The playoffs are barely a week old. The old season has been put behind everyone, and the "second season" has provided exactly what people love to see out of the NHL, as physical play has been offset by impressive offense, and the different series have all provided different sorts of thrills. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild have been sitting at home, evaluating what happened this past year, and looking ahead to what can be better next season. What better time to take a look back at what went right and what went wrong for Minnesota during the 2009-10 campaign.
What Went Right?
- Benoit Pouliot for Guillaume Latendresse trade. Pouliot had spent his career for the Wild being something of an underachieving player. Unquestionably, he has talent, but he wasn't showing it consistently for Minnesota. The same was true for Guillaume Latendresse in relation to his time in Montreal. A mid-season trade reinvigorated both players, and Latendresse ended up leading the Wild in goals. His appearance also gave a jump start to Martin Havlat, who had previously looked like a huge bust.
- Martin Havlat comes to Minnesota. At the beginning of the season, it didn't look good for Minnesota, with regards to their acquisition of Martin Havlat. The Wild made it seem as though Havlat was being brought in to replace Marian Gaborik, but the two players are very different in what they can provide. Gaborik is a goal scorer, who will gather assists, but is mainly going to be a sniper. Havlat, on the other hand, is a playmaker, and his ability to create opportunities is huge. However, without a finisher, Havlat looked lost. Enter Guillaume Latendresse, and suddenly, Havlat found his game. Once the Wild's second line was secured, the only player who looked more comfortable in the system was Mikko Koivu.
- Mikko Koivu named first permanent Wild captain. The Wild have needed a permanent captain for a long time, and what better player to pick for the team than a player who is often underrated, but is able to play both ends of the ice, and does it all with his heart on his sleeve? In his first season as the full-time captain, Koivu shouldered the pressure well, setting a new career high in points, and he was willing to place the team on his back and pull them through some of their more troublesome moments.
- Young call-ups given chances. The Wild's cupboard is one of the more empty in the National Hockey League, but they are working on fixing that. More importantly, some of the players that were called up this season should have a good chance to break into the roster for next season, providing some more speed and scoring to a line-up that desperately needed it. Robbie Earl, Nate Prosser, and Casey Wellman all have some seasoning and conditioning to go through before proving that they're ready, but they're definitely close and should be able to contribute. Don't forget about Colton Gillies, who spent his second season in Houston to improve his game and get him ready for the big show.
What Went Wrong?
- James Sheppard falls off the radar. Sheppard may be the biggest casualty of the previous management staff. He was brought up to the Wild right away, without getting some needed conditioning in the AHL. He spent too many games on the ice, which would force him to be placed on waivers before being dropped to the minors. During the pre-season, it looked like Sheppard might have a breakout year, but then he just dropped off the map, and turned in his lowest point total since entering the league. Sheppard is a player who desperately needs a change of scenery, much like Benoit Pouliot. Hopefully, the Wild will be able to find another diamond like Latendresse.
- The injury bug strikes... over and over again. The Wild just couldn't stay healthy. The number of man-games lost to injury this season set a new record by a long shot. Key players, from both starting goaltenders to Brent Burns, from Chuck Kobasew to Pierre-Marc Bouchard, weren't able to play the full season, and, in Bouchard's case, only touched the ice once. The Wild is looking at their off-season conditioning to try and fix some of the problems that popped up this season. The Wild definitely has to find out how to be healthy, but it's been a problem that's plagued them, admittedly not this deeply, from day one of their existence.
- Petr Sykora comes to Minnesota. When Sykora was brought to the Wild, it made people believe that the Wild were honestly not in a rebuilding season, but were instead looking to remain competitive. Pairing Sykora with Havlat seemed to give Minnesota a strong second line of scoring, and the veteran's presence would help bring the rookies along. Instead, Sykora never meshed with his teammates or his coaches, and he spent almost as many games scratched instead of playing, although a concussion certainly didn't help. Sykora was eventually released by the Wild, after never finding his game, and is still looking for a new team to pick him up.
What is the Verdict Still Out On?
- Kim Johnsson traded for Cam Barker. In many ways, this trade should have drastically improved the Wild's blue line. Barker plays a similar style of hockey to Johnsson, but has a bigger shot, better mobility, and is younger. Unfortunately, Barker has run hot and cold for the Wild. If he can prove to be the young stud that he was in season's past, the Wild made a great choice. If he can't find his game, then Minnesota may want to be thankful that they have as many defensemen chomping at the bit to make the move from Houston.
- Niklas Backstrom making Josh Harding expendable. In the 2008-09 season, it seemed like a no-brainer. Backstrom was amazing in net, and, while Harding was solid, he didn't look like a starting goaltender. The change of regimes in Minnesota shook that up a bit, as neither goaltender looked quite like themselves. However, both goaltenders showed a lot of heart and made amazing stops to keep their team in games. Expectations are that Harding will be with a different team by the time the 2010-11 season starts. If Backstrom can return to the brilliant form he showed, or if the Wild has the next great goaltender waiting in the wings, then they should leverage Harding for as much offense as they can get. If Backstrom falls off, and Anton Khudobin isn't able to be consistent at the NHL level, and Harding turns into a Vezina winner, the Wild might be kicking themselves for holding on to the wrong mask.
Ultimately, the Wild had a better season than anyone had any right to expect, and they should be able to build on that for next season. Having the 9th pick in the draft won't hurt, but it won't help as much as they might have hoped. However, Chuck Fletcher and his staff are working to replenish a stripped down system, adding draft picks and bringing in college free agents, and if they can keep the team moving in this new direction, then the dream of Lord Stanley's Cup getting raised in Minnesota might only be a couple of seasons away.
