2009-10 Game Eighty-One: Wild 2, Flames 1 (SO)

At the start of the season, it would have been hard to anticipate the outcome of the Minnesota Wild's penultimate game for the 2009-10 season. The way that the Calgary Flames lit up the competition in their first ten games, very few people expected that they would skate into game 81 having been eliminated from playoff contention. After seasons of futility against their division rivals, nobody could have anticipated that the Minnesota Wild would be looking for their fifth win in the season series, having only dropped one game at home. Even looking at recent history, with the seemingly crippling number of injuries and the amount of untested players being asked to contribute, it seemed unreal to believe that the Wild could topple the Flames.

Topple them they did, though. In a hard-fought, physical game, filled with penalties for both sides, the Wild and their young guns came out the victors. A scary moment came in the third period, with the score tied at 1 and the Wild on the penalty kill, as Niklas Backstrom took a puck to his throat and had to leave the game, but Minnesota responded by continuing to shut down the Flames fizzling offense, and, in the shootout, the only player who didn't use Mikko Koivu's signature move was Koivu himself, as both Brent Burns and Antti Miettinen tallied goals to give the Wild the win.

Game pluses:
- Youth movement. A lot of credit has to go to the way that Cody Almond, Casey Wellman, Robbie Earl, and Nate Prosser played. None of these players were with the Wild to start the season. With the exception of Earl, none were with them at the trade deadline. And yet those four are showing a lot of potential, and they could all make big splashes on the NHL stage next season.
- Penalty killers. The Wild found themselves shorthanded often enough that they may have thought a new rule was inserted that only gave them four skaters on the ice. And yet the penalty kill came up huge, especially with players like Greg Zanon sacrificing themselves to stop the puck.
- Niklas Backstrom. Backstrom has had a shaky season, and had to struggle through injuries. Against Calgary, though, he was brilliant, with the only Flames goal coming thanks to one bad rebound.

Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild got their regulation goal on the only power play that looked like it had an idea of what to do. The rest of the time, Minnesota couldn't get set up in the offensive zone, and couldn't move the puck well.
- Communication. Passes went to the wrong places, and more than once, it looked like Wild players didn't know where their teammates were.
- Injuries. The Wild came into the game having lost 333 man-games to injury, and were missing another six players before the puck dropped. Over the course of the game, another two players went down, and at least one is guaranteed to not play in the season finale. The Wild definitely have to look at how their guys are training, to help keep them from injury. By the same token, the NHL needs to look more seriously at how some players are getting injured, and how some penalties are doled out. This is a league-wide problem, and, while the first step has been taken, at least with regards to head-shots, sometimes it's the boarding and other assorted penalties that carry larger impacts.

Next up: The Wild finish the season against the team that used to call Minnesota home, and they get to do it in front of their hometown fans. The Dallas Stars come calling on Saturday as the 2009-10 season wraps up.

2009-10 Game Seventy-Eight: Wild 2, Sharks 3

After the way the Wild played against the Chicago Blackhawks, they had to find something within themselves to get ready and return to the ice. It might have been even more important during their game against the San Jose Sharks, thanks to needing a win to stay mathematically in the playoff chase, and because it was their Fan Appreciation Night. The Wild have always had a strong connection to their fans, and that made Friday night's game something special for the team of 18,000.

It's just too bad that all of this happened against a Sharks team looking ready to steamroll through the early part of the playoffs. The Wild fought hard, and played with good intensity, but ended up coming up just short against the Western Conference leaders. The loss also confirmed what many have known for weeks; the Minnesota Wild will be watching this season's playoffs on television, instead of participating in them. Still, for a team that wasn't expected to make much noise in the conference, to last this far into the season before being officially out of the chase is an impressive feat.

Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck tied his own personal record with ten hits. He also got things rolling for Minnesota, thanks to being in the right place at the right time, as his goal bounced off of his chest.
- Antti Miettinen. Yes, Miettinen can score goals, and he did so on the power play to bring the game back to even.
- James Sheppard. Much maligned, Sheppard has started to find his game, and almost put Minnesota in front, thanks to a penalty shot opportunity. He still has a lot of growing to do, however, and it may not be done in Minnesota.

Game minuses:
- Short bench. The Wild played a very physical game, and did so with only 11 forwards. With a team as offensively talented as San Jose, missing even one forward can definitely turn the game.
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild's goaltender has been somewhat exposed by the system, but a couple of fluky goals snuck past him, allowing San Jose to sweep the season series.
- Season. The season hasn't come to a complete close for the Wild, but there has to be a sense of sadness over officially ending their playoff chances. Not that there should have been much expectation for Minnesota to perform well in the playoffs, but knowing that it's time to look ahead to next season is always sobering.

Next up: The Wild finished up their season series against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

2009-10 Game Seventy-Seven: Wild 0, Blackhawks 4

No late game heroics were on the table this time for the Minnesota Wild. The last time the Chicago Blackhawks were in town, the Wild pulled off their most impressive, and most unlikely, come-from-behind victory. This time around, they could barely pull off a standard pass, as Chicago just took it to the Wild all night long.

