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 Josh Harding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Josh Harding. Show all posts
Friday, April 23, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Monday, March 15, 2010
2009-10 Game Sixty-Eight: Wild 4, Blues 2
If the Minnesota Wild finish out the remaining games on their schedule playing the way they have for the last two, it's going to be an entertaining finish. Backed into a wall for their playoff lives, the Wild are playing like they have nothing to lose, and, as a result, put together two of the more impressive wins they've had this season.
Take nothing away from the come-from-behind victories, but watching the Wild dominate the play from the opening puck drop has been few and far between. Seeing them weather an offensive flurry with some smart defense and better goaltending has been more common, but it's often been to keep the team down by only a goal, as opposed to up by a couple. Given the number of injuries that the team has been dealing with (yet another player went down before the game against St. Louis), if the Wild can somehow keep this current surge going, it's going to be quite the ride for the boys from St. Paul.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's heart and soul played like it. Koivu was everywhere on the ice, and he notched another multi-point game to lead the Wild to victory.
- Martin Havlat. Yes, sometimes Havlat fools even himself with his puck handling. Still, the two assists he added to his season total both came thanks to stellar plays by the winger.
- Josh Harding. No, he wasn't as scintillating as he was the previous game against Buffalo, but Harding didn't need to be. What he was this time around was just a solid presence in the net, keeping St. Louis out when it really counted.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. No doubt, the Wild need to find a way to get players healthy. Three defensemen are out, and they almost lost a fourth. Wingers are banged up, shortening the Wild bench. The goaltenders haven't both been healthy for a long stretch in quite some time. To maintain this pace, the Wild need players back, and they need them back badly.
- Discipline. Once again, the Wild marched to the penalty box. They only coughed up one power play goal, but good teams limit those chances by taking better care of their sticks and moving their legs more.
- Final push. The Wild found themselves up 3-0 after the first period, and they chased the St. Louis goaltender. What did they follow up with? Not taking shots, and not driving to the net. Instead, they sat back and held onto the lead. In today's NHL, the best defense is continuing to apply offensive pressure, but part of the Wild's old system keeps creeping back in once they've got a couple goal lead.
Next up: The Wild have a day off, but return to the ice against the Edmonton Oilers.
Take nothing away from the come-from-behind victories, but watching the Wild dominate the play from the opening puck drop has been few and far between. Seeing them weather an offensive flurry with some smart defense and better goaltending has been more common, but it's often been to keep the team down by only a goal, as opposed to up by a couple. Given the number of injuries that the team has been dealing with (yet another player went down before the game against St. Louis), if the Wild can somehow keep this current surge going, it's going to be quite the ride for the boys from St. Paul.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's heart and soul played like it. Koivu was everywhere on the ice, and he notched another multi-point game to lead the Wild to victory.
- Martin Havlat. Yes, sometimes Havlat fools even himself with his puck handling. Still, the two assists he added to his season total both came thanks to stellar plays by the winger.
- Josh Harding. No, he wasn't as scintillating as he was the previous game against Buffalo, but Harding didn't need to be. What he was this time around was just a solid presence in the net, keeping St. Louis out when it really counted.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. No doubt, the Wild need to find a way to get players healthy. Three defensemen are out, and they almost lost a fourth. Wingers are banged up, shortening the Wild bench. The goaltenders haven't both been healthy for a long stretch in quite some time. To maintain this pace, the Wild need players back, and they need them back badly.
- Discipline. Once again, the Wild marched to the penalty box. They only coughed up one power play goal, but good teams limit those chances by taking better care of their sticks and moving their legs more.
- Final push. The Wild found themselves up 3-0 after the first period, and they chased the St. Louis goaltender. What did they follow up with? Not taking shots, and not driving to the net. Instead, they sat back and held onto the lead. In today's NHL, the best defense is continuing to apply offensive pressure, but part of the Wild's old system keeps creeping back in once they've got a couple goal lead.
Next up: The Wild have a day off, but return to the ice against the Edmonton Oilers.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
2009-10 Game Sixty-Seven: Wild 3, Sabres 2
Friday, the Minnesota Wild skated into Buffalo. For the team to have any real hope of making it into the post season, they need to just about win every remaining game, and get a lot of help with the teams ahead of them losing. After losing to the Detroit Red Wings the night before to the tune of 5-1, things certainly didn't look good. Things got more dicey for Minnesota when it became clear that Niklas Backstrom will be out for more than just one game.