Showing posts with label Casey Wellman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Casey Wellman. Show all posts
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
2009-10 Game Eighty-Two: Wild 3, Stars 4 (SO)
The Minnesota Wild season ended on Saturday night, not with a bang, and not with a whimper. Instead, it ended with a tough, hard-fought game, as two teams playing for nothing but pride met and battled all over the ice. It also ended with a heartfelt tribute to a player who may have pulled on the skates for the last time. Mike Modano may not have had much impact on the ice against Minnesota in what may very well have been his final game as a player, but his legacy will definitely live on, and he has set a number of marks that will make it tough for American-born players to break.
Meanwhile, thanks to the continued onslaught of injuries, the Wild's youth movement continued, and with it comes the glimpse of what might be the future of Minnesota hockey. The Wild's young recruits have skated hard, and they have proven to be wily acquisitions by a team that has a pretty bare cupboard for future talent.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain notched two goals, with some nicely placed shots, to give him a new career high in goals. He also showed a lot of why he became the Wild's first permanent captain.
- Casey Wellman. The Wild have needed centers for years, and, even though Wellman has played on the wing, he may be showing that the center position is getting an upgrade. Wellman has good speed and vision, but needs to bulk up a bit. Still, he has a nose for the puck, as he proved with his first NHL goal.
- Team toughness. The Wild laid out a lot of good strong hits, and they didn't back down from challenges. Often, with nothing to play for, teams tend to retreat. That didn't happen against the Stars.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. They plagued the Wild all season, and a slew of players missed the finale because of them. The big question remains as to how many of those players missed their final chance to skate in a Wild sweater.
- Steve Ott. He answered Koivu's two goals with two of his own. He was also stirring up trouble all game long, and was a general nuisance for the Wild. Minnesota doesn't have much luck eliminating other teams pests, and Minnesota's own doesn't play as dirty of a game.
- Letting up. The Wild had a two goal lead, and looked like they were going to dominate the rest of the way. Then the second period started, and Minnesota lost all the momentum. They definitely have to find that second gear when leading in a game if they want a better result next season.
Next up: The Wild are done, but the blog will still be going. A look ahead at the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, as well as a look back at the Wild's season, are both on tap for this week.
Meanwhile, thanks to the continued onslaught of injuries, the Wild's youth movement continued, and with it comes the glimpse of what might be the future of Minnesota hockey. The Wild's young recruits have skated hard, and they have proven to be wily acquisitions by a team that has a pretty bare cupboard for future talent.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain notched two goals, with some nicely placed shots, to give him a new career high in goals. He also showed a lot of why he became the Wild's first permanent captain.
- Casey Wellman. The Wild have needed centers for years, and, even though Wellman has played on the wing, he may be showing that the center position is getting an upgrade. Wellman has good speed and vision, but needs to bulk up a bit. Still, he has a nose for the puck, as he proved with his first NHL goal.
- Team toughness. The Wild laid out a lot of good strong hits, and they didn't back down from challenges. Often, with nothing to play for, teams tend to retreat. That didn't happen against the Stars.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. They plagued the Wild all season, and a slew of players missed the finale because of them. The big question remains as to how many of those players missed their final chance to skate in a Wild sweater.
- Steve Ott. He answered Koivu's two goals with two of his own. He was also stirring up trouble all game long, and was a general nuisance for the Wild. Minnesota doesn't have much luck eliminating other teams pests, and Minnesota's own doesn't play as dirty of a game.
- Letting up. The Wild had a two goal lead, and looked like they were going to dominate the rest of the way. Then the second period started, and Minnesota lost all the momentum. They definitely have to find that second gear when leading in a game if they want a better result next season.
Next up: The Wild are done, but the blog will still be going. A look ahead at the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, as well as a look back at the Wild's season, are both on tap for this week.
Friday, April 9, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
2009-10 Game Eight: Wild 1, Oilers 4
The Minnesota Wild skated into Edmonton banged up, and still reeling a bit from their recent losses. Neither of those may be bad things, overall. With the number of injured players, and the fact that the team is just playing to finish out the season, some of the newer faces are getting an opportunity to play with the big club. While the Wild doesn't want to finish the season looking like a team holding try-outs, the experience being given to their rookies could prove to be very valuable down the road.
However, while the rookies are showing a lot of compete, and some flashes of brilliance that could make for a memorable season down the road, the team as a whole just isn't playing together as a unit. When the forecheck is there, players can't get into the lane to take shots. When the shots are there, passes may be completely off the mark. Defensive breakdowns hang their goaltender out to dry, and the player between the pipes hasn't been able to keep soft shots from fooling them. This season has definitely worn the Wild down, but, thanks to injuries, fans might be getting an early preview for next season.
Game pluses:
- Nate Prosser. Prosser wasn't expected to do anything more than practice with the Wild since he was signed as a free agent. The injury bug changed all that, and Prosser put up some big minutes against Edmonton, also netting his first NHL point with an assist.
- Casey Wellman. Wellman has game-breaking speed and ability. All he needs is focus, and a better handle on when to shoot. Those will come, hopefully sooner, rather than later.
- Cody Almond. Another of the Wild's young guns played well, providing a spark when he was on the ice. Almond has struggled with injuries this season in Houston, but getting the chance to play with the Wild should bring big results for next year.
Game minuses:
- Power play. Not to sound like a broken record, but again, the power play was less than futile, and it coughed up yet another shorthanded goal.
- Cam Barker. Barker is just coming back from a couple of games away due to injury, but he hasn't shown the mobility and physical nature that made him an intriguing acquisition this season.
