lead, there was a hint of something positive happening to a team that desperately needs some good news. Unfortunately, the long road trip and too much time playing from behind took the wind out of Minnesota's sails, and the Canucks ended up overtaking an exhausted Wild team, sending them packing with a miserable 0-5 road record to start the season.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu's goal may not have been intended to be a shot, but it ended up in the back of the net either way. Koivu's intensity and fire have been bright spots for the Wild this season, and he needs to keep making the steps he has.
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild wouldn't have even been in the game if it hadn't been for Backstrom. He survived almost 40 shots, and kept giving the Wild chances to get back moving forward.
- Benoit Pouliot. Pouliot may have finally found the fire that was missing in previous stints in the NHL. He continued playing in front of the net, and even helped clear some of the Canucks out of Backstrom's way.
Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. Sheppard, like Pouliot, tried clearing Canucks out of the crease. Sheppard, like Pouliot, took a penalty for it. Sheppard, unlike Pouliot, chose an awful time and a foolish penalty to take. The ensuing power play gave Vancouver the game winner.
- Power play. Maybe it was exhaustion from too much time losing, but the Wild power play just couldn't get things moving.
- Energy. The Wild just didn't have any, and it caused them to forget what they were doing. By the end of the game, the Wild just didn't have enough gas to put together a legitimate threat to tie the game.
Next up: Things may get better for the Wild as they return home, and, hopefully, see the returns of Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora. The Wild are also met in St. Paul by new acquisition Chuck Kobasew, as they prepare to wear their third jerseys for the first time Wednesday night in a game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Part of the reason that the Wild didn't collapse completely is that the Canucks are in the middle of a slow start to their season, as well. It didn't help Vancouver that they had to play the game without one of the Sedin twins, and they had to face a Minnesota team scrapping for every inch they could get. When the Wild ended the first period with the lead, there was a hint of something positive happening to a team that desperately needs some good news. Unfortunately, the long road trip and too much time playing from behind took the wind out of Minnesota's sails, and the Canucks ended up overtaking an exhausted Wild team, sending them packing with a miserable 0-5 road record to start the season.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu's goal may not have been intended to be a shot, but it ended up in the back of the net either way. Koivu's intensity and fire have been bright spots for the Wild this season, and he needs to keep making the steps he has.
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild wouldn't have even been in the game if it hadn't been for Backstrom. He survived almost 40 shots, and kept giving the Wild chances to get back moving forward.
- Benoit Pouliot. Pouliot may have finally found the fire that was missing in previous stints in the NHL. He continued playing in front of the net, and even helped clear some of the Canucks out of Backstrom's way.
Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. Sheppard, like Pouliot, tried clearing Canucks out of the crease. Sheppard, like Pouliot, took a penalty for it. Sheppard, unlike Pouliot, chose an awful time and a foolish penalty to take. The ensuing power play gave Vancouver the game winner.
- Power play. Maybe it was exhaustion from too much time losing, but the Wild power play just couldn't get things moving.
- Energy. The Wild just didn't have any, and it caused them to forget what they were doing. By the end of the game, the Wild just didn't have enough gas to put together a legitimate threat to tie the game.
Next up: Things may get better for the Wild as they return home, and, hopefully, see the returns of Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora. The Wild are also met in St. Paul by new acquisition Chuck Kobasew, as they prepare to wear their third jerseys for the first time Wednesday night in a game against the Colorado Avalanche.
2009-10 Game Six: Wild 2, Oilers 5
On the first night of back-to-back games, the Minnesota Wild skated hard, fought for the puck, and, even though they were missing some of their top players, they ultimately outplayed the Edmonton Oilers in most areas of the ice. Unfortunately for the Wild, even a great effort can fall apart, as the Wild's mistakes almost invariably created scoring chances for the Oilers, and Edmonton made their chances count.
The Wild fought hard through the game, and looked like they might have been able to take their first road win of the season during portions of the game. By the time the third period started, however, Minnesota had obviously spent too much of their time on the road trailing their opponents, and they came out relatively flat-footed. It didn't help matters that the Wild power play continues to showcase stunning displays of ineptitude, interpersed with a few sparkling plays. The effort put forth by Minnesota should have landed the team a win, but, without finishers like Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, the Wild just couldn't get the puck into the net.