At this point in the season, the Wild talk about playing for pride, and looking towards next season. However, that shouldn't mean coming out completely flat, especially against a team currently riding a three-game losing streak. The Wild have made a habit this season out of breaking other team's losing streaks, and they've also made a bit of a habit out of playing well and hard for one game, and then coming back the next with a lackluster effort. That was incredibly apparent against Chicago, as the Wild couldn't keep the Blackhawk's fourth line from scoring. Meanwhile, Minnesota barely sniffed the net all night long, and came up empty on an extended 5-on-3 opportunity. At this point, even if the Wild were looking at playoff hockey, they couldn't be looking deep, as the team's glaring inconsistencies keep being showcased.

Game pluses:
- Brent Burns. Arguably the most talented defenseman that Minnesota hockey has seen in a long time, Burns was one of the more solid areas of the ice. His four shots also lead a team that could barely think about getting the puck on net.
- Fourth line. They may not have created a goal, but the line of Cody Almond/Casey Wellman/Derek Boogaard actually looked like they had a bit of a jump in their step, and they applied some early pressure to the Blackhawks.
- Discipline. The Wild returned to their disciplined hockey, at least with regards to the penalty box. One lone penalty was charged against Minnesota.

Game minuses:
- Antti Miettinen. Give Miettinen an open net, and he'll miss it completely. A miscue by him at the end of the first also created the first Chicago goal. Miettinen needs to find his game if he wants to continue to receive top line time, especially looking ahead at next season.
- Andrew Brunette. A minus-3 for the night, Brunette looks like a tired and banged up hockey player. When he and Mikko Koivu are both on, they can elevate the team as a whole. When they aren't, the team tends to get bogged down with them.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild captain is not free from blame for this game either, and he had a mistake that created the third Chicago goal. While he is obviously more comfortable in a playmaker role, Koivu needs to realize that he's on a line without certified goal scorers, and therefore he needs to be more willing to fire the puck on net.

Next up: The Wild continue to play out the remainder of the season, and they face another of the West's best, as the San Jose Sharks return to town.

2009-10 Game Seventy-Five: Wild 2, Red Wings 6

If this hockey season were a Hollywood movie, the Minnesota Wild would have knocked off the Detroit Red Wings, along the way to an improbable spot in the playoffs. They would have skated hard and at least matched their 2003 appearance with a series for the right to play for the Cup. No matter the injuries, they would have just kept pushing, and would have found a way to win against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Hollywood is busy looking at Phoenix right now.

Meanwhile, the Wild found themselves up against a team trying to keep themselves in the playoff picture, but also a team that doesn't look like your typical #8 seed. The Detroit Red Wings are firing on most, if not all, of their cylinders right now, and it was a bad time for Minnesota to come to town, especially with both of their goaltenders banged up, and their captain sidelined. The Wild struggled to keep themselves in the game, but four goals in the second period put an end to their hopes, as they slunk off to a lopsided defeat.

Game pluses:
- Justin Falk. The Wild rookie barely played in his first game, and took a brutal hit to the head. He returned against Detroit, and played well in limited ice-time. With the Wild's deep defense, getting Falk some playing time now will only help him in the future.
- Owen Nolan. For a guy who might be in the twilight of his career, Nolan comes to play night-in and night-out, and he notched another goal for the Wild.
- Grit. A number of players were in the game, despite injuries that should have kept them on the bench or in the press box. When the season's on the line, sometimes that level of grit can go a long way.

Game minuses:
- Injuries. The flip side to playing with grit, is that sometimes players will insert themselves even though they can't perform. That describes fairly well the game Josh Harding played, and he may have put himself out for the remainder of the season because of it.
- Discipline. The Wild marched to the penalty box all night long. While not all of the penalties were as clear and obvious, they were the types of calls that have gone against Minnesota all season, and the team should be aware of how the officials are going to work their games.
- Antti Miettinen. How many times can one player have a beautiful scoring chance, and completely miss the net? Miettinen did it again against Detroit, and it almost directly created Detroit's short-handed goal.

Next up: The banged-up Wild are now just playing out the remainder of the season, and may get to play spoilers for playoff teams. They return home to play the Los Angeles Kings.

2009-10 Game Sixty-Nine: Wild 4, Oilers 2

The Minnesota Wild had an opportunity to match the mark for the longest current home win streak against any opponent. Coming into the game, the Wild had beaten the Edmonton Oilers twelve times in a row at St. Paul. After the game was over, the Wild had tied the mark, thanks to a strong all-around game, especially with some great play by the team's centers.

Those centers might have been feeling a little pressure, given that the Wild signed a college free agent who could be looking to take a job away from one of them. Minnesota brought Casey Wellman from the University of Massachusetts, and almost played him in his first chance. Wellman's debut was put on hold, but he did get some time to skate with the team during warm-ups, and might see time in the upcoming game against the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, the rest of the Wild stepped up, and responded in a huge way after Edmonton twice tied the game. This was especially notable given how the on-ice officials almost seemed to be trying to hand the Oilers the win. Don't believe it? Watch the play that lead to the eventual 5-on-3 Edmonton power play, and try and find two clear penalties in that scrum.