- Niklas Backstrom. Yes, Backstrom was hung out to dry on a few shots, and he made some of the impossible saves look easy. But Backstrom was also victimized by weak shots, and definitely doesn't look like the same goaltender as last season.
Next up: The Wild skate to Calgary for the penultimate game of their 2009-10 season.
However, while the rookies are showing a lot of compete, and some flashes of brilliance that could make for a memorable season down the road, the team as a whole just isn't playing together as a unit. When the forecheck is there, players can't get into the lane to take shots. When the shots are there, passes may be completely off the mark. Defensive breakdowns hang their goaltender out to dry, and the player between the pipes hasn't been able to keep soft shots from fooling them. This season has definitely worn the Wild down, but, thanks to injuries, fans might be getting an early preview for next season.
Game pluses:
- Nate Prosser. Prosser wasn't expected to do anything more than practice with the Wild since he was signed as a free agent. The injury bug changed all that, and Prosser put up some big minutes against Edmonton, also netting his first NHL point with an assist.
- Casey Wellman. Wellman has game-breaking speed and ability. All he needs is focus, and a better handle on when to shoot. Those will come, hopefully sooner, rather than later.
- Cody Almond. Another of the Wild's young guns played well, providing a spark when he was on the ice. Almond has struggled with injuries this season in Houston, but getting the chance to play with the Wild should bring big results for next year.
Game minuses:
- Power play. Not to sound like a broken record, but again, the power play was less than futile, and it coughed up yet another shorthanded goal.
- Cam Barker. Barker is just coming back from a couple of games away due to injury, but he hasn't shown the mobility and physical nature that made him an intriguing acquisition this season.
- Niklas Backstrom. Yes, Backstrom was hung out to dry on a few shots, and he made some of the impossible saves look easy. But Backstrom was also victimized by weak shots, and definitely doesn't look like the same goaltender as last season.
Next up: The Wild skate to Calgary for the penultimate game of their 2009-10 season.
Monday, April 5, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy-Nine: Wild 3, Canucks 4 (OT)
In their first game officially out of the playoff race, the Minnesota Wild looked like a team that was on the brink of depression. At least, they did for the first forty minutes, where they just couldn't muster much in the way of offense, team spirit, or even a willingness to take to the ice. This was most notable in the lackluster response given when members of the Vancouver Canucks bowled over goaltender Niklas Backstrom. The Wild just didn't have a response, and, even though the power play was given chance after chance, nothing was happening.
That is, until the final period of the game. In those last twenty minutes, the Wild played some tough hockey, and capped it with a thrilling final minute of play, to push the Canucks into overtime. In the end, it wasn't enough, as the Wild fell yet again, but the last minute heroics may have set the stage for some things Wild fans might want to get used to next season.
Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. It takes a tough goaltender to get run over all night long, and still keep his team in the game. Backstrom was the only reason that the Wild were within reach of Vancouver all night long, and he almost helped his team steal the game, even when being knocked flat onto the ice.
- Cody Almond. The Wild rookie notched his first NHL goal, scoring off of a pretty pass from fellow rookie, Casey Wellman. It helped create the last-minute heroics.
- No quit. The Wild haven't played the entire season like they had nothing to lose, but they managed to put together a thrilling twenty minutes based on pride and hard work. If it hadn't been for a questionable call in the overtime, Minnesota might have been the team skating away with two points.
Game minuses:
- Power play. No doubt about it, the Wild power play has struggled all season, and again came up empty with an extended 5-on-3. They also coughed up their NHL-leading 12th shorthanded goal, looking foolish while doing so.
- Penalties. Both teams got thrown into the box numerous times all night long, and that might mean a short postseason for Vancouver. However, some of the penalties (namely, the high sticking against Greg Zanon in the overtime, and the hooking against James Sheppard to give Vancouver a 5-on-3 advantage) really seemed like calls that shouldn't have been made, and dramatically changed the tone of the game.
- Playing for team. The Wild didn't have much of a team mentality through the beginning of the game. They allowed their goaltender to get pushed around, and, while interference penalties were called, Minnesota didn't do anything on their own to deter Vancouver from continuing to play that style.
Next up: The Wild skate into Edmonton, to finish their season series against the Oilers.
That is, until the final period of the game. In those last twenty minutes, the Wild played some tough hockey, and capped it with a thrilling final minute of play, to push the Canucks into overtime. In the end, it wasn't enough, as the Wild fell yet again, but the last minute heroics may have set the stage for some things Wild fans might want to get used to next season.
Game pluses:
- Niklas Backstrom. It takes a tough goaltender to get run over all night long, and still keep his team in the game. Backstrom was the only reason that the Wild were within reach of Vancouver all night long, and he almost helped his team steal the game, even when being knocked flat onto the ice.
- Cody Almond. The Wild rookie notched his first NHL goal, scoring off of a pretty pass from fellow rookie, Casey Wellman. It helped create the last-minute heroics.
- No quit. The Wild haven't played the entire season like they had nothing to lose, but they managed to put together a thrilling twenty minutes based on pride and hard work. If it hadn't been for a questionable call in the overtime, Minnesota might have been the team skating away with two points.
Game minuses:
- Power play. No doubt about it, the Wild power play has struggled all season, and again came up empty with an extended 5-on-3. They also coughed up their NHL-leading 12th shorthanded goal, looking foolish while doing so.
- Penalties. Both teams got thrown into the box numerous times all night long, and that might mean a short postseason for Vancouver. However, some of the penalties (namely, the high sticking against Greg Zanon in the overtime, and the hooking against James Sheppard to give Vancouver a 5-on-3 advantage) really seemed like calls that shouldn't have been made, and dramatically changed the tone of the game.