Game pluses:
- Benoit Pouliot. When Havlat and Sykora went down, the Wild challenged a few players to step up. One who has done so is Pouliot, who is starting to show a physical side, as he gets to the front of the net.
- Andrew Brunette. The veteran continued his points streak, scoring at least once per game for the Wild since the first puck drop. That quiet leadership is needed for a team in danger of falling apart.
- Kyle Brodziak. The former Oiler put together an impressive game against his old team, fighting for the puck all game long and shaking it free from more than a few Oiler sticks.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. Harding has designs on being a starting goaltender in the league. His last two starts showed a goaltender who might have a place in the league, but that league might be the AHL. His delay of game penalty early in the game was completely inexcusable, as was the way he dropped the puck, practically handing Edmonton their third goal.
- Second chances. The Wild took a ton of shots. They just couldn't get there for the rebound most of the time. They need to get better in front of the opposing net if they want to make something of the perimeter shots they're being given.
- James Sheppard. While one of the players asked to step up did so, another stood in the same place, if not taking a step backward. Sheppard is showing why development in the AHL can be so important, as he still hasn't developed into the player he was expected to be.
Next up: The Wild traveled from Edmonton to Vancouver, hoping to finish the road trip on an up note against the Canucks.
The Wild fought hard through the game, and looked like they might have been able to take their first road win of the season during portions of the game. By the time the third period started, however, Minnesota had obviously spent too much of their time on the road trailing their opponents, and they came out relatively flat-footed. It didn't help matters that the Wild power play continues to showcase stunning displays of ineptitude, interpersed with a few sparkling plays. The effort put forth by Minnesota should have landed the team a win, but, without finishers like Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, the Wild just couldn't get the puck into the net.
Game pluses:
- Benoit Pouliot. When Havlat and Sykora went down, the Wild challenged a few players to step up. One who has done so is Pouliot, who is starting to show a physical side, as he gets to the front of the net.
- Andrew Brunette. The veteran continued his points streak, scoring at least once per game for the Wild since the first puck drop. That quiet leadership is needed for a team in danger of falling apart.
- Kyle Brodziak. The former Oiler put together an impressive game against his old team, fighting for the puck all game long and shaking it free from more than a few Oiler sticks.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. Harding has designs on being a starting goaltender in the league. His last two starts showed a goaltender who might have a place in the league, but that league might be the AHL. His delay of game penalty early in the game was completely inexcusable, as was the way he dropped the puck, practically handing Edmonton their third goal.
- Second chances. The Wild took a ton of shots. They just couldn't get there for the rebound most of the time. They need to get better in front of the opposing net if they want to make something of the perimeter shots they're being given.
- James Sheppard. While one of the players asked to step up did so, another stood in the same place, if not taking a step backward. Sheppard is showing why development in the AHL can be so important, as he still hasn't developed into the player he was expected to be.
Next up: The Wild traveled from Edmonton to Vancouver, hoping to finish the road trip on an up note against the Canucks.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
2009-10 Game Five: Wild 2, Ducks 3
The Minnesota Wild is in deep trouble. And, to make matters worse, the trouble is largely the team's own doing. It's going to take a lot to get the ship righted, and, with so much of their talent sitting due to injury, the long first month could easily turn into a long season.
The Wild showed a distinct lack of hockey knowledge right away against Anaheim, giving up the puck during a line change, which allowed Corey Perry to net his first easy goal of the game. His second wasn't much more difficult, as again, as they have all season thus far, the Wild defense hung their goaltender out without help. Backstrom made some impressive saves to try to keep the Wild in the game, but there's only so much one player can do. That's why this is a team game, and the Wild haven't yet put together the pieces to really look like a team. With injuries to Cal Clutterbuck, Petr Sykora, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and now Martin Havlat, the Wild are down in skill, and desperately need to figure out some way to scrap and chip their way through games.
