Part of what makes playoff hockey so exciting is the stories that end up coming out of the games. For proof, just watch a game and see one of the cycle of "history will happen" commercials being aired. They've served as a nice reminder of the unexpected taking place, or the expected being put on a grander stage. This year's playoffs will definitely have their own fair share of history, along with some unexpected results as the remaining eight teams move ahead to the second round.
Eastern Conference
Who would have expected that, after the first round, none of the division winners would still be playing? And yet, in the Eastern Conference, that's exactly what happened, with only Pittsburgh avoiding an upset, dispatching the #5 seeded Ottawa Senators. The shake-up in the East means that the early favorite to win it all is now out of the way, and it could make things more interesting.
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
The Penguins did exactly what everyone expected they would do. True, Ottawa took a couple games away from them on their home ice, but the Penguins showed why they're the defending champs, and their star power shined brightly in the first round. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were huge on the ice for the Penguins, and Marc-Andre Fleury held his team in when he needed to. Ultimately, it was Pittsburgh's offense that drove them on to the second round, where they remain the highest seed remaining in the East.
Their reward? They get to face the Montreal Canadiens. That may not be much of a reward overall, though, as the Canadiens became the first #8 seed to win a series after being down 3-1 after four games. Montreal may not have done much in their 100th season, but they're looking to get the next hundred years off to a good start. They may have gotten the benefit of a couple calls, including a no-goal call in Game 7, but they simply shut down the top team in the NHL, starting with game five. Looking for a reason why Montreal moved on, look no further than Jaroslav Halak. Unremarkable in the beginning of the series, he was pulled in favor of Carey Price, returned in Game 5, and just closed the door on Washington the rest of the way. Halak was absolutely brilliant in net, including a 53-save performance in Game 6 before turning aside 40+ shots in Game 7. The Canadiens will be looking to their defense to stop the high-powered Penguins offense, but Pittsburgh comes in a little more rested. Cinderella's shoe might fit right now, but it will need a new home after Pittsburgh wins in 6 games.
#6 Boston Bruins vs #7 Philadelphia Flyers
Boston may have had some scary moments while facing the Buffalo Sabres, but, in the end, they did to Buffalo exactly what they did all season, and that's make the bigger plays when it counts. None may have been bigger than the plays made by Miroslav Satan, a former Sabre and a winner of the Stanley Cup last season with Pittsburgh. Satan was left floating as a free agent until January, when the Bruins snapped him up to fill in for some injured players. He's only turned around to be a consistent scoring threat. Boston is also about to get a boost when Marc Savard returns to play, having recovered from the concussion that kept him off the ice for the first round. Meanwhile, Milan Lucic and Zdeno Chara should be getting ready for a physical series, because the Bruins drew a classic battle for the second round.
That classic battle will be against the Philadelphia Flyers. The last team to make it into the playoffs, and only because of a last minute win, the Flyers became the first team to advance to the second round when they stunned Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils. The Flyers are a rough-and-tumble team, but they have offensive prowess. They also showed a sturdy penalty kill, which is good for Philadelphia, as they have a tendency to march to the penalty box. Brian Boucher needs to continue playing the great hockey he has, and the Flyers need Scott Hartnell to find his game. At the end of this rough series, though, the Bruins will be advancing, winning in 7 games.
Western Conference
Over in the West, it could be argued that there wasn't a single upset. True, the number four team didn't advance, but it's hard to call the Detroit Red Wings an underdog, especially with their success over the years and the way they played in the tail part of the season. Still, the West made its own history, and that should continue with an exciting second round.