No worries, Wild fans. Josh Harding answered the call with some amazing goaltending, and the Wild tapped into some grumpiness, complete with the Wild's grizzled veteran, Owen Nolan, sparking the team with physical play and a tough fight. Minnesota also put the puck on the net, beating Buffalo at their own game. Things got interesting at the end of the game, thanks to a late Buffalo goal, but the Wild ended up helping themselves the only way they could, finishing off a very tough Sabres team.
- Guillaume Latendresse. One game earlier, and Latendresse was being sent off the ice to visit the hospital, thanks to a stick to the back of the head. In this game, he was a strong presence for Minnesota on the ice, scoring a nice goal to put his team up by two.
- Andrew Ebbett. The Wild were looking to get a good start to the game, and Ebbett helped out with that effort, knocking the puck into the net for a rare Minnesota power play goal. Even better, he did it against one of the best penalty kills in the league.
- Josh Harding. Harding did not play well against Detroit, and he admitted to it afterward. Against Buffalo, he played amazingly well, knocking aside 43 shots to keep the Wild in it, and keep them from experiencing another collapse similar to the one they faced against Florida.
Game minuses:
- Killer instinct. The Wild almost gave up another late lead, and it was only the play of Josh Harding that kept them on top of the final score. There were shots that were passed on that might have helped lock things down for the Wild, but they didn't seem insistent after getting a three-goal lead.
- Discipline. The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of weapons, and the Wild kept putting them on the power play. While a few of the penalties were questionable, Minnesota needed to do better to keep themselves out the box.
- James Sheppard. Anyone who thinks that Sheppard is the Wild center of the future is fooling themselves. Sheppard once again was one of the more ineffective players on the ice, either through poor puck handling, or horrible positioning.
Next up: The Wild look to keep playing like they've got nothing to lose when they face another team in a must-win situation, with a game against the St. Louis Blues
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.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Olympic break and looking ahead
All but five Minnesota Wild players have been resting and taking things easy for awhile, and, after last night, all but three are able to return to regular practices. The NHL's schedule freeze has come and gone, and while there's still a roster freeze in effect, teams can at least start skating together again, and try and shake off the rust that ten days away can grow.
Not only did the Wild return to practice, but they got to return to the business of taking care of some of the free agents on their roster. While teams can't trade players until after the Olympics are over (and need to get it done by March 3), they can hammer out contract extensions, and that's exactly what the Wild did with regards to Cal Clutterbuck, signing him for another three years. Looking down the pipe, and new contracts concerning Marek Zidlicky and Guillaume Latendresse should be coming, as well. But don't forget that Mikko Koivu will be entering a contract season, and he has helped put Finland on the cusp of the gold medal game.
Once the Olympics wrap up, the Wild will have a couple of days to make some decisions on players. The team is currently five points out of a playoff spot, but they feel confident that they can close that gap over the next 21 games. At least, the players feel that way. The question is whether or not the front office feels the same, and how they treat the trade deadline. The Wild haven't been shy about making moves that should help the team both short- and long-term, with the recent trade for Cam Barker proves, but they still have some questions to answer. Here's a few players that might see themselves on the block:
James Sheppard - Much like Benoit Pouliot before him, Sheppard is graced with talent, but that has never manifested with the Wild. His development was stunted thanks to some mind-boggling decisions made by the prior front office, and it might be time to let Sheppard go. He has the potential to be a decent power forward in the league, but needs a change of scenery, and needs it soon. If the Wild can pull off another Latendresse-like deal, more power to them, but it might be best to let Sheppard go for a draft pick or two.
Eric Belanger - The Wild need good quality centers, and Belanger often fits the bill. While he is dominant in the face-off, Belanger doesn't have a lot of the grit and drive that is starting to characterize this Wild team. The Wild need a center that fits their style a bit better, and Belanger might be the easiest piece to use to lure another team into making that trade.
Antti Miettinen - Miettinen is a streaky player, and the one piece that still doesn't quite mesh on the Wild's top line. If Chuck Kobasew can play soon, that makes Miettinen even more vulnerable. Still, don't expect to see him moved before Draft Day, if even then.