Plain and simple, with all of the injuries, if the Wild hopes to start reversing course, they need to stop trying to play pretty hockey. Instead of looking for the perfect pass to create a beautiful one-timer, the Wild just need to shoot the puck. When they've been able to apply offensive pressure, good things have happened. Unfortunately, too easily, they fall back on their heels, and fall into the type of play that was on showcase in previous seasons. Thanks to the way the front office ran during those previous seasons, there isn't a lot of help in Houston to be called up, either. The Wild are in trouble, and they need to find a way to fix it.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Letting Koivu loose on the forecheck can be a beautiful thing to watch. His physical play caused the puck to squirt free and into high-percentage zones more than a few times. Unfortunately, the Wild couldn't capitalize.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger's heads-up play at the end of the second period to steal the puck and complete the breakaway is an example of what could happen if the entire team starts playing with more determination.
- Andy Hilbert. The Wild call-up played with more determination and grit than his size should have allowed. If only the rest of the team could pick up on his fire.
Game minuses:
- Defense. Not only did the Wild defense leave Backstrom hanging for all three goals, but they also made dumbfounding plays to try to clear their own zone. Far too many giveaways kept the Wild pinned deep without momentum.
- Power plays. The power play should be a chance to gain momentum, and a chance to move the puck around with relative ease, looking for the clear shot. For the Wild over the last two games, the power play has been a knife in the heart. If things don't reverse course quickly, the Wild may want to see if the NHL would allow them to decline penalties against their opponents.
- Kim Johnsson. It may not seem fair to single out any of the defensemen after another bad defensive showing, but Kim Johnsson is carrying a big contract, and doesn't seem like he has any idea if he's ever seen a hockey game before, let alone play in one.
Next up: A few lucky breaks at home have kept the Wild from being winless, but they haven't put together a complete game on the road. Now they have to head into their own division for back-to-back games, as they travel to face the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.
The Wild showed a distinct lack of hockey knowledge right away against Anaheim, giving up the puck during a line change, which allowed Corey Perry to net his first easy goal of the game. His second wasn't much more difficult, as again, as they have all season thus far, the Wild defense hung their goaltender out without help. Backstrom made some impressive saves to try to keep the Wild in the game, but there's only so much one player can do. That's why this is a team game, and the Wild haven't yet put together the pieces to really look like a team. With injuries to Cal Clutterbuck, Petr Sykora, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and now Martin Havlat, the Wild are down in skill, and desperately need to figure out some way to scrap and chip their way through games.
Plain and simple, with all of the injuries, if the Wild hopes to start reversing course, they need to stop trying to play pretty hockey. Instead of looking for the perfect pass to create a beautiful one-timer, the Wild just need to shoot the puck. When they've been able to apply offensive pressure, good things have happened. Unfortunately, too easily, they fall back on their heels, and fall into the type of play that was on showcase in previous seasons. Thanks to the way the front office ran during those previous seasons, there isn't a lot of help in Houston to be called up, either. The Wild are in trouble, and they need to find a way to fix it.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Letting Koivu loose on the forecheck can be a beautiful thing to watch. His physical play caused the puck to squirt free and into high-percentage zones more than a few times. Unfortunately, the Wild couldn't capitalize.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger's heads-up play at the end of the second period to steal the puck and complete the breakaway is an example of what could happen if the entire team starts playing with more determination.
- Andy Hilbert. The Wild call-up played with more determination and grit than his size should have allowed. If only the rest of the team could pick up on his fire.
Game minuses:
- Defense. Not only did the Wild defense leave Backstrom hanging for all three goals, but they also made dumbfounding plays to try to clear their own zone. Far too many giveaways kept the Wild pinned deep without momentum.
- Power plays. The power play should be a chance to gain momentum, and a chance to move the puck around with relative ease, looking for the clear shot. For the Wild over the last two games, the power play has been a knife in the heart. If things don't reverse course quickly, the Wild may want to see if the NHL would allow them to decline penalties against their opponents.
- Kim Johnsson. It may not seem fair to single out any of the defensemen after another bad defensive showing, but Kim Johnsson is carrying a big contract, and doesn't seem like he has any idea if he's ever seen a hockey game before, let alone play in one.