#1 San Jose Sharks vs #5 Detroit Red Wings
In the beginning of their series against the Colorado Avalanche, it looked like the San Jose Sharks were on their way to another postseason collapse. After three games, they were staring down a 2-1 deficit, and had actually scored an own goal to dig themselves into that hole. All they did after that was rattle off three impressive wins, led by Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi, and Ryan Clowe. Evgeni Nabokov also stood tall, putting together an amazing GAA despite a huge Colorado Game 2. The Sharks look to be serious contenders this year, but they desperately need their "Big Three" of Heatley, Thornton, and Marleau to step up their level of play.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings were taken to a seventh game by the upstart Phoenix Coyotes, but all Detroit did was allow their stars to take over. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg stepped up at the exact right times, and the Detroit defense was able to keep Phoenix from playing too much of their own style. In the final game of the series, the Red Wings punched their ticket to the second round with an exclamation point, decimating the Coyotes to the tune of 6-1. That should continue for the Red Wings, as Detroit will knock off San Jose in 7.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs #3 Vancouver Canucks
The Chicago Blackhawks survived a bit of a scare from the Nashville Predators, falling behind 2-1 after three games. Then Nashville gave away Game 5, and it was history. The Blackhawks survived a 5-minute major penalty in that game, and it was the player who spent time in the box, and who has come in second the last two years, who scored the game winner that ultimately put the series out of Nashville's reach. Will this be the year that Marian Hossa finally gets to lift the Cup himself? With help from Jonathon Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Antti Niemi, he's certainly hoping so.
Standing in Chicago's way is the team that they faced last year at this same time, and a team that they ushered out the door in six games. The Vancouver Canucks aren't much different from the team that lost to Chicago last season, but they are an improved team. The Sedin twins are playing big-time hockey now, shaking off criticisms that they couldn't bring their talent into the playoffs with them. Meanwhile, Mikael Samuelsson helped add offense to a Vancouver team that already had plenty. The big concerns for the Canucks will have to be on the penalty kill, as they were awful at slowing down the Los Angeles Kings power play, and whether or not Roberto Luongo can shake the demons of past performances. If Luongo can be the stud goaltender that the Canucks are hoping he can be, they can look to playing in the conference finals. Ultimately, though, this year's result won't be any different from last year, as the Blackhawks advance in 6 games.
Showing posts with label Detroit Red Wings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Detroit Red Wings. Show all posts
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
2009-10 Playoff Previews: Western Quarterfinals
With half of the hockey world looked at yesterday, it's time to turn the attention to the West. Teams in the Western Conference may not have quite the star power of their Eastern counterparts, but that doesn't make them lesser teams. Quite the opposite, in fact, as many of the teams in the West are often viewed as being stronger, more physical, and better rounded. Of course, the West also currently houses the team that has become known more for its playoff collapses than for their in-season success.
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Colorado Avalanche
The San Jose Sharks spent the early part of the season looking like they were going to do exactly what Washington did in the East. However, instead of running away with the conference, the Sharks had to fend off some late pressure in the form of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Sharks are a team that has some fantastic forwards (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley), solid goaltender (Evgeni Nabokov), and consistent defense. Because the Sharks had a challenge to keep the top spot, they should be a little better prepared than in year's past.
The Colorado Avalanche, on the other hand, didn't know if they would be in the playoffs until an impressive shoot-out win capped an unbelievable season for them. Matt Duchesne, a rookie who is getting serious Calder Trophy consideration, has helped to power the Avalance to an over-achieving season. Too bad for Colorado that they won't be able to survive against the San Jose onslaught, as the Sharks will dispatch the Avalanche in 5.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #7 Nashville Predators
Chicago has to hope that this year is the year they take home the heavy hardware, because, with the salary cap, a number of players are going to be wearing different jerseys next season. The Blackhawks spent, and it allowed them to put together a very strong team. Obviously, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are expected to shoulder a lot of Chicago's offense, and Marian Hossa is hungry for his first championship, after coming in second two years in a row. The question for Chicago remains how their goaltending will hold up, as it's been the most suspect position for them on the ice.
The Nashville Predators, on the other hand, have just quietly gone about their business, and put together a nice season. In the East, they might even be looking at home-ice advantage, but the West is the tougher conference, and the Predators know it. However, Nashville has yet to win a playoff game on the road. They should pull one out this season, but don't be surprised to see the Blackhawks send the Predators home in 6.
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Los Angeles Kings
The Vancouver Canucks have the NHL's top scorer, his twin brother, and solid defense and goaltending. They also have a player who might be on the NHL's own hitlist, especially given the way that Alex Burrows called out NHL officiating earlier this season (admittedly, with more than a fair reason). The Canucks will have to avoid getting into penalty trouble, which could be tough for them. Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo needs to be stellar in net, and he has a tendency to become merely human in high-pressure games.
The Los Angeles Kings, much like the Chicago Blackhawks, are one of those teams full of youth, size, and speed. They play a style of hockey that fits more closely with that played in the Eastern Conference, and they can pepper the net with shots. The Kings will need to take advantage of the Canucks early, and give themselves chances right away, otherwise Vancouver will lock the game down with their defensive play. All told, though, the Kings should prove triumphant, defeating Vancouver in 7.