Game pluses:
- Centers. On a day where the Wild added a coveted player (beating out 21 other teams) to their center ranks, the team's current line-up of centers stepped up in a big way. Strong play is expected out of Mikko Koivu, but Andrew Ebbett notched a multi-point game, Kyle Brodziak was forechecking, and James Sheppard showed a compete level that he hasn't shown often this season.
- Martin Havlat. The Wild winger keeps finding ways to get himself into the quiet areas on the ice, and he was rewarded with a big insurance goal.
- Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew hadn't scored since his hat trick the day after Thanksgiving. A nice way to break that streak is to put home the game winning goal, especially after Edmonton kept clawing back in.

Game minuses:
- Officiating. It was yet another lousy game called by the officials, with plenty of bad or missed calls going both ways. Still, the penalties that put Edmonton on a 5-on-3 jump out as some of the worst ones. Yes, there was a penalty on that call. But the second?
- Late defense. The Wild held on at the end of the game, but they certainly didn't help themselves by giving up 20 shots to the Oilers in the third period. This was the first time gave up that many shots in one period all season.
- Antti Miettinen. Yes, Miettinen scored. However, he also missed on some great chances, by putting the puck too far or too high. He may not be a sniper, but for a team that could use more scoring, being that badly off target has to change.

Next up: The Wild try to roll off their fourth win in a row, and keep moving themselves up the standings, when they face the Nashville Predators next.

Olympic break and looking ahead

All but five Minnesota Wild players have been resting and taking things easy for awhile, and, after last night, all but three are able to return to regular practices. The NHL's schedule freeze has come and gone, and while there's still a roster freeze in effect, teams can at least start skating together again, and try and shake off the rust that ten days away can grow.

Not only did the Wild return to practice, but they got to return to the business of taking care of some of the free agents on their roster. While teams can't trade players until after the Olympics are over (and need to get it done by March 3), they can hammer out contract extensions, and that's exactly what the Wild did with regards to Cal Clutterbuck, signing him for another three years. Looking down the pipe, and new contracts concerning Marek Zidlicky and Guillaume Latendresse should be coming, as well. But don't forget that Mikko Koivu will be entering a contract season, and he has helped put Finland on the cusp of the gold medal game.

Once the Olympics wrap up, the Wild will have a couple of days to make some decisions on players. The team is currently five points out of a playoff spot, but they feel confident that they can close that gap over the next 21 games. At least, the players feel that way. The question is whether or not the front office feels the same, and how they treat the trade deadline. The Wild haven't been shy about making moves that should help the team both short- and long-term, with the recent trade for Cam Barker proves, but they still have some questions to answer. Here's a few players that might see themselves on the block:

James Sheppard - Much like Benoit Pouliot before him, Sheppard is graced with talent, but that has never manifested with the Wild. His development was stunted thanks to some mind-boggling decisions made by the prior front office, and it might be time to let Sheppard go. He has the potential to be a decent power forward in the league, but needs a change of scenery, and needs it soon. If the Wild can pull off another Latendresse-like deal, more power to them, but it might be best to let Sheppard go for a draft pick or two.

Eric Belanger - The Wild need good quality centers, and Belanger often fits the bill. While he is dominant in the face-off, Belanger doesn't have a lot of the grit and drive that is starting to characterize this Wild team. The Wild need a center that fits their style a bit better, and Belanger might be the easiest piece to use to lure another team into making that trade.

Antti Miettinen - Miettinen is a streaky player, and the one piece that still doesn't quite mesh on the Wild's top line. If Chuck Kobasew can play soon, that makes Miettinen even more vulnerable. Still, don't expect to see him moved before Draft Day, if even then.

Owen Nolan - It would be a shame to see Owen Nolan wearing any other jersey, especially in what might be the last month or two of his career, but if the Wild decide that they are playoff pretenders, and not in a position to make a viable run, they might let Nolan go. He's exactly the type of player a playoff team would look to add at the deadline, and, given that his contract is up after this year, there's always a chance he would come back as a free agent.

Josh Harding - The Wild's back-up goaltender seemed set to be traded earlier this season, and then he ran into some difficulties with his game. Once he started getting back on track, he suffered his hip injury, which may have made it harder to move him. Harding deserves a starting job somewhere in the league, but, with Niklas Backstrom, the odds aren't good that he'll find one with Minnesota.

The Wild have a ton of decisions to make, and, honestly, signing Cal Clutterbuck to an extension doesn't even confirm that he'll be wearing a Wild sweater when the team lines up against Calgary on the night of Deadline Day. There's also no indication that anything will move between then and now, and the roster for the Wild's first post-Olympic break could be exactly what was seen in their final pre-break game against Vancouver.

2009-10 Game Fifty-Three: Wild 5, Red Wings 2

The Minnesota Wild are definitely starting to enjoy their time at home, compiling an impressive record inside the Xcel Energy Center as of late. If they can find a way to keep that roll going while on the road, they could find themselves in playoff positioning. They certainly helped their cause, beating one of the teams ahead of them in the standings with a very sound victory.