Next up: A few lucky breaks at home have kept the Wild from being winless, but they haven't put together a complete game on the road. Now they have to head into their own division for back-to-back games, as they travel to face the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.
Monday, October 12, 2009
2009-10 Game Four: Wild 2, Sharks 4
The one thing that the Minnesota Wild definitely didn't need any more of was adversity, but that seems to be what they'll be continuing to get plenty of. After battling hard against the San Jose Sharks for a period and a half, the Wild suffered some crippling injuries to Petr Sykora and Cal Clutterbuck. What had been a strong start became a train wreck, as the Wild fell for the third time in four games.
If it hadn't been for the injuries, things might have ended very differently. The Wild found themselves up 2-0 on the Sharks, and they had put together a strong first period for the first time all season. They pressed on the forecheck, and applied pressure, peppering shots on goal. Unfortunately, the injuries caused coach Todd Richards to start rotating only three lines, and the tired players just couldn't keep up the assault. Quick mental lapses allowed the Sharks to tie the game, and more extended periods of exhaustion gave the game away. Proof that the Wild were physically and mentally exhausted happened right away in the third period, when the game was put out of reach.
Game pluses:
- Forecheck. The Wild were attacking and pressuring at the beginning of the game. It was only when they ran out of gas that they had to pull back. Unfortunately, at that point, it was too late.
- First period. For the first time this season, the Wild looked ready to play when the puck dropped. Being able to take a 1-0 lead into intermission had to give the players confidence that the system will work.
- Andrew Brunette. The veteran forward continues to be a bit of a surprise, leading the team with goals. A big reason why? He's able to play his game, battling behind the net and around the sides, with other players like Mikko Koivu and Martin Havlat skating out near the circles.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. It may go without saying, but the injuries to Clutterbuck and Sykora may have made a long road trip even longer. The Wild need both to get healthy as quickly as possible, and, without Clutterbuck, they may have difficulty finding a spark.
- Power play. Ignore the power play goal. The Wild should have scored more on the power play, but their inability to convert helped cripple them.
- Awareness. There is simply no excuse for the quick San Jose goal at the start of the third period. One the puck drops, you have to be prepared.
Next up: The Wild look to get their trip back in the right direction as they head to Anaheim, to take on the only team they've beaten thus far.
If it hadn't been for the injuries, things might have ended very differently. The Wild found themselves up 2-0 on the Sharks, and they had put together a strong first period for the first time all season. They pressed on the forecheck, and applied pressure, peppering shots on goal. Unfortunately, the injuries caused coach Todd Richards to start rotating only three lines, and the tired players just couldn't keep up the assault. Quick mental lapses allowed the Sharks to tie the game, and more extended periods of exhaustion gave the game away. Proof that the Wild were physically and mentally exhausted happened right away in the third period, when the game was put out of reach.
Game pluses:
- Forecheck. The Wild were attacking and pressuring at the beginning of the game. It was only when they ran out of gas that they had to pull back. Unfortunately, at that point, it was too late.
- First period. For the first time this season, the Wild looked ready to play when the puck dropped. Being able to take a 1-0 lead into intermission had to give the players confidence that the system will work.
- Andrew Brunette. The veteran forward continues to be a bit of a surprise, leading the team with goals. A big reason why? He's able to play his game, battling behind the net and around the sides, with other players like Mikko Koivu and Martin Havlat skating out near the circles.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. It may go without saying, but the injuries to Clutterbuck and Sykora may have made a long road trip even longer. The Wild need both to get healthy as quickly as possible, and, without Clutterbuck, they may have difficulty finding a spark.
- Power play. Ignore the power play goal. The Wild should have scored more on the power play, but their inability to convert helped cripple them.
- Awareness. There is simply no excuse for the quick San Jose goal at the start of the third period. One the puck drops, you have to be prepared.
Next up: The Wild look to get their trip back in the right direction as they head to Anaheim, to take on the only team they've beaten thus far.
Friday, October 9, 2009
2009-10 Game Three: Wild 3, Kings 6
It's going to be a long month. After a thrilling come-from-behind victory in their home opener, the Minnesota Wild departed on a long road trip. Their first stop? Staples Center, where they took on the Los Angeles Kings. At least, that was the story for the day yesterday. Once the puck was dropped, it became clear that a different story was happening, as the Wild's biggest opponent seemed to be themselves.