#4 Phoenix Coyotes vs #5 Detroit Red Wings
The Phoenix Coyotes come into the playoffs the NHL's most-improved team. After dismal showings in past seasons, Dave Tippett and his coaching staff turned the team around, and molded them into a strong playoff contender. Unfortunately, everything good that has come to the Coyotes has been tinged by wonderings about how much the league has affected the outcome of games for the team that they own. If Phoenix wasn't owned by the NHL, their achievements wouldn't even be suspect. As it is, the Coyotes are definitely coming into the playoffs much better than anyone gave them reason to expect.
Too bad that their running into the Detroit Red Wings. Earlier this season, the Red Wings looked like a team that wasn't going to even make the playoffs, or might sneak in with the #8 spot. Then injured players returned, the team allowed Jimmy Howard to become a star goaltender, and Detroit rattled off a fantastic close to the season. They enter the playoffs the NHL's hottest team, and they aren't looking to go home in the first round after coming in second last year, and winning it all the year before. Expect that Detroit will handle Phoenix in 5 games.
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Colorado Avalanche
The San Jose Sharks spent the early part of the season looking like they were going to do exactly what Washington did in the East. However, instead of running away with the conference, the Sharks had to fend off some late pressure in the form of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Sharks are a team that has some fantastic forwards (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley), solid goaltender (Evgeni Nabokov), and consistent defense. Because the Sharks had a challenge to keep the top spot, they should be a little better prepared than in year's past.
The Colorado Avalanche, on the other hand, didn't know if they would be in the playoffs until an impressive shoot-out win capped an unbelievable season for them. Matt Duchesne, a rookie who is getting serious Calder Trophy consideration, has helped to power the Avalance to an over-achieving season. Too bad for Colorado that they won't be able to survive against the San Jose onslaught, as the Sharks will dispatch the Avalanche in 5.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #7 Nashville Predators
Chicago has to hope that this year is the year they take home the heavy hardware, because, with the salary cap, a number of players are going to be wearing different jerseys next season. The Blackhawks spent, and it allowed them to put together a very strong team. Obviously, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are expected to shoulder a lot of Chicago's offense, and Marian Hossa is hungry for his first championship, after coming in second two years in a row. The question for Chicago remains how their goaltending will hold up, as it's been the most suspect position for them on the ice.
The Nashville Predators, on the other hand, have just quietly gone about their business, and put together a nice season. In the East, they might even be looking at home-ice advantage, but the West is the tougher conference, and the Predators know it. However, Nashville has yet to win a playoff game on the road. They should pull one out this season, but don't be surprised to see the Blackhawks send the Predators home in 6.
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Los Angeles Kings
The Vancouver Canucks have the NHL's top scorer, his twin brother, and solid defense and goaltending. They also have a player who might be on the NHL's own hitlist, especially given the way that Alex Burrows called out NHL officiating earlier this season (admittedly, with more than a fair reason). The Canucks will have to avoid getting into penalty trouble, which could be tough for them. Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo needs to be stellar in net, and he has a tendency to become merely human in high-pressure games.
The Los Angeles Kings, much like the Chicago Blackhawks, are one of those teams full of youth, size, and speed. They play a style of hockey that fits more closely with that played in the Eastern Conference, and they can pepper the net with shots. The Kings will need to take advantage of the Canucks early, and give themselves chances right away, otherwise Vancouver will lock the game down with their defensive play. All told, though, the Kings should prove triumphant, defeating Vancouver in 7.
#4 Phoenix Coyotes vs #5 Detroit Red Wings
The Phoenix Coyotes come into the playoffs the NHL's most-improved team. After dismal showings in past seasons, Dave Tippett and his coaching staff turned the team around, and molded them into a strong playoff contender. Unfortunately, everything good that has come to the Coyotes has been tinged by wonderings about how much the league has affected the outcome of games for the team that they own. If Phoenix wasn't owned by the NHL, their achievements wouldn't even be suspect. As it is, the Coyotes are definitely coming into the playoffs much better than anyone gave them reason to expect.