Of course, the way that the Wild and the Red Wings started the game, the potential victor wasn't obvious. The teams put together a 5-goal first period, with the Wild taking the advantage 3-2 before entering the second, where neither team amassed much in the way of offense. In the third period, the Wild took control, scoring on each of their first two shots of the period, and then they staved off a Detroit team that got some late opportunities, and also took some liberties with some chippy, and potentially dirty, hockey.

Meanwhile, there must have been something about Detroit coming to town that helped the Wild make their minds up regarding Petr Sykora. Just before last week's game, the Wild placed Sykora on waivers, setting the stage for his eventual exit. Before last night's game, the Wild made the move to cut ties completely, assigning Sykora to Houston, knowing full well that he wasn't going to report, and now, pending approval from the NHL, Sykora and the Wild will part ways. He will become an unrestricted free agent, and the Wild will be free of his salary for the remainder of the season.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu may not have scored any goals himself, but he was a force in the offensive zone, feeding players and punishing the Red Wings with a strong forecheck.
- Antti Miettinen. Miettinen was the recipient of some great passes, and he delivered with two goals. He also had a few chances at completing the hat trick after the Wild took control.
- Josh Harding. Harding gave up two goals in the first period, but one was off of an incredible deflection.

Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. Sheppard looks completely out of sync with his linemates, and he almost negated a Wild power play by retaliating. Much like Benoit Pouliot earlier in the season, it is looking more and more like Sheppard needs new scenery to find out if he truly is the player that he was hyped as being.
- Brent Burns. The Wild defenseman is still getting his skating legs under him, but he also seems to be trying too hard to make plays when there's nothing there. Burns has always been a risk/reward type of player, but he needs to simplify his game right now.
- Size. A lot of NHL teams seem to have difficulty matching Detroit in the size department, but the Wild, with both Derek Boogaard and John Scott scratched, looked even smaller than usual. The Wild have never been short on grit, but if they make the playoffs, they might need to rely on size more. It was even more surprising to see the Wild heavyweights out of the line-up with some of the players skating for Detroit.

Next up: The Wild head to Colorado to begin a three-game road trip against the Avalanche.

2009-10 Game Fifty: Wild 3, Stars 4

The road hasn't been kind to the Minnesota Wild this season. After starting the season with an 0-8 mark away from home, things started to turn around, but they haven't turned far enough. The differences between home and away really played out recently, as the Wild put together an impressive home stand, beating some of the top teams in the league, but then dropped all three recent games away from St. Paul, including two to teams that sit behind the Wild in the standings.

It also doesn't help matters that the Wild haven't been able to get their skates under them until the third period, when they're already down by a goal. Over the nine periods of the recent road trip, the Wild really only had effort as a team for two of them. And for the second game in a row, Minnesota didn't even try to mount any sort of a comeback until the opposing team was up by four goals. Even though the Wild have pulled off stunning victories this season, they've got to stop playing from behind all of the time. It's thrilling to see a team mount a comeback, but it would be nice if Minnesota would grab a lead and hold it every once in awhile.

Game pluses:
- Antti Miettinen. Splitting up the Wild's "top" line may have done some wonders for a couple of players, and Miettinen had two deflections that ended up in the back of the net. Fans have to wonder why Miettinen wasn't driving to the net like that before.
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu also seemed to have woken up thank to the reshuffled lines, scoring a goal and putting on a more typical defensive display.
- Josh Harding. When the Wild have inserted Harding part way through a game, he's come up huge, not allowing a single goal and giving his teammates a chance to make things interesting in the late periods. If only he could get that kind of offensive support in games where he starts.

Game minuses:
- John Scott. The big man wasn't solid on the blue line against the Stars. His roster spot gets even shakier with the news that Brent Burns has been cleared to start skating with the team again.
- Petr Sykora. Sykora was given a huge vote of confidence when he was promoted from the bench to the first line. However, the rust was evident, and not surprising, given how little he's skated since his concussion. Sykora needs to be played more frequently to be the type of player that he can be, but who knows how many chances he'll get.
- Niklas Backstrom. Backstrom hasn't been good in recent games, and he gave up at least four goals yet again, facing only fifteen shots. He joined the ranks of starting goaltenders who didn't complete their games, on a bad night for goaltenders in the NHL.

Next up: The Wild get a couple of days of rest before they face off against the Detroit Red Wings.

2009-10 Game Forty-Nine: Wild 4, Coyotes 6

Too little, too late. That might be the mantra for the Wild season, but it was certainly in play against the Phoenix Coyotes. The Wild had a golden opportunity to do what they've done so many times this season, entering the third period down by a goal. Cue the circus music and the defensive lapses, and the Wild suddenly found themselves in a 5-1 hole. That was followed by Minnesota firing off three goals, including two power play markers, to bring themselves back to within one, but that ended up being all she wrote, as Phoenix took advantage of another opportunity to seal the deal.