Owen Nolan - It would be a shame to see Owen Nolan wearing any other jersey, especially in what might be the last month or two of his career, but if the Wild decide that they are playoff pretenders, and not in a position to make a viable run, they might let Nolan go. He's exactly the type of player a playoff team would look to add at the deadline, and, given that his contract is up after this year, there's always a chance he would come back as a free agent.
Josh Harding - The Wild's back-up goaltender seemed set to be traded earlier this season, and then he ran into some difficulties with his game. Once he started getting back on track, he suffered his hip injury, which may have made it harder to move him. Harding deserves a starting job somewhere in the league, but, with Niklas Backstrom, the odds aren't good that he'll find one with Minnesota.
The Wild have a ton of decisions to make, and, honestly, signing Cal Clutterbuck to an extension doesn't even confirm that he'll be wearing a Wild sweater when the team lines up against Calgary on the night of Deadline Day. There's also no indication that anything will move between then and now, and the roster for the Wild's first post-Olympic break could be exactly what was seen in their final pre-break game against Vancouver.
Not only did the Wild return to practice, but they got to return to the business of taking care of some of the free agents on their roster. While teams can't trade players until after the Olympics are over (and need to get it done by March 3), they can hammer out contract extensions, and that's exactly what the Wild did with regards to Cal Clutterbuck, signing him for another three years. Looking down the pipe, and new contracts concerning Marek Zidlicky and Guillaume Latendresse should be coming, as well. But don't forget that Mikko Koivu will be entering a contract season, and he has helped put Finland on the cusp of the gold medal game.
Once the Olympics wrap up, the Wild will have a couple of days to make some decisions on players. The team is currently five points out of a playoff spot, but they feel confident that they can close that gap over the next 21 games. At least, the players feel that way. The question is whether or not the front office feels the same, and how they treat the trade deadline. The Wild haven't been shy about making moves that should help the team both short- and long-term, with the recent trade for Cam Barker proves, but they still have some questions to answer. Here's a few players that might see themselves on the block:
James Sheppard - Much like Benoit Pouliot before him, Sheppard is graced with talent, but that has never manifested with the Wild. His development was stunted thanks to some mind-boggling decisions made by the prior front office, and it might be time to let Sheppard go. He has the potential to be a decent power forward in the league, but needs a change of scenery, and needs it soon. If the Wild can pull off another Latendresse-like deal, more power to them, but it might be best to let Sheppard go for a draft pick or two.
Eric Belanger - The Wild need good quality centers, and Belanger often fits the bill. While he is dominant in the face-off, Belanger doesn't have a lot of the grit and drive that is starting to characterize this Wild team. The Wild need a center that fits their style a bit better, and Belanger might be the easiest piece to use to lure another team into making that trade.
Antti Miettinen - Miettinen is a streaky player, and the one piece that still doesn't quite mesh on the Wild's top line. If Chuck Kobasew can play soon, that makes Miettinen even more vulnerable. Still, don't expect to see him moved before Draft Day, if even then.
Owen Nolan - It would be a shame to see Owen Nolan wearing any other jersey, especially in what might be the last month or two of his career, but if the Wild decide that they are playoff pretenders, and not in a position to make a viable run, they might let Nolan go. He's exactly the type of player a playoff team would look to add at the deadline, and, given that his contract is up after this year, there's always a chance he would come back as a free agent.
Josh Harding - The Wild's back-up goaltender seemed set to be traded earlier this season, and then he ran into some difficulties with his game. Once he started getting back on track, he suffered his hip injury, which may have made it harder to move him. Harding deserves a starting job somewhere in the league, but, with Niklas Backstrom, the odds aren't good that he'll find one with Minnesota.
The Wild have a ton of decisions to make, and, honestly, signing Cal Clutterbuck to an extension doesn't even confirm that he'll be wearing a Wild sweater when the team lines up against Calgary on the night of Deadline Day. There's also no indication that anything will move between then and now, and the roster for the Wild's first post-Olympic break could be exactly what was seen in their final pre-break game against Vancouver.
Friday, February 5, 2010
2009-10 Game Fifty-Seven; Wild 4, Oilers 2
The first period of the Minnesota Wild/Edmonton Oilers game looked very similar to the game played earlier in the week by the Wild against the Dallas Stars. For the first twenty minutes, the Wild dominated the play, keeping their opponent back on their heels and peppering the net with shots. For the first twenty minutes, the Wild couldn't solve the opposing goaltender, setting up a potential collapse. Of course, at the end of the day, the Wild had a very different presence in their own net, and they weren't forced to play from behind.