- Playing for team. The Wild didn't have much of a team mentality through the beginning of the game. They allowed their goaltender to get pushed around, and, while interference penalties were called, Minnesota didn't do anything on their own to deter Vancouver from continuing to play that style.
Next up: The Wild skate into Edmonton, to finish their season series against the Oilers.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy-Six: Wild 3, Kings 2
With their post-season fate decided, the Minnesota Wild are in a position to play spoiler to other teams in the league. They did just that against a Los Angeles Kings team that is still in playoff positioning, but falling quickly. Even with the odds stacked heavily in the favor of the visiting team, the Wild just kept bearing down and they ended up pulling out something of a nail-biter.
It didn't have to be as close as it was. The Wild had a 2-0 lead, but they coughed it up to Los Angeles, who just kept driving. Minnesota also didn't help their case as the spent too much time marching to the penalty box, thereby shortening their bench and making it tougher than it needed to be. However, the defining moment of the game had to be the full two-minute 5-on-3 power play that the Kings had, as the Wild were bottled up in their own zone, unable to even get a line change, but they still stifled every chance that Los Angeles had. Shortly after that turn of events, the Wild got a power play of their own, and they converted it into the game winner.
Game pluses:
- Greg Zanon. Already playing on a broken ankle, Greg Zanon just continues to work, and he blocked another 6 shots against the Kings, including one to a tender area. He was one of the big reasons why the Wild didn't give up a goal during either of their extended 3-on-5 stints.
- Brent Burns. Sometimes, Burns tries too hard to make things happen. Other times, he just lets the game develop around him, and his goal to put the Wild up by two is a prime example of the second. When Burns is feeling the game, amazing things seem to come naturally.
- Niklas Backstrom. It would be tough to find too much at fault with Backstrom's game. He also stepped up at the exact right moment, being the team's best penalty killer.
Game minuses:
- Discipline. The Wild should be used to the fact that calls aren't going to go their way by now. That also means that they should take extra effort to not get themselves into positions where a questionable penalty could be called. Both 5-on-3 power plays could have been avoided if the Wild had been more conscious of their own play.
- Casey Wellman. Eventually, the kid had to have a rough outing, and that game came against the Kings. Wellman is also the type of player who should do better with more ice time, and the dynamic of the game lead him to sitting on the bench quite a bit.
- Marek Zidlicky. Yes, he was questionable before the game. Yes, he gritted it out and played anyways, showing some skill. But he was also one of the more undisciplined Wild players, and he was in the penalty box during both of the 2-man power plays that the Kings secured.
Next up: The Wild will face a team that is fast, powerful, and looking to take home-ice advantage. It's also a team that let Minnesota crawl back and steal a victory after leading them by four goals, as the Wild look to take down the Chicago Blackhawks.
It didn't have to be as close as it was. The Wild had a 2-0 lead, but they coughed it up to Los Angeles, who just kept driving. Minnesota also didn't help their case as the spent too much time marching to the penalty box, thereby shortening their bench and making it tougher than it needed to be. However, the defining moment of the game had to be the full two-minute 5-on-3 power play that the Kings had, as the Wild were bottled up in their own zone, unable to even get a line change, but they still stifled every chance that Los Angeles had. Shortly after that turn of events, the Wild got a power play of their own, and they converted it into the game winner.
Game pluses:
- Greg Zanon. Already playing on a broken ankle, Greg Zanon just continues to work, and he blocked another 6 shots against the Kings, including one to a tender area. He was one of the big reasons why the Wild didn't give up a goal during either of their extended 3-on-5 stints.
- Brent Burns. Sometimes, Burns tries too hard to make things happen. Other times, he just lets the game develop around him, and his goal to put the Wild up by two is a prime example of the second. When Burns is feeling the game, amazing things seem to come naturally.
- Niklas Backstrom. It would be tough to find too much at fault with Backstrom's game. He also stepped up at the exact right moment, being the team's best penalty killer.
Game minuses:
- Discipline. The Wild should be used to the fact that calls aren't going to go their way by now. That also means that they should take extra effort to not get themselves into positions where a questionable penalty could be called. Both 5-on-3 power plays could have been avoided if the Wild had been more conscious of their own play.
- Casey Wellman. Eventually, the kid had to have a rough outing, and that game came against the Kings. Wellman is also the type of player who should do better with more ice time, and the dynamic of the game lead him to sitting on the bench quite a bit.
- Marek Zidlicky. Yes, he was questionable before the game. Yes, he gritted it out and played anyways, showing some skill. But he was also one of the more undisciplined Wild players, and he was in the penalty box during both of the 2-man power plays that the Kings secured.
Next up: The Wild will face a team that is fast, powerful, and looking to take home-ice advantage. It's also a team that let Minnesota crawl back and steal a victory after leading them by four goals, as the Wild look to take down the Chicago Blackhawks.
Friday, March 26, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy-Four: Wild 4, Flyers 3 (OT)
Which was going to happen? Was Minnesota going to continue their good play against the Eastern Conference, or were they going to fall apart on the road? Would the Wild halt yet another opponent's losing streak, or would they battle hard and play the role of spoiler for a team desperate for playoff positioning? The way things looked at the start of the game, it certainly seemed like Philadelphia had the Wild's number. But, once the final horn sounded, the Wild were the ones skating away with two points.