Part of the Wild's current woes certainly deal with only one line really being active and playing well throughout the game, and it certainly isn't the "top" line of Mikko Koivu, Andrew Brunette, and Antti Miettinen. The Wild will be shuffling those players around before the Dallas game, and it could lead to some interesting new combinations. It could also see a player return to the ice after a long hiatus, in the form of Petr Sykora.

Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Hard to argue with a guy who gets a hat trick, and had a couple of opportunities for more. He now leads the Wild in goals scored.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat had three assists to help drive what offense the Wild showed, and his chemistry with Latendresse is amazing.
- Kyle Brodziak. Rounding out Minnesota's best line, Brodziak was solid at center, and he engineered a couple of the tic-tac-toe plays the ended up in the net.

Game minuses:
- Top line. A combined -13. Almost no shots. No goals whatsoever. Is it any wonder that they're being split up?
- James Sheppard. Sheppard was something of a ghost on the ice, not really making himself visible. When he did appear, it seemed like it was to make a bad play. Not good for a kid trying to prove that he belongs in the league.
- Niklas Backstrom. True, more than a couple of the six goals he gave up were on plays that he had no chance of stopping. But Backstrom needed to do more to find a way to keep Phoenix out of the net on the other plays, and he simply didn't have the stuff in the desert.

Next up: The Wild face the Dallas Stars in Dallas, looking for a positive end to this road trip.

2009-10 Game Forty-Seven: Wild 5, Canucks 2

What a tumultuous couple of days for both the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks. Both teams found themselves embroiled in controversies that could seriously damage the reputation of the league, or at least Colin Campbell, who's regularly shown a glaring lack of consistency with regards to discipline. For Vancouver, there was the whole Alex Burrows/Stephane Auger issue, with Burrows accusing referee Auger of showing a definite bias, and costing Vancouver a game. The league responded by fining Burrows, but the fine was ridiculously small, especially for a professional athlete, so it lends some credence to the notion that maybe, just maybe, Burrows had a legitimate gripe. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild's Cal Clutterbuck was waiting to see what the NHL would do to Pittsburgh's Sergei Gonchar after Gonchar's illegal hit. This was a hit where Gonchar left his feet, specifically went for the head, and admitted to it being a payback hit, in a league that's supposedly trying to crack down on those exact types of plays. And yet, apparently Gonchar sitting in the penalty box was punishment enough for trying to take another player completely out of the game.

But none of that mattered Wednesday night, as the Wild and the Canucks squared off against each other. Minnesota jumped out to a fast start, scoring on their first two shots of the game, but then they faltered, allowing Vancouver to get back into the game. With the game tied at 2 entering the third period, Minnesota once again took control, and completed an improbable sweep over the Canucks. To add insult to injury, Vancouver tried to get something going on their end after the Wild had jumped out to a 5-2 lead, and they did it by starting fights. The problem? Nobody on Vancouver really matches up with the Wild heavyweights, and Minnesota won those battles handily, as well.

Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. During a spotty second period for the Wild defense, Backstrom stood tall, holding the Wild in the game. He set a new mark for wins by a Wild goaltender by defeating the Canucks.
- Antti Miettinen. A game ago, it looked like Miettinen might need to find new linemates. Apparently, he felt the pressure, because he turned around and put two pucks in the net, including the game winner, and a late insurance marker.
- Owen Nolan. The grizzled veteran scored on a weird shot, but, more importantly, he had very good puck awareness, throwing his stick and body in the way of Vancouver shots, in one of his more impressive defensive showings.

Game minuses:
- Eric Belanger. Belanger didn't look like he had any speed in his skates against Vancouver, with the exception of one rush. To make matters worse, especially during the poor second period, Belanger didn't use much physical play, either, instead skating around without much energy.
- Robbie Earl. The kid has a lot of energy, so, in many ways, he played the exact opposite of Eric Belanger. The trouble with Earl right now is that he seems like he's trying to think too much on the ice, instead of just doing. He needs to start using his shot more, to be more than just a speedy skater on the ice.
- Fights. Yes, the Wild won all three fights pretty handily. But the reason that this ends up as a minus is this simple question, "Why was Vancouver fighting in the first place?". They didn't match up well, especially against Derek Boogaard and John Scott, and they ultimately paid the price. If Boogaard's assertion that the Canucks were "ordered" to fight by their coach is true, then it casts even more of a pall on the situation.

Next up: The Wild pulled themselves within two points of a playoff position with an improbable four-game winning streak, throttling some of the best teams in the league by a 19-11 score during that time. Can they keep their foot on the gas when they take on the St. Louis Blues, or will they suffer from a letdown that many feel has been coming since the come-from-behind victory over Chicago?

2009-10 Game Forty-Six: Wild 4, Penguins 3

The Minnesota Wild and the Pittsburgh Penguins played dueling forwards in Saint Paul. Lining up in that role for Pittsburgh was Sidney Crosby, the type of player that the league doesn't see that often. His counterpart for the Minnesota Wild was someone who wasn't even part of the team at the beginning of the season, but is quickly becoming proof that the Wild front office have an eye for talent that will fit. And who could have guessed that Guillaume Latendresse would end up coming up on the better side of things than "Sid the Kid"?