In a game where it often seemed as though the officials were trying to hand Edmonton the win, Minnesota just kept fighting, and they needed to. After getting shut out in the first period, they were able to take a 1-0 lead, but the Oilers tied the game on an extended power play, thanks to some questionable penalties. That was where things stood until the second period, where Minnesota again took a one goal lead, only to have it erased yet again by a baffling on-ice call. Then came the moment that, if the Wild make the playoffs, could be looked back at as the catalyst for saving the entire season.
It's been no secret that Josh Harding has been playing with an injured hip as of late, and he took more abuse to that joint during the scrum and beating the created Edmonton's second goal. Shortly after that, completely out of position, Harding dove across the net mouth, just trying to stifle an Edmonton shot and hold the game at 2. It was a brilliant save, and should get plenty of replay, but it was immediately followed by the image of the Wild's goaltender laying flat on the ice, unable to get back up. He was eventually helped off of the ice, and Minnesota needed to rely on another unproven goaltender in Anton Khudobin. The Wild fired off two goals to take the lead, and Khudobin performed admirably in relief, securing his first NHL victory with under ten minutes of work. Expect him to get more work than that upcoming, as the odds are good that the Wild will be without their top two goaltenders for some time.
Game pluses:
- Goaltending. Josh Harding was huge, and obviously playing through pain, but still managed to keep his team in the game. As soon as he went down, there was a sense that the season was slipping away, but Anton Khudobin, who has suffered his own streak of bad luck, was able to keep Edmonton from scoring again. The fans responded in a big way, and gave Khudobin a large boost.
- Martin Havlat. The Wild's top player was absolutely brilliant against Edmonton, and, with the Wild dressing 7 defensemen, Havlat ended up being double-shifted. He took every opportunity handed to him, and played possibly his best game in a Wild jersey.
- Guillaume Latendresse. The guy that helped spark Havlat's play earlier in the season continues to play his game, and play it well. While his game-winning goal was nice, his feed to set up Havlat's second goal of the game showed his overall hockey awareness.
Game minuses:
- Injury. Nothing can take away Harding's brilliant save. However, the Wild really need to sweep their home stand if they want to have playoff aspirations, and that task just got a lot harder with Harding reaggravating his hip injury.
- Andrew Brunette. For someone who's normally so good just a couple of feet away from the net, Brunette had a very off game. He had at least three opportunities to convert from the goal mouth, and just pushed the puck wide each time.
- Kim Johnsson. Johnsson again looked soft in the defensive zone, and had some mind-boggling plays with the puck, creating chances for the Oilers.
Next up: The Wild come back on Saturday with a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Minnesota has done well against the Eastern Conference this season, and really needs to continue that trend right now.
In a game where it often seemed as though the officials were trying to hand Edmonton the win, Minnesota just kept fighting, and they needed to. After getting shut out in the first period, they were able to take a 1-0 lead, but the Oilers tied the game on an extended power play, thanks to some questionable penalties. That was where things stood until the second period, where Minnesota again took a one goal lead, only to have it erased yet again by a baffling on-ice call. Then came the moment that, if the Wild make the playoffs, could be looked back at as the catalyst for saving the entire season.
It's been no secret that Josh Harding has been playing with an injured hip as of late, and he took more abuse to that joint during the scrum and beating the created Edmonton's second goal. Shortly after that, completely out of position, Harding dove across the net mouth, just trying to stifle an Edmonton shot and hold the game at 2. It was a brilliant save, and should get plenty of replay, but it was immediately followed by the image of the Wild's goaltender laying flat on the ice, unable to get back up. He was eventually helped off of the ice, and Minnesota needed to rely on another unproven goaltender in Anton Khudobin. The Wild fired off two goals to take the lead, and Khudobin performed admirably in relief, securing his first NHL victory with under ten minutes of work. Expect him to get more work than that upcoming, as the odds are good that the Wild will be without their top two goaltenders for some time.
Game pluses:
- Goaltending. Josh Harding was huge, and obviously playing through pain, but still managed to keep his team in the game. As soon as he went down, there was a sense that the season was slipping away, but Anton Khudobin, who has suffered his own streak of bad luck, was able to keep Edmonton from scoring again. The fans responded in a big way, and gave Khudobin a large boost.