Los Angeles didn't need long to jump out to a lead, scoring a little over a minute into the game, and they got another two before the end of the first period. Throughout the period, the Wild looked like they were skating through molasses, and, even worse, it appeared as though they'd checked their hockey knowledge, and it was headed on to the next stop. Things improved slightly in the second period, but by that point, it was too late, as the closest the Wild got was being down 4-3 before collapsing again at the end of the game.
Game pluses:
- Second period. If only the Wild hadn't taken twenty minutes to wake up. The second period showcased a Wild team that was intense, quick, and creative with the puck.
- Power play. The Wild scored with the man advantage, and almost was able to turn the tide. The power play moved the puck well, until it became clear that any effort was futile.
- Faceoffs. One area that Wild really struggled in last year was in winning the face-off. They did a good job of taking the puck initially against the Kings, but gave it up far too readily.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. While Harding didn't have a lot of help from his defense, he needed to put together a solid start, especially this early in the season. He failed to do so, and never looked like he had any business putting the pads on.
- Kim Johnsson. True, Johnsson scored a goal, bringing the Wild to within one. However, he also was responsible for at least one, if not two, of the goals scored by the Kings. Watching him almost fall after bumping into his own goaltender was painful.
- Benoit Pouliot. Taking the minus originally reserved for the first period, Pouliot showed a distinct lack of drive yet again last night. The kid has talent, but he has yet to put it together on the ice. How much longer will he wear a Wild sweater, especially given his lack of desire to play any sort of defense, and how it led to Kings tallies.
Next up: The Wild travel up the coast to San Jose, where they'll take on Todd Richard's old team, the Sharks, who are led by Joe Thornton and newly acquired Dany Heatley.
Los Angeles didn't need long to jump out to a lead, scoring a little over a minute into the game, and they got another two before the end of the first period. Throughout the period, the Wild looked like they were skating through molasses, and, even worse, it appeared as though they'd checked their hockey knowledge, and it was headed on to the next stop. Things improved slightly in the second period, but by that point, it was too late, as the closest the Wild got was being down 4-3 before collapsing again at the end of the game.
Game pluses:
- Second period. If only the Wild hadn't taken twenty minutes to wake up. The second period showcased a Wild team that was intense, quick, and creative with the puck.
- Power play. The Wild scored with the man advantage, and almost was able to turn the tide. The power play moved the puck well, until it became clear that any effort was futile.
- Faceoffs. One area that Wild really struggled in last year was in winning the face-off. They did a good job of taking the puck initially against the Kings, but gave it up far too readily.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. While Harding didn't have a lot of help from his defense, he needed to put together a solid start, especially this early in the season. He failed to do so, and never looked like he had any business putting the pads on.
- Kim Johnsson. True, Johnsson scored a goal, bringing the Wild to within one. However, he also was responsible for at least one, if not two, of the goals scored by the Kings. Watching him almost fall after bumping into his own goaltender was painful.
- Benoit Pouliot. Taking the minus originally reserved for the first period, Pouliot showed a distinct lack of drive yet again last night. The kid has talent, but he has yet to put it together on the ice. How much longer will he wear a Wild sweater, especially given his lack of desire to play any sort of defense, and how it led to Kings tallies.
Next up: The Wild travel up the coast to San Jose, where they'll take on Todd Richard's old team, the Sharks, who are led by Joe Thornton and newly acquired Dany Heatley.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
2009-10 Game Two: Wild 4, Ducks 3 (OT)
Maybe the Minnesota Wild were too busy watching the Minnesota Twins during the first period to put together a sustained rush. Maybe they were too hyped up from watching their crosstown neighbors achieve the highly improbable for them to remember that they were playing their home opener until after they found themselves down 3-0.
Maybe all they needed was a good fight.