In all honesty, the Wild just outplayed the Penguins, and they kept their composure better. It seemed like all of the extracurriculars were started by guys in white jerseys, obviously frustrated that, even though they dumped almost forty shots on net, they were getting beat by a team that had barely put together twenty shots themselves. That, and Pittsburgh had to be feeling pressure, not wanting to fall to the Wild like Chicago did. At the end of the day, they took their own route to defeat, as the Wild pulled off another come-from-behind victory, and won their NHL-leading 17th one-goal game this season.

Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Latendresse had the biggest night of his career, and he electrified the Xcel Energy Center crowd. One game after capping the Wild's huge comeback with the tying goal against the Blackhawks, Latendresse played a part in all four Minnesota goals, scoring the game winner.
- Martin Havlat. Latendresse may have found his home, but he apparently brought Marty Havlat's game with him. Havlat scored a goal of his own, and now has an eight-game point streak. His give-and-go with Latendresse was fantastic to watch.
- Niklas Backstrom. Sure, he gave up three goals. But he stopped far more chances than he had any right to, including a brilliant glove save that may have sealed the game for the Wild. Not a surprise, as Backstrom has a habit of bouncing back strong after getting pulled from a game.

Game minuses:
- Antti Miettinen. Right now, he's something of a non-presence on the ice, unless you're looking for someone to shoot the puck wide. Something needs to be shaken up on the Wild's top line, and Miettinen might be the odd man out.
- Power play. As it turns out, the Wild didn't need to score with the extra man, but they had a beautiful opportunity to do so during a five-minute major. However, as so many Wild power plays have gone this season, the puck was cycled without any real threat in the offensive zone. Something has to click.
- Sergei Gonchar. Normally, events for the Wild are focused on here. But it's hard to ignore what Sergei Gonchar did to Cal Clutterbuck in retaliation for a clean hit. Gonchar may face suspension for his hit, since it certainly looked like there was an intent to cause injury. He also got lucky to not get tossed out of the game for misconduct. Clutterbuck may antagonize other players, but it's largely because he's physical and plays a clean game. There was no excuse for what Gonchar did, and he deserves to sit for a while because of it.

Next up: The Wild started this current winning streak by beating a divisional opponent. Can they keep it going by taking their first victory of the season from the Vancouver Canucks?

2009-10 Game Thirty-Nine: Wild 4, Kings 3

The way the first two periods were going, it certainly looked like the Wild were going to coast to their first victory over Los Angeles in six tries. Then the third period started, the entire game shifted, and it started to look like Minnesota was going to come down on the wrong side of a one-goal game.

It's amazing what twelve seconds can do.

That's how long it took the Wild to turn around from tying the game to taking back the lead, and, this time, not giving it up. The Wild have played more one-goal games than anyone else in the league, and they seem to keep finding ways to win them. Even when the game started slipping away, the Wild were able to keep enough composure to put the puck back into the net, and they head into the second half of the back-to-back tonight with an impressive victory.

Game pluses:
- Eric Belanger. Just a game ago, Belanger looked like nothing more than a face-off specialist. Against the Kings, Belanger lit the lamp twice, and assisted on Martin Havlat's opening goal. Belanger scored the game winner just seconds after being on the ice for the Kings tying goal.
- Martin Havlat. Taking a great poke check from Belanger, Havlat turned up the ice and fired a quick wrist shot that blew through to the Kings net. The opening goal put a little more jump into the Wild, and helped them carry the first two periods.
- Andrew Brunette. Just watching his pass on the power play goal is mesmerizing. Brunette is starting to find the open spots, and appears to be the third Wild player to get a really good grasp of the team's offensive system.

Game minuses:
- Officiating. Once again, the officiating fell short in the game. Not only did they count a goal that should have been wiped out because of goaltender interference, but they didn't keep control, which almost certainly created a much chippier atmosphere in the final period.
- Kim Johnsson. Yes, he scored a power play goal, giving himself a two-game goal streak. He also deflected a harmless shot past his own goaltender. Again, Johnsson showed a lack of awareness for spacing on the ice, and his own positioning again came into question.
- Antti Miettinen. Maybe the guy's just snakebit, but how can one player hit so many posts and not get a shot into the net? True, he's beating the opposing goalies, but he hasn't been able to do anything more than ring the iron. Looks like he needs to work some target shooting in practice.

Next up: If the Wild played in the East, they'd be firmly entrenched in the playoff positioning, as opposed to still trying to crack the top 8, in spite of their recent success. Tonight, they try to keep things moving in the right direction when they take on the Anaheim Ducks.

2009-10 Game Thirty-One: Wild 2, Flames 1 (OT)

A sign that a team really is different from year-to-year is the way that they approach an opponent, and an arena, that has often thwarted even their best efforts. While the Minnesota Wild may not be ready to completely shake off the demons of playing in Calgary, for one night, at least, they were able to do something they hadn't done in almost three years; they won inside of the Saddledome.