Too bad that their running into the Detroit Red Wings. Earlier this season, the Red Wings looked like a team that wasn't going to even make the playoffs, or might sneak in with the #8 spot. Then injured players returned, the team allowed Jimmy Howard to become a star goaltender, and Detroit rattled off a fantastic close to the season. They enter the playoffs the NHL's hottest team, and they aren't looking to go home in the first round after coming in second last year, and winning it all the year before. Expect that Detroit will handle Phoenix in 5 games.
Monday, March 29, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Friday, March 12, 2010
2009-10 Game Sixty-Six: Wild 1, Red Wings 5
One team is looking to break into playoff positioning, and is playing like they have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. The other team is starting to look like they're trying to break into the NHL's bottom five, and playing like the only thing they have to gain is a top draft pick. Unfortunately for Wild fans, their Minnesota team is the one that's struggling, and having a tough time putting together a complete game.
Admittedly, injuries haven't helped this team, and they may have suffered one of the biggest ones yet, with top-scoring Guillaume Latendresse going to the hospital after taking a stick to the back of the head. It wasn't intentional by a long shot, but it was still a scary moment. Of course, on the ensuing power play, the Wild did what they've done more than anyone else this season, as they coughed up a back-breaking shorthanded goal. One power play goal for Minnesota, and the Detroit lead would have closed to one. Instead, the Wild found themselves staring down a three-goal deficit, and no real flow to their offense.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. It was good to see the Wild's spark plug on the ice, hitting and playing his game.
- Rookies. If the season is really over, and it's starting to look that way, then the Wild would be smart to give some of their younger AHL players a chance at cracking the roster and getting a little NHL experience. Robbie Earl and Jamie Sifers got that opportunity against the Red Wings, and while neither looked amazing, they both showed flashes of brilliance.
- Greg Zanon. Just about the only Wild defenseman who played a consistent game, Zanon just calmly did what he did all season.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. True, he was rusty. True, he wasn't expecting to start. True, some of the goals he surrendered were fluky. No excuses for a team trying to make up lost ground, and a player desperate for a chance to start.
- Power play. The Wild power play reverted to its momentum-killing self, with no time more apparent than with the short-handed Detroit goal.
- Puck possession. The Wild want to be the kind of team that holds the puck, and wears down opposing players. When they did this briefly against the Red Wings, they generated chances. Unfortunately, the Wings play a similar style, and they are much better at it.
Next up: It certainly isn't about to get any easier, as the Wild play against the Buffalo Sabres tonight.
Admittedly, injuries haven't helped this team, and they may have suffered one of the biggest ones yet, with top-scoring Guillaume Latendresse going to the hospital after taking a stick to the back of the head. It wasn't intentional by a long shot, but it was still a scary moment. Of course, on the ensuing power play, the Wild did what they've done more than anyone else this season, as they coughed up a back-breaking shorthanded goal. One power play goal for Minnesota, and the Detroit lead would have closed to one. Instead, the Wild found themselves staring down a three-goal deficit, and no real flow to their offense.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. It was good to see the Wild's spark plug on the ice, hitting and playing his game.
- Rookies. If the season is really over, and it's starting to look that way, then the Wild would be smart to give some of their younger AHL players a chance at cracking the roster and getting a little NHL experience. Robbie Earl and Jamie Sifers got that opportunity against the Red Wings, and while neither looked amazing, they both showed flashes of brilliance.
- Greg Zanon. Just about the only Wild defenseman who played a consistent game, Zanon just calmly did what he did all season.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. True, he was rusty. True, he wasn't expecting to start. True, some of the goals he surrendered were fluky. No excuses for a team trying to make up lost ground, and a player desperate for a chance to start.
- Power play. The Wild power play reverted to its momentum-killing self, with no time more apparent than with the short-handed Detroit goal.
- Puck possession. The Wild want to be the kind of team that holds the puck, and wears down opposing players. When they did this briefly against the Red Wings, they generated chances. Unfortunately, the Wings play a similar style, and they are much better at it.
Next up: It certainly isn't about to get any easier, as the Wild play against the Buffalo Sabres tonight.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2009-10 Game Sixty-Five: Wild 2, Panthers 3 (SO)
This is the same team that pulled off some thrilling come-from-behind victories earlier this season? A team that overcame a terrible start filled with learning a new system and spending almost the entire first month away from home by firing off one of the hottest Decembers in the league? A team that claims to still have a shot at the playoffs, despite the logjam of teams ahead of them in the standings?