- Martin Havlat. The Wild's top player was absolutely brilliant against Edmonton, and, with the Wild dressing 7 defensemen, Havlat ended up being double-shifted. He took every opportunity handed to him, and played possibly his best game in a Wild jersey.
- Guillaume Latendresse. The guy that helped spark Havlat's play earlier in the season continues to play his game, and play it well. While his game-winning goal was nice, his feed to set up Havlat's second goal of the game showed his overall hockey awareness.
Game minuses:
- Injury. Nothing can take away Harding's brilliant save. However, the Wild really need to sweep their home stand if they want to have playoff aspirations, and that task just got a lot harder with Harding reaggravating his hip injury.
- Andrew Brunette. For someone who's normally so good just a couple of feet away from the net, Brunette had a very off game. He had at least three opportunities to convert from the goal mouth, and just pushed the puck wide each time.
- Kim Johnsson. Johnsson again looked soft in the defensive zone, and had some mind-boggling plays with the puck, creating chances for the Oilers.
Next up: The Wild come back on Saturday with a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Minnesota has done well against the Eastern Conference this season, and really needs to continue that trend right now.
Friday, January 29, 2010
2009-10 Game Fifty-Four: Wild 1, Avalanche 0
Suffice it to say, but this most recent victory was anything but by the book. For most of the game, it was easy to see which team was playing in the second night of a back-to-back situation, and which team had been resting for a couple of days. But somehow, the Minnesota Wild pulled out a victory, snatching it from the jaws of defeat with under five minutes to play. They finished their season series against the Colorado Avalanche with an impressive 5-1 mark, and the way the contests have gone this season, Colorado is probably hoping that they won't see this same Minnesota team again come playoff time.
The Wild were outplayed for much of the game, and they couldn't mount much of an offense. However, in many ways, the Avalanche had just as many problems, and they weren't able to get the puck into the Wild net, despite a goaltender suffering through hip problems who was playing for the second night in a row. Still, with the way that this season has gone for Minnesota, they had to feel in good shape entering the third period tied. They took control of the final frame again, creating the game's only goal with some hard-nosed hockey. It wasn't pretty, but this Wild team needs road wins more than they need pretty wins.
Game pluses:
- Martin Havlat. He started the play that created the game-winning goal, so it was only fitting that he get to finish it. Still, nobody could have expected that Havlat would be able to score while smothered by three Colorado defenders. This is the player that the Wild made the big off-season move for, and he's definitely feeling his game now.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak played the puck well, and his positioning and awareness showed when he fed the puck back to Havlat for the winner.
- Josh Harding. Harding needs to get some more goal support, but completing a shut-out while banged up and exhausted had to feel good. Interesting to note that the last time Harding played two nights in a row, he won both of those, as well.
Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild just couldn't get anything done with the man advantage, and that ineptness almost burned them in the end. While winning the game takes away the sting, it should never have been close.
- Passing. Part of the reason why the Wild couldn't do anything on the power play is because they simply didn't have a passing touch all night long. They couldn't get the puck from tape to tape, with a few exceptions. Even when the passes were crisp, too often they were a little too late to turn into a scoring chance.
- Injuries. Niklas Backstrom is out with back problems. Josh Harding aggravated his sore hip, which casts doubt on his ability to play Saturday. Owen Nolan took a slap shot to the hand. The Wild was just starting to get healthy again, so the last thing they need is more players to miss time, especially when both goaltenders are questionable.
Next up: The Wild look to keep their roll going when they take on the San Jose Sharks.
The Wild were outplayed for much of the game, and they couldn't mount much of an offense. However, in many ways, the Avalanche had just as many problems, and they weren't able to get the puck into the Wild net, despite a goaltender suffering through hip problems who was playing for the second night in a row. Still, with the way that this season has gone for Minnesota, they had to feel in good shape entering the third period tied. They took control of the final frame again, creating the game's only goal with some hard-nosed hockey. It wasn't pretty, but this Wild team needs road wins more than they need pretty wins.
Game pluses:
- Martin Havlat. He started the play that created the game-winning goal, so it was only fitting that he get to finish it. Still, nobody could have expected that Havlat would be able to score while smothered by three Colorado defenders. This is the player that the Wild made the big off-season move for, and he's definitely feeling his game now.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak played the puck well, and his positioning and awareness showed when he fed the puck back to Havlat for the winner.