In previous years, the Wild were a team that didn't spend a ton of time in the attacking zone. They would get their chances, but then they would retreat into a defensive style of play, and just try to hang on. This time, the Wild utilized a strong forecheck to keep the Flames from assembling much of an offense, and, if it hadn't been for the Wild trying to shoot through Miikka Kiprusoff instead of around him, the Flames wouldn't have even gotten a point out of the game. For one night, at least, the Calgary demons that have haunted the Wild in the past were put to rest.

Game pluses:
- Martin Havlat. Havlat played great against the Flames while in Chicago, and leave it to Calgary to find a way to reignite his game. Great feeds lead to scoring chances, and his puck awareness put the winner into the yawning net. Wild fans are starting to see what kind of player Havlat can really be.
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild netminder didn't have to duel with Kiprusoff in total shots faced, but he performed just as admirably when the game was on the line. One of these two goaltenders will probably be starting for Finland in the Olympics.
- Derek Boogaard. Take away Boogaard's fight early on, and you still have a pretty good game. Boogaard was a presence on the ice, almost getting the puck into the net once, and he was right there, just in case James Sheppard couldn't make his goal count.

Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild had an extended 5-on-3, and couldn't get the puck into the net. Antti Miettinen had the best opportunity, but the Wild just couldn't get the man advantage to click.
- Shot selection. Kiprusoff is a big goalie, but that doesn't explain why the Wild decided the best place to put the puck was right into the center of his chest on far too many shots. The Wild heavily outshot the Flames, but just couldn't move the puck enough to fool Kiprusoff most of the night.
- Kim Johnsson. For a defenseman who's supposed to be an offensive asset, and someone who's supposed to have good overall awareness, Johnsson needs to show that he knows where things are on the ice. Too often, he makes mistakes at the blue line that could cost the Wild the game.

Next up: The Wild left Calgary, but stayed within the Northwest Division, wrapping up their road trip with a visit to Vancouver.

2009-10 Game Thirty: Wild 1, Avalanche 0

After putting together an offensive showcase while knocking off five wins in a row, the Minnesota Wild returned to earth over the last couple of games, and looked more like the team they were last season, as opposed to the team that they're trying to become. Still, sometimes a sloppy road win is exactly what a team needs, and it's very possible that the Wild needed a bounce-back after the way they played against the Phoenix Coyotes.

One thing that hasn't changed, especially since Niklas Backstrom came to town, is that the Colorado Avalanche are often just what the doctor ordered to help right the ship. While the games tend to be fairly close, the Wild also tend to come out the victors, and have already won the season series against Colorado thanks to last night's win. While neither team played overly well, the Wild did just enough to secure the game, in spite of marching to the penalty box, and a Colorado goal that was disallowed.

Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. With the exception of the disallowed goal, and one shot where the puck ended up between his skates, Backstrom was sparkling in net, turning aside Avalanche shots with ease. He didn't have any truly difficult saves to make, and looked cool and composed on the way to his first shut-out this season.
- Antti Miettinen. The only goal scorer, Miettinen showed why you crash the net, scooping up a rebound to give the Wild the lead early in the first period.
- Penalty kill. The Wild's penalty kill was tremendous, which is good, given the number of chances Colorado had on the power play. Overall, Minnesota allowed less than one shot per power play, getting bodies in front of the shooter and disrupting the play all night long.

Game minuses:
- John Scott. The Wild's big man may have spent more time in the penalty box than on the ice, serving time for three minor penalties. When he was on the ice, it was an even bet that any time he moved the puck, it would end up being an icing call.
- James Sheppard. The kid's still trying, but, when he moved towards the offensive zone, he got dumped far too easily. Sheppard isn't a small player by any means, but he looked like he had no balance and little skill against Colorado.
- Shots. The Wild took too few shots, once again. True, they weren't having a lot of luck getting the puck into the net, but they didn't try hard enough. Positioning comes into play with this, as well, when some passes or rebounds slipped past players just standing in the wrong place.

Next up: The Wild are 7-1-1 in their last nine games, and they look to continue that positive trend when they head to Calgary to face the Flames for the first time this season.

2009-10 Game Twenty-Seven: Wild 5, Ducks 4 (SO)

The Anaheim Ducks should be glad that they won't have to come back to Minnesota any more times this season. The first time that the Ducks came to St. Paul, the Wild pulled off an improbable overtime victory, bouncing back from a three-goal deficit. This time, the Wild gave up two different two-goal leads, only to win the game in the shootout.

To think, this Wild team faced it's share of struggles earlier in the season. While they probably aren't out of the water completely, they seem to have turned a corner, understanding the new system, and they're playing with confidence. Not many NHL teams could find themselves down 2-0, and then 4-2, and still bounce back. A lot of that credit can go to the veteran players, who are stepping up at the right time, but there also has to be credit given to GM Chuck Fletcher, who has shown a willingness to make roster moves to help the team, and, thus far, his in-season acquisitions have shown great promise.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain outplayed his older brother, and helped bring the Wild back from both deficits.
- Antti Miettinen. Before he went down with the flu, Miettinen was starting to really hit his stride. He hasn't lost a step since coming back, and his shootout goal made things a little easier on Niklas Backstrom.
- Andrew Brunette. Without great passing, the Wild would have missed out on a couple of their goals, and few move the puck better than Brunette.