You couldn't tell it from watching the way they played against the Florida Panthers. Even though the Wild jumped out to a 2-goal first period lead, they couldn't hold onto it, and eventually fell in the shoot-out. Part of that is surely due to the mini-march to the penalty box, continuing a disturbing trend for Minnesota as of late. The bigger cause, however? The team just didn't have any desire or drive, as they couldn't even get to ten shots without using the overtime period. While mathematically still in playoff contention, the Wild may have knocked themselves out of any realistic hope with the lackluster play, and it only gets tougher this weekend, with games in Detroit and Buffalo.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. During the Wild's four-shot first period, Koivu showed good patience to fire a shot in for a pretty power play goal.
- Robbie Earl. Filling in for suspended Derek Boogaard, Earl took his chance, and on the Wild's third shot of the period, put the puck into the net.
- Niklas Backstrom. With the Wild putting together a mere 11 shots through overtime, the only reason that they found themselves in the game was because Backstrom held them in it. The Wild goalie was solid in net, until defensive lapses backed him into a corner.
Game minuses:
- Desperation. This is a team that is allegedly trying to prove that they can make the playoffs, and, instead, they put on one of their worst displays of the season, and did it in front of the home fans. When four shots in the first period is your high for the game, something is wrong. The shots that Minnesota took during the shoot-out? Not indicative of a team trying to win, as the shots were ultimately harmless, and many of them were off the mark.
- Penalties. Say what you will about the officiating, but the Wild certainly didn't help themselves, as they put themselves into penalty trouble. True, the Panthers didn't score on the power play, but the Wild couldn't establish any flow, partially because of spending so much time short-handed.
- Physicality. This type of game is exactly why the Wild need to have Cal Clutterbuck, or someone like him, healthy and throwing their body around. The Wild had no energy, and the most physical player ended up being Martin Havlat, who got into a couple of shoving matches as the game wore on.
Next up: The Wild need to find something within themselves to reverse their current direction, or they can start planning for a vacation at the end of April by the end of this weekend. Unfortunately, to do that, they'll have to get back on track against the reigning Western Conference champions, the Detroit Red Wings.
You couldn't tell it from watching the way they played against the Florida Panthers. Even though the Wild jumped out to a 2-goal first period lead, they couldn't hold onto it, and eventually fell in the shoot-out. Part of that is surely due to the mini-march to the penalty box, continuing a disturbing trend for Minnesota as of late. The bigger cause, however? The team just didn't have any desire or drive, as they couldn't even get to ten shots without using the overtime period. While mathematically still in playoff contention, the Wild may have knocked themselves out of any realistic hope with the lackluster play, and it only gets tougher this weekend, with games in Detroit and Buffalo.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. During the Wild's four-shot first period, Koivu showed good patience to fire a shot in for a pretty power play goal.
- Robbie Earl. Filling in for suspended Derek Boogaard, Earl took his chance, and on the Wild's third shot of the period, put the puck into the net.
- Niklas Backstrom. With the Wild putting together a mere 11 shots through overtime, the only reason that they found themselves in the game was because Backstrom held them in it. The Wild goalie was solid in net, until defensive lapses backed him into a corner.
Game minuses:
- Desperation. This is a team that is allegedly trying to prove that they can make the playoffs, and, instead, they put on one of their worst displays of the season, and did it in front of the home fans. When four shots in the first period is your high for the game, something is wrong. The shots that Minnesota took during the shoot-out? Not indicative of a team trying to win, as the shots were ultimately harmless, and many of them were off the mark.
- Penalties. Say what you will about the officiating, but the Wild certainly didn't help themselves, as they put themselves into penalty trouble. True, the Panthers didn't score on the power play, but the Wild couldn't establish any flow, partially because of spending so much time short-handed.
- Physicality. This type of game is exactly why the Wild need to have Cal Clutterbuck, or someone like him, healthy and throwing their body around. The Wild had no energy, and the most physical player ended up being Martin Havlat, who got into a couple of shoving matches as the game wore on.