The Minnesota Wild entered their home opener with a record of 7-0-1, and they were hoping to extend it. They were also excited to show the hometown crowd what the new look Wild was going to be like. For two periods, it didn't look good. While part of the problem is still not having a good grasp on the system, the rest of the problem was more about not having a good grasp on hockey fundamentals. It wasn't until after the Ducks had beaten Niklas Backstrom three times that they stood up and paid attention. Not that Backstrom could have done much against any of those goals, as he was caught in a perfect storm of great shots and lousy defense.
Leave it to a player who almost didn't make the roster to change the tone, and then a player that was heralded as the new Wild savior to take control and put the pressure on. After John Scott and Martin Havlat turned the momentum, all the Wild needed to do was play the type of hockey Todd Richards has been hoping for from the first drop of the puck, and it resulted in an overtime winner for Minnesota.
Game pluses:
- John Scott. The big man stood up to another giant in the beginning of the third, getting into a fight with George Parros. Impressively, Scott knocked Parros to the ice, and the Wild took the energy from that confrontation to find their legs and change the game.
- Martin Havlat. Showcasing some of his puck handling skills, Havlat took control of the game, and notched the first assist on all three of the Wild's third period goals.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger finished the game between Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, and brought a goal and two assists along with him. The veteran may be fighting to stay in Minnesota, and more periods like the third will only help.
Game minuses:
- Eric Belanger. The guy had a fantastic third period, but was very below average before that. Thankfully, he put it all together, but he has to start playing the right style earlier.
- Passing. Far too often, Wild passes went straight to Duck players, or worse, straight to open ice with nobody to take advantage of it. The first two periods also featured far too many passes for each shot.
- Defense. Watching the first and second period, it appeared that the Wild defense forgot who to cover, and just chased the puck instead. Again, they tightened up for the third, but the Wild aren't yet a team that can hope for too many come-from-behind victories.
Next up: The Wild leave the friendly ice of the Xcel Energy Center again, this time for two weeks as they head to their next game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
Maybe all they needed was a good fight.
The Minnesota Wild entered their home opener with a record of 7-0-1, and they were hoping to extend it. They were also excited to show the hometown crowd what the new look Wild was going to be like. For two periods, it didn't look good. While part of the problem is still not having a good grasp on the system, the rest of the problem was more about not having a good grasp on hockey fundamentals. It wasn't until after the Ducks had beaten Niklas Backstrom three times that they stood up and paid attention. Not that Backstrom could have done much against any of those goals, as he was caught in a perfect storm of great shots and lousy defense.
Leave it to a player who almost didn't make the roster to change the tone, and then a player that was heralded as the new Wild savior to take control and put the pressure on. After John Scott and Martin Havlat turned the momentum, all the Wild needed to do was play the type of hockey Todd Richards has been hoping for from the first drop of the puck, and it resulted in an overtime winner for Minnesota.
Game pluses:
- John Scott. The big man stood up to another giant in the beginning of the third, getting into a fight with George Parros. Impressively, Scott knocked Parros to the ice, and the Wild took the energy from that confrontation to find their legs and change the game.
- Martin Havlat. Showcasing some of his puck handling skills, Havlat took control of the game, and notched the first assist on all three of the Wild's third period goals.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger finished the game between Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, and brought a goal and two assists along with him. The veteran may be fighting to stay in Minnesota, and more periods like the third will only help.
Game minuses:
- Eric Belanger. The guy had a fantastic third period, but was very below average before that. Thankfully, he put it all together, but he has to start playing the right style earlier.
- Passing. Far too often, Wild passes went straight to Duck players, or worse, straight to open ice with nobody to take advantage of it. The first two periods also featured far too many passes for each shot.
- Defense. Watching the first and second period, it appeared that the Wild defense forgot who to cover, and just chased the puck instead. Again, they tightened up for the third, but the Wild aren't yet a team that can hope for too many come-from-behind victories.
Next up: The Wild leave the friendly ice of the Xcel Energy Center again, this time for two weeks as they head to their next game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
2009-10 Game One: Wild 1, Blue Jackets 2
The wait finally ended Saturday night. While it may have only been a few months ago that the Pittsburgh Penguins lifted the Stanley Cup over their heads, the wait has been a long one for Wild fans. Gone was the brain trust that turned the Wild into a very successful expansion club, but then couldn't seem to get out of first gear to make them into a perennial Cup contender. Gone was the most electrifying player to wear a Wild jersey, provided that his fragile body could hold up to the rigors of a season. Gone was the only coach the Wild had ever known.