The first five minutes were awful for Minnesota, as they squandered the few good chances that they had, and gave up two quick goals. But after that, the team seemed to calm down and remember what they had come to the rink to do. Even after Philadelphia made it 3-1, the Wild kept crawling back, and the final period and overtime showed exactly why the Flyers are desperate for good goaltending. The game-winning goal wasn't a great shot by any means, but it was knocked into the net by the Flyers themselves, after it was mishandled badly.
Game pluses:
- Casey Wellman. When the Wild looked down and out, one of the players who seemed guaranteed to push into the offensive zone and create chances was Wellman. If he can keep skating like this, his first NHL goal shouldn't be too far away.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak was almost taken out of the game thanks to a high blind-side hit. Instead, he finished strongly, and showed why throwing the puck at the net will result in good things, as he scored the game winner.
- John Scott. The big defenseman had his goal taken away from him, because Andrew Brunette may have tipped the puck out front. Still, Scott was a strong defensive presence, and he definitely created the tying goal. He also was quick to jump to the defense of his team, even if Casey Wellman got there quicker.
Game minuses:
- Andrew Ebbett. The Wild center was skating with the top line, and he was victimized on the two first-period Flyer goals. While he also had a great breakaway chance while shorthanded, he couldn't pull the trigger, with the puck sliding harmlessly to the back wall instead. That goal would have made it 1-0 Minnesota, and instead, a short time later, it was 2-0 Philadelphia.
- Brent Burns. The Wild defenseman is definitely feeling more of his game, but, unfortunately, that game has recently looked unfocused and undisciplined. Burns seems like he's trying to do everything on his own, and he isn't using his vision as well as he could. Forcing the puck up-ice leads to turnovers, and Burns has given up more than his share of pucks recently.
- Niklas Backstrom. Not to take anything away from the way he buckled down and kept the Wild in the game, but the goals given up were not great goals by any means. Backstrom has not shown himself as a lights-out goaltender this season, unlike last season. It may be the difference in the system, but, all told, he still has to find ways to stop the puck, and he hasn't been as strong at that this year.
Next up: The Wild will try and keep their meager playoff hopes alive tonight when they head to Detroit to take on the current 8th place team in the conference, the Red Wings.
The first five minutes were awful for Minnesota, as they squandered the few good chances that they had, and gave up two quick goals. But after that, the team seemed to calm down and remember what they had come to the rink to do. Even after Philadelphia made it 3-1, the Wild kept crawling back, and the final period and overtime showed exactly why the Flyers are desperate for good goaltending. The game-winning goal wasn't a great shot by any means, but it was knocked into the net by the Flyers themselves, after it was mishandled badly.
Game pluses:
- Casey Wellman. When the Wild looked down and out, one of the players who seemed guaranteed to push into the offensive zone and create chances was Wellman. If he can keep skating like this, his first NHL goal shouldn't be too far away.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak was almost taken out of the game thanks to a high blind-side hit. Instead, he finished strongly, and showed why throwing the puck at the net will result in good things, as he scored the game winner.
- John Scott. The big defenseman had his goal taken away from him, because Andrew Brunette may have tipped the puck out front. Still, Scott was a strong defensive presence, and he definitely created the tying goal. He also was quick to jump to the defense of his team, even if Casey Wellman got there quicker.
Game minuses:
- Andrew Ebbett. The Wild center was skating with the top line, and he was victimized on the two first-period Flyer goals. While he also had a great breakaway chance while shorthanded, he couldn't pull the trigger, with the puck sliding harmlessly to the back wall instead. That goal would have made it 1-0 Minnesota, and instead, a short time later, it was 2-0 Philadelphia.
- Brent Burns. The Wild defenseman is definitely feeling more of his game, but, unfortunately, that game has recently looked unfocused and undisciplined. Burns seems like he's trying to do everything on his own, and he isn't using his vision as well as he could. Forcing the puck up-ice leads to turnovers, and Burns has given up more than his share of pucks recently.
- Niklas Backstrom. Not to take anything away from the way he buckled down and kept the Wild in the game, but the goals given up were not great goals by any means. Backstrom has not shown himself as a lights-out goaltender this season, unlike last season. It may be the difference in the system, but, all told, he still has to find ways to stop the puck, and he hasn't been as strong at that this year.
Next up: The Wild will try and keep their meager playoff hopes alive tonight when they head to Detroit to take on the current 8th place team in the conference, the Red Wings.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy-Three: Wild 1, Sharks 4
One area where the Minnesota Wild have shown remarkable consistency this up-and-down season is the ability to break other team's losing streaks. Unfortunately, the San Jose Sharks came into town having fallen not only out of the top spot in the conference, but the top spot in their division, and had given up 27 goals in the previous 6 games. The Wild were also facing possible despondency over struggling hard to make up for an awful start to the season, and were still seeing themselves losing ground in the playoff race.
Those elements combined for a big Sharks win, in a game where the Wild just couldn't get things clicking. Minnesota got banged around the ice, and after a few questionable penalties, they seemed to back off somewhat on their own physical play. Meanwhile, the Sharks also broke up their top line, spreading those players out and presenting a defensive challenge to the Wild. Quick, well-placed shots for San Jose were countered with sloppy passes and poor scoring chances, and the end result was determined seemingly from the first face-off.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. The only Wild player to score, and he did it on the power play. Latendresse made some good plays through the night, and created trouble in the San Jose zone.
- Casey Wellman. Wellman looked good playing against the team he grew up cheering for. He used his speed well, and looks to be calming down somewhat on the ice.
- Greg Zanon. Broken ankle or no, Zanon still comes to play, and he showed why he's leading the team in blocked shots, sacrificing his body more than a few times.