- Josh Harding. Harding needs to get some more goal support, but completing a shut-out while banged up and exhausted had to feel good. Interesting to note that the last time Harding played two nights in a row, he won both of those, as well.
Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild just couldn't get anything done with the man advantage, and that ineptness almost burned them in the end. While winning the game takes away the sting, it should never have been close.
- Passing. Part of the reason why the Wild couldn't do anything on the power play is because they simply didn't have a passing touch all night long. They couldn't get the puck from tape to tape, with a few exceptions. Even when the passes were crisp, too often they were a little too late to turn into a scoring chance.
- Injuries. Niklas Backstrom is out with back problems. Josh Harding aggravated his sore hip, which casts doubt on his ability to play Saturday. Owen Nolan took a slap shot to the hand. The Wild was just starting to get healthy again, so the last thing they need is more players to miss time, especially when both goaltenders are questionable.
Next up: The Wild look to keep their roll going when they take on the San Jose Sharks.
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.
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.
Friday, January 15, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Eight: Wild 0, Blues 1
For many, this most recent game for the Minnesota Wild was bound to happen eventually. Not playing against St. Louis, but totally collapsing, not having any energy, and not looking like they had any business playing hockey. In fact, this sort of game was expected after the Wild used a ton of energy and hockey smarts beating Chicago in that thrilling come-from-behind affair. The two games that followed, against Pittsburgh and Vancouver, certainly carried their fair share of physicality, to go with the grueling shortened schedule. But, after four high octane games, it was seemingly inevitable that the Wild would collapse.
The funny thing is, even with the collapse, the Wild had plenty of chances to win the game, going up against a St. Louis Blues team that's still trying to find its game after their head coach was replaced. Minnesota just didn't assemble enough effort to take any real good chances, and they came up short on a night where neither team really deserved to win.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. The Wild's back-up goaltender did everything he could to keep the Wild in the game, but they need to give him some help on a more regular basis. Far too often during his career, Harding has gotten the start and played well, but the skaters in front of him can't put together simple passes.
- Guillaume Latendresse. The only Wild player to look like he wanted to play offensive hockey for the night was Latendresse, and he directly created the only real scoring threats that the Wild had.
- Greg Zanon. Zanon was solid in the defensive zone, blocking shots and holding good positioning. If Zanon hadn't been playing as well as he did, Harding might have been staring at 50+ shots on goal, instead of the 37 that he did face.
Game minuses:
- Power play. It's been said before, and it needs to be said again. When the game is on the line, if you're given a power play, you need to take advantage of it. Instead, the Wild could barely move the puck, even when they had the man advantage. In fact, the power play displayed some of the worst puck handling of the night.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat's turned his game on recently, but he wasn't clicking against the Blues. More than one turnover came directly off of his stick, and the Wild's best chance of the game was shot just wide, instead of buried by Havlat in the wide open net.
- Fire. When your team has fewer than ten shots through two periods, and it isn't because the other team is playing stellar defense, you know the players aren't into the game. The Wild weren't shooting, weren't passing, and weren't hitting.
Next up: The Wild take a day to regroup and recover, and then they face the Phoenix Coyotes.
The funny thing is, even with the collapse, the Wild had plenty of chances to win the game, going up against a St. Louis Blues team that's still trying to find its game after their head coach was replaced. Minnesota just didn't assemble enough effort to take any real good chances, and they came up short on a night where neither team really deserved to win.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. The Wild's back-up goaltender did everything he could to keep the Wild in the game, but they need to give him some help on a more regular basis. Far too often during his career, Harding has gotten the start and played well, but the skaters in front of him can't put together simple passes.
- Guillaume Latendresse. The only Wild player to look like he wanted to play offensive hockey for the night was Latendresse, and he directly created the only real scoring threats that the Wild had.
- Greg Zanon. Zanon was solid in the defensive zone, blocking shots and holding good positioning. If Zanon hadn't been playing as well as he did, Harding might have been staring at 50+ shots on goal, instead of the 37 that he did face.
Game minuses:
- Power play. It's been said before, and it needs to be said again. When the game is on the line, if you're given a power play, you need to take advantage of it. Instead, the Wild could barely move the puck, even when they had the man advantage. In fact, the power play displayed some of the worst puck handling of the night.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat's turned his game on recently, but he wasn't clicking against the Blues. More than one turnover came directly off of his stick, and the Wild's best chance of the game was shot just wide, instead of buried by Havlat in the wide open net.