In their place, Wild fans were treated to a new front office, new coaching, and some new stars on the ice. A troubled pre-season kept the team from skating as a full unit until the tail end, but Saturday everything started anew. What would Wild fans see?
They would see that the team still has some growing pains to go through.
The Wild are a talented hockey club. They should be better this year than they were last year, and they should be much more competitive. But for that to happen, they need to learn and embrace the new system being put into place, and, when the brain starts shutting down, they need to just play hockey. Going up against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Wild showed flashes of just what type of hockey Minnesota fans can expect later in the season. Wild fans need to be patient, but the team itself needs to keep pushing. After all, tonight is the home opener, where the Wild have never lost.
Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild's star goaltender once again did exactly what the team expected of him. While the two goals he gave up weren't terrific goals by a long shot, Backstrom would have had to have been beyond superhuman to make the stops.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat showed some of what he can do with the puck, turning Columbus players inside out. Unfortunately, he was also part of the miscue that led to the first Columbus goal.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette played a solid game, and was able to put his 600th point of his career into the net. He worked well with Havlat and Mikko Koivu, but how long will it be before Petr Sykora and he switch lines?
Game minuses:
- Stick problems. The Wild couldn't seem to keep sticks. Cal Clutterbuck especially found himself without a stick more than once, either because he lost his own, or because he had to give his away to the defense.
- Defense. What had been the typical strong point for the Wild in years past looked confused and a shambles against Columbus. How much is due to still learning the new system remains to be seen.
- Learning curve. As mentioned above, the defense didn't look confident. The offense also wasn't completely with it. Once the new system is learned, the Wild should be a much more high-powered team. However, as long as the transition continues, fans may see more confusing plays than dazzling ones.
Next up: The Wild pit their 7-0-1 record in home openers against the Anaheim Ducks, who are coming off of a 4-1 loss. The game also marks the first time this season for Mikko Koivu to skate against his big brother, Saku, who turned down the Wild this summer.
In their place, Wild fans were treated to a new front office, new coaching, and some new stars on the ice. A troubled pre-season kept the team from skating as a full unit until the tail end, but Saturday everything started anew. What would Wild fans see?
They would see that the team still has some growing pains to go through.
The Wild are a talented hockey club. They should be better this year than they were last year, and they should be much more competitive. But for that to happen, they need to learn and embrace the new system being put into place, and, when the brain starts shutting down, they need to just play hockey. Going up against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Wild showed flashes of just what type of hockey Minnesota fans can expect later in the season. Wild fans need to be patient, but the team itself needs to keep pushing. After all, tonight is the home opener, where the Wild have never lost.
Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild's star goaltender once again did exactly what the team expected of him. While the two goals he gave up weren't terrific goals by a long shot, Backstrom would have had to have been beyond superhuman to make the stops.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat showed some of what he can do with the puck, turning Columbus players inside out. Unfortunately, he was also part of the miscue that led to the first Columbus goal.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette played a solid game, and was able to put his 600th point of his career into the net. He worked well with Havlat and Mikko Koivu, but how long will it be before Petr Sykora and he switch lines?
Game minuses:
- Stick problems. The Wild couldn't seem to keep sticks. Cal Clutterbuck especially found himself without a stick more than once, either because he lost his own, or because he had to give his away to the defense.
- Defense. What had been the typical strong point for the Wild in years past looked confused and a shambles against Columbus. How much is due to still learning the new system remains to be seen.
- Learning curve. As mentioned above, the defense didn't look confident. The offense also wasn't completely with it. Once the new system is learned, the Wild should be a much more high-powered team. However, as long as the transition continues, fans may see more confusing plays than dazzling ones.
Next up: The Wild pit their 7-0-1 record in home openers against the Anaheim Ducks, who are coming off of a 4-1 loss. The game also marks the first time this season for Mikko Koivu to skate against his big brother, Saku, who turned down the Wild this summer.
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