Game minuses:
- Giving up the lead. The Wild have been struggling much of this season, playing from behind in so many games. While it's a huge plus that the Wild came back from two two-goal deficits, the big minus is that they allowed the Ducks to score like that.
- Niklas Backstrom. Backstrom once again had another subpar game, allowing too many pucks through. Maybe the new system is exposing the goaltenders more, but Backstrom hasn't looked as focused.
- Defensive positioning. Part of the reason Backstrom has been having his problems is because, with the exception of Greg Zanon, the Wild defense seems to run around in their own end, without rhyme or reason. For a team that used to be know for it's defensive identity, this is more than troubling, only being glossed over because they finally have firepower to cover it.

Next up: The Wild left the comforts of home, and headed to Nashville for the second of back-to-back games.

2009-10 Game Twenty-Four: Wild 5, Avalanche 3

The day after Thanksgiving, the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche got an early start. Maybe it was all of the food from the day before, and maybe it was the afternoon start time, but it took a little bit for either team to get moving quickly. That did change as the game progressed, and the Wild ended up stepping forward in a big way, continuing a recent trend of taking points from games.

The Wild also got to see hats rain down on the ice for the first time since Marian Gaborik lit up his current team for 5 goals, thanks to an impressive performance by Chuck Kobasew. If it hadn't been for an illness to Antti Miettinen, Kobasew wouldn't have found himself with his linemates, and might not have been able to make as much of an impact. It was a good thing, too, as the Wild had to overcome a sloppy performance by Niklas Backstrom, and an energetic performance from the Avalanche.

Game pluses:
- Chuck Kobasew. Sure, his third goal was an emtpy-netter. But his first two goals were opportunistic and well-placed.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain continues to make plays that seem impossible, and dishes the puck better than anyone else on the team.
- Derek Boogaard. The big man is playing better, and looks to be getting some offensive confidence. His assist came thanks to a great pass, and he could find himself getting his first goal in 2+ seasons before too long.

Game minuses:
- Slow start. The Wild once again started the game by giving up the first goal, but they were able to respond. They need to get a better start to the games, whether the puck drops at 8:00pm, or 1:00pm.
- Niklas Backstrom. Backstrom did enough to keep the Wild from losing the game, but he gave up uncharacteristic rebounds, and got lucky thanks to a puck that danced along the goal line, but never across it.
- Transition hockey. The Avalanche came out the better team when it came to odd-man rushes. The Wild defense needs to be stingier.

Next up: The Wild finished the home-and-home series the next night, looking to keep their record against the Avalanche perfect on the season.

2009-10 Game Twenty-One: Wild 2, Coyotes 3

Don't feel bad if you didn't realize that the Minnesota Wild played a game against the Phoenix Coyotes last night. The Wild didn't seem to remember, either, for most of the game.

The slow starts to games are absolutely killing the team. When Minnesota is able to fire on all cylinders, they can be a deadly team, scoring seemingly at will, and with a fierce forecheck to keep opponents bottled up in their own zone. When they don't start skating until the second period (or later, as was the case against Phoenix), it doesn't matter how powerful of a team they can be, because they've already crippled themselves. The Wild didn't get started until they were already down by a goal, and all Phoenix had to do was answer when the Wild scored, and answer they did, including getting the game winner 19 seconds after a tying goal. The Wild need some more accountability, and they need to put forward a better effort. The new system was meant to bring a more upbeat style of hockey to the state, but all it's done thus far is removed the knowledge of the basics from a team that's completely floundering.

Game pluses:
- Antti Miettinen. Miettinen played a strong game, even during an overall lackluster first period. When he scored the tying goal, it was reward for hard work.
- Andrew Brunette. There are few players as good working against the back wall as Brunette, and he showed it again last night. Notching his own goal gave the Wild a spark of life.
- Mikko Koivu. Rounding out the only Wild line that put an effort into things, Koivu had some chances of his own, but had to satisfy himself with assisting on both goals.

Game minuses:
- Lapses. The Wild score, and suddenly the other team gets a beautiful chance. It's been happening all season, but last night featured one of the worst examples on the game-winning goal. After Miettinen's goal, the Wild slept on their feet as the Coyotes entered the zone, took a soft shot that created a big rebound, and then easily scooped up the rebound for another soft shot, sliding the puck past a dazed goaltender. It was a complete collapse on the Wild's part, and is inexcusable.
- Battles. Aside from Andrew Brunette, the Wild couldn't seem to win a single puck battle. To be fair, though, throughout the first 30 minutes or so, they weren't even trying.
- Officiating. It wasn't just the phantom slashing call made just because a stick broke. The officiating was awful all game long, and, if the Wild had played with more passion, it could have easily lead to the game getting out of control as the players policed themselves.

Next up: The Wild started out their homestand on an awful note, but hope to recover when they play host to the New York Islanders.

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?