Next up: The Wild need to find something within themselves to reverse their current direction, or they can start planning for a vacation at the end of April by the end of this weekend. Unfortunately, to do that, they'll have to get back on track against the reigning Western Conference champions, the Detroit Red Wings.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
2009-10 Game Sixty-Three: Wild 1, Oilers 2 (SO)
If this game had happened earlier in the season, or if the Minnesota Wild were higher in the standings, they might have been able to take some consolation from pulling a point out of a game they were outplayed. Unfortunately, the final stretch of the season is underway, the Wild find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture, and they couldn't gather any momentum when playing against the NHL's worst team.
The Edmonton Oilers came out looking to play a physical style of hockey, and they seemed to shock the Wild into making foolish plays. Two nights after Minnesota had all of the momentum against the Calgary Flames, they couldn't connect on plays against Edmonton. The Oilers took the game to the Wild all night long, and Minnesota had their work cut out for them. Even some highlight reel plays by Wild players couldn't swing the game in their favor, and now the Wild find themselves further back, thanks to the Detroit Red Wings winning in convincing fashion.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. How pretty was Latendresse's 21st goal of the season? On one of the few plays where the Wild skated like they could, Latendresse was able to beat Edmonton players on the way to a beautiful goal, and he had other opportunities throughout the night.
- Owen Nolan. He may be the oldest player the Wild have, but he's also one that exemplifies a lack of quit. Nolan was a player who had great chances all night, and he created a lot of them himself, not getting a lot of help from teammates.
- Derek Boogaard. True, he was involved in a hit that might lead to a suspension, but, aside from that, Boogaard was actually creating havoc in the offensive zone, through good puck play. Boogaard provided a forecheck, and had some great steals, trying to spark his team.
Game minuses:
- 60 minute game. If the Wild had played a full sixty minutes, they wouldn't have had to worry about the additional five, or the shootout. The Wild just didn't have it, and they didn't deserve to win.
- Passing. When the Wild connected on a pass, it created a play. Unfortunately, most of the night they couldn't make the tape-to-tape pass. Even more unfortunately, too often shots were passed up in favor of trying to pass. Given how the Wild was moving the puck, they should have resorted to shooting more, and digging for rebounds.
- Officiating. No questions about it, the officials still seem to be on their Olympic break. This game started getting out of hand, especially given that Edmonton has nothing to lose, and very little (aside from team identity) to gain. And yet, penalties for both sides were ignored, including situations that were almost carbon copies for situations that have led to suspensions earlier this season.
Next up: The Wild look to rebound, as they find themselves facing the Calgary Flames again, with a game coming up on Sunday afternoon.
The Edmonton Oilers came out looking to play a physical style of hockey, and they seemed to shock the Wild into making foolish plays. Two nights after Minnesota had all of the momentum against the Calgary Flames, they couldn't connect on plays against Edmonton. The Oilers took the game to the Wild all night long, and Minnesota had their work cut out for them. Even some highlight reel plays by Wild players couldn't swing the game in their favor, and now the Wild find themselves further back, thanks to the Detroit Red Wings winning in convincing fashion.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. How pretty was Latendresse's 21st goal of the season? On one of the few plays where the Wild skated like they could, Latendresse was able to beat Edmonton players on the way to a beautiful goal, and he had other opportunities throughout the night.
- Owen Nolan. He may be the oldest player the Wild have, but he's also one that exemplifies a lack of quit. Nolan was a player who had great chances all night, and he created a lot of them himself, not getting a lot of help from teammates.
- Derek Boogaard. True, he was involved in a hit that might lead to a suspension, but, aside from that, Boogaard was actually creating havoc in the offensive zone, through good puck play. Boogaard provided a forecheck, and had some great steals, trying to spark his team.
Game minuses:
- 60 minute game. If the Wild had played a full sixty minutes, they wouldn't have had to worry about the additional five, or the shootout. The Wild just didn't have it, and they didn't deserve to win.
- Passing. When the Wild connected on a pass, it created a play. Unfortunately, most of the night they couldn't make the tape-to-tape pass. Even more unfortunately, too often shots were passed up in favor of trying to pass. Given how the Wild was moving the puck, they should have resorted to shooting more, and digging for rebounds.
- Officiating. No questions about it, the officials still seem to be on their Olympic break. This game started getting out of hand, especially given that Edmonton has nothing to lose, and very little (aside from team identity) to gain. And yet, penalties for both sides were ignored, including situations that were almost carbon copies for situations that have led to suspensions earlier this season.