Game minuses:
- Brent Burns. Yes, Burns was one of the players who had energy, and seemed to be around the puck a lot. That's part of the problem. Burns was unfocused, and definitely tried to do too much himself. It showed, as he was on the ice for all four San Jose goals.
- Niklas Backstrom. San Jose's first shot ends up in the back of the net. They also got the benefit of a fairly weak goal to keep the game out of reach. Backstrom is the Wild's starting goaltender, but he needs to rediscover the play of the last few seasons.
- Drive. The Wild just didn't look like they had much of a desire to even be at the Xcel, let alone playing against one of the top teams in the league. Everything was out of sync, and now they've got to go on the road. Maybe it's time to shift things around a bit, and see what happens. After all, what's the harm in bumping Latendresse to the first power play line, and giving Wellman a shot?
Next up: The Wild skate to Philadelphia to take on a banged-up Flyers team.
Those elements combined for a big Sharks win, in a game where the Wild just couldn't get things clicking. Minnesota got banged around the ice, and after a few questionable penalties, they seemed to back off somewhat on their own physical play. Meanwhile, the Sharks also broke up their top line, spreading those players out and presenting a defensive challenge to the Wild. Quick, well-placed shots for San Jose were countered with sloppy passes and poor scoring chances, and the end result was determined seemingly from the first face-off.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. The only Wild player to score, and he did it on the power play. Latendresse made some good plays through the night, and created trouble in the San Jose zone.
- Casey Wellman. Wellman looked good playing against the team he grew up cheering for. He used his speed well, and looks to be calming down somewhat on the ice.
- Greg Zanon. Broken ankle or no, Zanon still comes to play, and he showed why he's leading the team in blocked shots, sacrificing his body more than a few times.
Game minuses:
- Brent Burns. Yes, Burns was one of the players who had energy, and seemed to be around the puck a lot. That's part of the problem. Burns was unfocused, and definitely tried to do too much himself. It showed, as he was on the ice for all four San Jose goals.
- Niklas Backstrom. San Jose's first shot ends up in the back of the net. They also got the benefit of a fairly weak goal to keep the game out of reach. Backstrom is the Wild's starting goaltender, but he needs to rediscover the play of the last few seasons.
- Drive. The Wild just didn't look like they had much of a desire to even be at the Xcel, let alone playing against one of the top teams in the league. Everything was out of sync, and now they've got to go on the road. Maybe it's time to shift things around a bit, and see what happens. After all, what's the harm in bumping Latendresse to the first power play line, and giving Wellman a shot?
Next up: The Wild skate to Philadelphia to take on a banged-up Flyers team.
Monday, March 22, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy-Two: Wild 4, Flames 3
The Minnesota Wild aren't eliminated from the playoff race, but they might want to consider themselves as such. Especially if it leads to gritty performances like the one they turned in against the Calgary Flames. This is a time where the Wild can spoil other team's playoff chances, and Minnesota did just that by sending Calgary away with a regulation loss.
It's been said before. If the Wild can play a gritty, tough game and compete from start to finish, it will be entertaining to watch even a loss. If the Wild don't press, don't forecheck, and don't skate, the rest of the season could be painful. Against Calgary, both Wild teams showed up, but more of the former was there, as they cling to the slimmest of playoff hopes. They're also doing it with players who, by all rights and means, should be sitting in a recovery room to heal their injuries, but are instead gutting it out every night on the ice. Meanwhile, the game also featured two extended play-stoppages. On one, a ferocious check from Guillaume Latendresse broke the penalty box door. On the other, a fluky play lead to Calgary's Daymond Langkow taking a scary injury, with a puck striking him just below the back of his neck while his head hit the ice. It was a frightening moment, with Langkow being carted off the ice on a stretcher. Thankfully, reports are saying that Langkow hasn't lost any mobility, so hopefully he'll be able to return to the ice soon.
Game pluses:
- Chuck Kobasew. One of the Wild's "walking wounded", Kobasew scored twice, and almost got to complete his second hat-trick of the season.
- Guillaume Latendresse. Even without the monster hit, Latendresse had an impact on the game, scoring a beautiful backhander on the power play. This is a skater who has come to Minneosta and done all of the things he supposedly didn't do in Montreal; showing speed, hands, and a physicality that's hard to compete with.
- Casey Wellman. The Wild's freshest face has talent, and his forecheck helped create Kobasew's first goal. He's sometimes out of position, but that can be handled by calming his nerves and getting him more familiar with the system. Wellman has shown he can play with the big boys, so he could make a very interesting camp next season for the Wild centers.
Game minuses:
- Daymond Langkow. Obviously, no matter which team you support, you hate to see any kind of injury on the ice. That goes double when it's something as strange and as dangerous as Langkow's injury. Hopefully he won't be away from the game for too long.
- Josh Harding. While Harding wasn't awful, he wasn't stellar, either. He's obviously another of the "walking wounded", playing through his reaggravated hip injury. Still, he allowed Calgary to climb back into the game and make things interesting.
- Defense. While Harding wasn't as strong in net as he could have been, the guys right in front of him had a rough game, too. True, they tightened up at the end of the contest, but there were more than a few defensive lapses that created some of the great Flames chances.
Next up: The Wild next face the San Jose Sharks, who are fighting to secure the top spot in the conference. Given the Wild's tendency to play to their opponents ability levels, it could be a very tough game for San Jose.