Next up: The Wild look to rebound, as they find themselves facing the Calgary Flames again, with a game coming up on Sunday afternoon.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, January 25, 2010
2009-10 Game Fifty-Two: Wild 4, Blue Jackets 2
Hockey Day Minnesota hasn't always treated the Minnesota Wild well, aside from giving them and their fans a ton of hockey to digest before the main course even gets set. Still, there's something special about the way that the state recognizes how important the sport is on so many levels, and there's definitely something special for the programs that got to share a network's day of programming with the NHL team.
Even better, the Minnesota Wild found a way to get things going early in the game, instead of waiting until they were down by a couple of goals and time was running out. The Wild played a solid game from the first drop of the puck, and challenged the Columbus Blue Jackets all night long. True, things sort of fell apart in the final minute of play, but, by that point, the Wild had already assembled a four goal lead, and were looking comfortable. The win also helped pull the Wild back within four points of eighth in the conference.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's top line was shaken up recently, in an attempt to revitalize the players. It seems to have worked, at least for Koivu, who had the first two goals of the game.
- Robbie Earl. The kid got thrown onto waivers before the Detroit game, and has scored in each game since. Nothing like feeling the pressure to help spark a talent.
- Niklas Backstrom. It was obvious Backstrom was deflated by the first Columbus goal, and that lead to the second goal. But it's easy to see why. Backstrom had played a solid game, and was twenty seconds away from a shutout before the puck bounced off his teammate into the net.
Game minuses:
- Power play. To think, this Wild team couldn't score even strength to start the season. Now they can't buy a power play goal, and, far too often, a Wild power play looks like a chance for the opposing team to get some shots on net.
- Kim Johnsson. Johnsson may be able to skate, but he doesn't play a physical game, and he has had more than his share of pucks bounce off of him and behind his own goaltender. It happened again against Columbus, and, whether it's positioning, puck awareness, or something else, something definitely has to change within Johnsson if he wants to be considered an elite defenseman.
- Odd-man rushes. The Wild seem to keep giving up great chances to their opponents, and they did it again to Columbus, most notably on an opportunity for R.J. Umberger to tie the game. Thankfully, Marek Zidlicky made a great play to break up the attack, but the Wild need to do more to keep those types of plays from happening.
Next up: The Wild get to relish their victory for a bit before taking to the ice on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Given that the Wild are still trying to catch the Wings in the standings, and how the last game between these teams went, Wednesday night should be interesting.
Even better, the Minnesota Wild found a way to get things going early in the game, instead of waiting until they were down by a couple of goals and time was running out. The Wild played a solid game from the first drop of the puck, and challenged the Columbus Blue Jackets all night long. True, things sort of fell apart in the final minute of play, but, by that point, the Wild had already assembled a four goal lead, and were looking comfortable. The win also helped pull the Wild back within four points of eighth in the conference.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's top line was shaken up recently, in an attempt to revitalize the players. It seems to have worked, at least for Koivu, who had the first two goals of the game.
- Robbie Earl. The kid got thrown onto waivers before the Detroit game, and has scored in each game since. Nothing like feeling the pressure to help spark a talent.
- Niklas Backstrom. It was obvious Backstrom was deflated by the first Columbus goal, and that lead to the second goal. But it's easy to see why. Backstrom had played a solid game, and was twenty seconds away from a shutout before the puck bounced off his teammate into the net.
Game minuses:
- Power play. To think, this Wild team couldn't score even strength to start the season. Now they can't buy a power play goal, and, far too often, a Wild power play looks like a chance for the opposing team to get some shots on net.
- Kim Johnsson. Johnsson may be able to skate, but he doesn't play a physical game, and he has had more than his share of pucks bounce off of him and behind his own goaltender. It happened again against Columbus, and, whether it's positioning, puck awareness, or something else, something definitely has to change within Johnsson if he wants to be considered an elite defenseman.
- Odd-man rushes. The Wild seem to keep giving up great chances to their opponents, and they did it again to Columbus, most notably on an opportunity for R.J. Umberger to tie the game. Thankfully, Marek Zidlicky made a great play to break up the attack, but the Wild need to do more to keep those types of plays from happening.
Next up: The Wild get to relish their victory for a bit before taking to the ice on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Given that the Wild are still trying to catch the Wings in the standings, and how the last game between these teams went, Wednesday night should be interesting.