It's been said before. If the Wild can play a gritty, tough game and compete from start to finish, it will be entertaining to watch even a loss. If the Wild don't press, don't forecheck, and don't skate, the rest of the season could be painful. Against Calgary, both Wild teams showed up, but more of the former was there, as they cling to the slimmest of playoff hopes. They're also doing it with players who, by all rights and means, should be sitting in a recovery room to heal their injuries, but are instead gutting it out every night on the ice. Meanwhile, the game also featured two extended play-stoppages. On one, a ferocious check from Guillaume Latendresse broke the penalty box door. On the other, a fluky play lead to Calgary's Daymond Langkow taking a scary injury, with a puck striking him just below the back of his neck while his head hit the ice. It was a frightening moment, with Langkow being carted off the ice on a stretcher. Thankfully, reports are saying that Langkow hasn't lost any mobility, so hopefully he'll be able to return to the ice soon.
Game pluses:
- Chuck Kobasew. One of the Wild's "walking wounded", Kobasew scored twice, and almost got to complete his second hat-trick of the season.
- Guillaume Latendresse. Even without the monster hit, Latendresse had an impact on the game, scoring a beautiful backhander on the power play. This is a skater who has come to Minneosta and done all of the things he supposedly didn't do in Montreal; showing speed, hands, and a physicality that's hard to compete with.
- Casey Wellman. The Wild's freshest face has talent, and his forecheck helped create Kobasew's first goal. He's sometimes out of position, but that can be handled by calming his nerves and getting him more familiar with the system. Wellman has shown he can play with the big boys, so he could make a very interesting camp next season for the Wild centers.
Game minuses:
- Daymond Langkow. Obviously, no matter which team you support, you hate to see any kind of injury on the ice. That goes double when it's something as strange and as dangerous as Langkow's injury. Hopefully he won't be away from the game for too long.
- Josh Harding. While Harding wasn't awful, he wasn't stellar, either. He's obviously another of the "walking wounded", playing through his reaggravated hip injury. Still, he allowed Calgary to climb back into the game and make things interesting.
- Defense. While Harding wasn't as strong in net as he could have been, the guys right in front of him had a rough game, too. True, they tightened up at the end of the contest, but there were more than a few defensive lapses that created some of the great Flames chances.
Next up: The Wild next face the San Jose Sharks, who are fighting to secure the top spot in the conference. Given the Wild's tendency to play to their opponents ability levels, it could be a very tough game for San Jose.
2009-10 Game Seventy-One: Wild 2, Blue Jackets 4
Maybe now the Wild can just go about the business of playing hockey without anything to clutter their minds. After losing to Columbus, and to Nashville the night before, the Wild are truly in a position where they need to win out the rest of the way through the season, and they need help. True, they are still mathematically in the race, but with today's NHL and the frequency of 3-point games, it's unrealistic for anyone to plan more hockey in St. Paul than was originally scheduled.
The thing is, the Wild actually had chances to win this game, and, if it hadn't been for some mind-boggling officiating, they probably would have taken it. Of course, it doesn't help when the team has to play with only five defensemen as long as they did, but Minnesota still had their chances. However, the Blue Jackets tied the game on what seemed to be a clear case of goaltender interference, and that was all she wrote for Minnesota. With a shortened bench, and having to beat the Blue Jackets and the league's representatives, the Wild just couldn't turn the momentum back their way.
Game pluses:
- Casey Wellman. Welcome to the NHL, kid. Wellman, playing in his first NHL game, got his first assist on a nice feed to Chuck Kobasew. Wellman also came oh-so-close to scoring his first goal, showing some of the reason why 22 NHL teams were hungry to have him join their club.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild captain is quickly closing in on his point totals from last season, which were a career best. He notched a goal in the game.
- Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew isn't expected to be a huge scorer for the Wild, but, over the last few games, he's been one of the more consistent. He knocked home Wellman's sweet centering pass for his sixth goal of his abbreviated season.
Game minuses:
- Justin Falk. Not that any of this was Falk's fault. In his NHL debut, Falk took a questionable hit to the head. That hit did not receive a penalty, but it did unfortunately shorten Falk's debut as he left the ice with a concussion.
- Mental lapses. How else can the Rick Nash goal be explained? Thanks to a broken stick and some confusion as to whether or not a player was coming off of the ice, the Wild only had four skaters as Nash took the puck up-ice for a clear shot at the net.
- Officiating. It's been bad all season, all across the NHL. Certain teams can do no wrong, but other teams get penalized for the mildest of offenses. In this game, the officials completely missed the shot to Falk's head (this coming shortly after the NHL had meetings to eliminate head shots), and they also ignored a clear-cut goaltender interference call that lead to the tying goal for Columbus. It should be noted that one of the officials for the game, is Stephane Auger, the very same official that was accused of showing bias by Alex Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks.
Next up: The Wild need to win out for a glimpse of a hope. That opportunity started against the Calgary Flames.
The thing is, the Wild actually had chances to win this game, and, if it hadn't been for some mind-boggling officiating, they probably would have taken it. Of course, it doesn't help when the team has to play with only five defensemen as long as they did, but Minnesota still had their chances. However, the Blue Jackets tied the game on what seemed to be a clear case of goaltender interference, and that was all she wrote for Minnesota. With a shortened bench, and having to beat the Blue Jackets and the league's representatives, the Wild just couldn't turn the momentum back their way.
Game pluses:
- Casey Wellman. Welcome to the NHL, kid. Wellman, playing in his first NHL game, got his first assist on a nice feed to Chuck Kobasew. Wellman also came oh-so-close to scoring his first goal, showing some of the reason why 22 NHL teams were hungry to have him join their club.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild captain is quickly closing in on his point totals from last season, which were a career best. He notched a goal in the game.
- Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew isn't expected to be a huge scorer for the Wild, but, over the last few games, he's been one of the more consistent. He knocked home Wellman's sweet centering pass for his sixth goal of his abbreviated season.