Friday, January 22, 2010
2009-10 Game Fifty-One: Wild 3, Red Wings 4 (SO)
For it being the first game against the Detroit Red Wings this season, everything looked a little too familiar for the Minnesota Wild. They started out with a completely lackluster first period, followed by slowly turning on their game in the second. They waited to really start playing the game until the third, when they were down by a couple of goals. They closed the gap, but ultimately couldn't secure the two points. This time they took it to a shootout, but the Wild just couldn't stop a Red Wings team that has had it's own struggles this season.
And how about how the Wild goals were scored. Two of their goals were reviewed, due to the strange way that the puck entered the net. The goals ultimately counted, but only one of the Wild's goals was a skilled play. The other two were the benefit of hard work and crashing the net, something that the Wild need to do more frequently if they want to have much hope of trying to sneak into playoff positioning this season.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. He got his first start at home in over a year, but it was unfortunately short-lived, as an injury forced him out early. Still, when the Wild couldn't get things going, Harding did everything in his power to keep them in, and made some brilliant stops along the way.
- Andrew Brunette. The goal that tied the game was a beauty of a shot, and a fantastic play. Watching Brunette snag the puck out of the air, drop it to himself, and fire it into the net was magic.
- Brent Burns. While Detroit's second goal may rest squarely on the shoulders of Brent Burns, he was just coming back from a long-term injury, and ultimately played fairly well. He definitely provided a bit of a spark for a suffering Wild team.
Game minuses:
- Passing. The Wild couldn't make passes all night long. It seemed like half of the time that they had the puck, they moved it right off of their own stick, and straight to a Detroit stick. The number of Detroit breakaways was simply ridiculous.
- Slow start. Again, the Wild managed fewer than five shots in the first period. Coaches talk about playing 60 minutes of hockey, but that's often to keep teams from letting up at the end of the game. Minnesota is having struggles figuring out how to get their heads in the hockey mindset right from the initial face-off.
- Dump and chase. The Wild of previous seasons were a team that dumped the puck into the offensive zone, and then hoped to get it away from the defensive team. This year's Wild is supposed to be a team that controls the puck and attacks the zone with speed. Against the Red Wings, everything reverted to the dump and chase, and the Wild had to play catch-up all night long.
Next up: Maybe the atmosphere of Hockey Day in Minnesota will help the Wild out, as they cap the day's festivities with a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
And how about how the Wild goals were scored. Two of their goals were reviewed, due to the strange way that the puck entered the net. The goals ultimately counted, but only one of the Wild's goals was a skilled play. The other two were the benefit of hard work and crashing the net, something that the Wild need to do more frequently if they want to have much hope of trying to sneak into playoff positioning this season.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. He got his first start at home in over a year, but it was unfortunately short-lived, as an injury forced him out early. Still, when the Wild couldn't get things going, Harding did everything in his power to keep them in, and made some brilliant stops along the way.
- Andrew Brunette. The goal that tied the game was a beauty of a shot, and a fantastic play. Watching Brunette snag the puck out of the air, drop it to himself, and fire it into the net was magic.
- Brent Burns. While Detroit's second goal may rest squarely on the shoulders of Brent Burns, he was just coming back from a long-term injury, and ultimately played fairly well. He definitely provided a bit of a spark for a suffering Wild team.
Game minuses:
- Passing. The Wild couldn't make passes all night long. It seemed like half of the time that they had the puck, they moved it right off of their own stick, and straight to a Detroit stick. The number of Detroit breakaways was simply ridiculous.
- Slow start. Again, the Wild managed fewer than five shots in the first period. Coaches talk about playing 60 minutes of hockey, but that's often to keep teams from letting up at the end of the game. Minnesota is having struggles figuring out how to get their heads in the hockey mindset right from the initial face-off.
- Dump and chase. The Wild of previous seasons were a team that dumped the puck into the offensive zone, and then hoped to get it away from the defensive team. This year's Wild is supposed to be a team that controls the puck and attacks the zone with speed. Against the Red Wings, everything reverted to the dump and chase, and the Wild had to play catch-up all night long.
Next up: Maybe the atmosphere of Hockey Day in Minnesota will help the Wild out, as they cap the day's festivities with a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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.
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.
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