Game minuses:
- Justin Falk. Not that any of this was Falk's fault. In his NHL debut, Falk took a questionable hit to the head. That hit did not receive a penalty, but it did unfortunately shorten Falk's debut as he left the ice with a concussion.
- Mental lapses. How else can the Rick Nash goal be explained? Thanks to a broken stick and some confusion as to whether or not a player was coming off of the ice, the Wild only had four skaters as Nash took the puck up-ice for a clear shot at the net.
- Officiating. It's been bad all season, all across the NHL. Certain teams can do no wrong, but other teams get penalized for the mildest of offenses. In this game, the officials completely missed the shot to Falk's head (this coming shortly after the NHL had meetings to eliminate head shots), and they also ignored a clear-cut goaltender interference call that lead to the tying goal for Columbus. It should be noted that one of the officials for the game, is Stephane Auger, the very same official that was accused of showing bias by Alex Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks.
Next up: The Wild need to win out for a glimpse of a hope. That opportunity started against the Calgary Flames.
Friday, March 19, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy: Wild 0, Predators 5
Maybe it was for the best that most Minnesota Wild fans were only able to listen to their game against the Nashville Predators. Riding high on a three-game win streak, and in a position where they practically need to win every game for the remainder of the season if they want to see a glimpse of the playoffs, the Wild got outplayed in every aspect of the game, as the Predators handed them their worst loss of the season.
This game featured two teams fighting hard for the playoffs, but from two different perspectives. The Wild need to string together points badly, and they need help, if they want to crack the top eight. Meanwhile, Nashville also need to keep collecting points in the standings, but that's to stay where they are, and the Predators are hoping to avoid a first-round match-up with the San Jose Sharks. Obviously, Nashville wanted the game more, as they came out swinging, and delivered multiple knock-out punches to a Wild team that couldn't find its rhythm, and barely found the puck.
Game pluses:
- Greg Zanon. While the Wild have been banged up, and have experienced defensive lapses, Zanon has been one of the more steady players. Here's hoping that the shot he blocked late in the game doesn't leave him off of the ice against Columbus tonight.
- Fast opening. It doesn't look that way, but the Wild actually did come out of the gate with energy, and some ability to move the puck. Unfortunately, two quick goals just before the midpoint of the period took all the wind out of Minnesota's sails.
- Casey Wellman. No, the kid didn't play. But after the way the Wild got trounced in Nashville, it wouldn't be surprising if he makes his NHL debut against Columbus. All the reports say that he's got a great shot, and has a very good chance of cracking the Wild roster next season. If he lives up to his potential, the Wild may have a verified second-line center, behind Mikko Koivu.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. The Wild netminder seemed bewildered at times, most notably on the third Nashville goal. In his defense, the shot just before had broken his chest protector, but Harding himself admitted to a mental lapse leading to the wide open net.
- Shots. Even with the game seemingly out of reach after a three-goal Nashville start, the Wild had a chance to scramble back into it. After all, this team has won games from similar deficits all season. However, you aren't going to crawl back into a hockey game when you only manage eight shots in the final two periods.
- Compete. The Wild started strong, and had a couple of early chances. Then Nashville scored twice in under two minutes, and the game was over. Minnesota never recovered, and for a team that needs to fight if they want to see postseason play, they just didn't have it. Ultimately, this might be a blessing in disguise, as the Wild would almost invariably fall in the first round this season, and they can definitely use a higher draft position to their advantage.
Next up: The Wild see if they can get back on track, taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.
This game featured two teams fighting hard for the playoffs, but from two different perspectives. The Wild need to string together points badly, and they need help, if they want to crack the top eight. Meanwhile, Nashville also need to keep collecting points in the standings, but that's to stay where they are, and the Predators are hoping to avoid a first-round match-up with the San Jose Sharks. Obviously, Nashville wanted the game more, as they came out swinging, and delivered multiple knock-out punches to a Wild team that couldn't find its rhythm, and barely found the puck.
Game pluses:
- Greg Zanon. While the Wild have been banged up, and have experienced defensive lapses, Zanon has been one of the more steady players. Here's hoping that the shot he blocked late in the game doesn't leave him off of the ice against Columbus tonight.
- Fast opening. It doesn't look that way, but the Wild actually did come out of the gate with energy, and some ability to move the puck. Unfortunately, two quick goals just before the midpoint of the period took all the wind out of Minnesota's sails.
- Casey Wellman. No, the kid didn't play. But after the way the Wild got trounced in Nashville, it wouldn't be surprising if he makes his NHL debut against Columbus. All the reports say that he's got a great shot, and has a very good chance of cracking the Wild roster next season. If he lives up to his potential, the Wild may have a verified second-line center, behind Mikko Koivu.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. The Wild netminder seemed bewildered at times, most notably on the third Nashville goal. In his defense, the shot just before had broken his chest protector, but Harding himself admitted to a mental lapse leading to the wide open net.
- Shots. Even with the game seemingly out of reach after a three-goal Nashville start, the Wild had a chance to scramble back into it. After all, this team has won games from similar deficits all season. However, you aren't going to crawl back into a hockey game when you only manage eight shots in the final two periods.
- Compete. The Wild started strong, and had a couple of early chances. Then Nashville scored twice in under two minutes, and the game was over. Minnesota never recovered, and for a team that needs to fight if they want to see postseason play, they just didn't have it. Ultimately, this might be a blessing in disguise, as the Wild would almost invariably fall in the first round this season, and they can definitely use a higher draft position to their advantage.
Next up: The Wild see if they can get back on track, taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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.
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.
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