- Fire. When your team has fewer than ten shots through two periods, and it isn't because the other team is playing stellar defense, you know the players aren't into the game. The Wild weren't shooting, weren't passing, and weren't hitting.
Next up: The Wild take a day to regroup and recover, and then they face the Phoenix Coyotes.
Monday, January 11, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Five: Wild 6, Blackhawks 5 (SO)
There's stealing a point out of a game, and then there's what the Minnesota Wild did to the Chicago Blackhawks over the weekend. After practically giving the game away, and making sure that Niklas Backstrom had no hope to hold them into it, the Wild switched goalies, and started playing hockey. The third period was dominated by Minnesota, who mounted the biggest comeback victory in the history of the franchise.
With the way that this Wild team has played this season, there was reason for the 19,000+ fans to stay in their seats. From the home opener, where Minnesota beat the Anaheim Ducks after falling behind 3-0 all through the season, the Wild have mounted comeback after comeback. They've trailed in over half of their victories. But nothing comes close to the way they fought back against the Blackhawks. Minnesota had no business coming back onto the ice for the final twenty minutes after the way that they played the first forty, and it almost became a question of how much the team cared. Suddenly, the defense that had been suspect all night stifled Chicago, and the offense that couldn't put the puck in the net fired off three goals in four shots, pulling Minnesota back within one. After the score reached 5-4, it was a question of whether enough time lasted for Minnesota to ride the momentum into a tie, and at least sneak one point out of the game. That question was answered with under two minutes remaining, thanks to a smart forecheck and an opportunistic goal, and all that remained was an eventless overtime, and an eight-round shootout, capped by Owen Nolan's top shelf goal.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. Harding may have saved the game for the Wild. He definitely helped them steal their two points. After Niklas Backstrom was hung out to dry all night long, Harding came in and didn't allow a single puck past him until the shootout. With Chicago's firepower, that's no easy task.
- Guillaume Latendresse. Nobody saw Latendresse coming off of the bench to score the tying goal. It even looked like he fooled his teammates with how quickly he got to the loose puck, but there's no questioning his finish in the game. With two goals, Latendresse has now scored nine times since coming to Minnesota. Looks like the fresh start was exactly what he needed.
- Mikko Koivu. His line may not be clicking, but he certainly is. Koivu deserved to be rewarded, and rewarded he was, with a goal in both regulation and during the shootout. Koivu is one of those players who always plays with his heart, and his fire helped the Wild sneak back into the game.
Game minuses:
- Marek Zidlicky. If he hadn't notched the power play goal that put the Wild within one, Zidlicky may have been forced to look for a new home. His pass to Marian Hossa gave the Blackhawks an amazing shorthanded breakaway, and it's hard to stop a player of Hossa's skill when it's just him and the goaltender.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette did not have a very good game, coughing up the puck, taking a bad penalty, and overall playing out of position.
- Defense. At least for the first two periods, the Wild defense was non-existent. On the first three Chicago goals, there was no chance for Backstrom to stop the puck, because the Wild simply watched it get passed around the ice. On the fourth, Cal Clutterbuck crashed the wrong net, and prevented Backstrom from getting a look. And, well, the fifth goal was the aforementioned breakaway for Marian Hossa. The team came together again for the third period, but they definitely didn't deserve the win for the way they played the first two periods.
Next up: The Wild hope to ride the momentum even further than their stunning victory over Chicago, as they face off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wild did beat the Penguins earlier this season, so they will be hoping for history to repeat itself.
With the way that this Wild team has played this season, there was reason for the 19,000+ fans to stay in their seats. From the home opener, where Minnesota beat the Anaheim Ducks after falling behind 3-0 all through the season, the Wild have mounted comeback after comeback. They've trailed in over half of their victories. But nothing comes close to the way they fought back against the Blackhawks. Minnesota had no business coming back onto the ice for the final twenty minutes after the way that they played the first forty, and it almost became a question of how much the team cared. Suddenly, the defense that had been suspect all night stifled Chicago, and the offense that couldn't put the puck in the net fired off three goals in four shots, pulling Minnesota back within one. After the score reached 5-4, it was a question of whether enough time lasted for Minnesota to ride the momentum into a tie, and at least sneak one point out of the game. That question was answered with under two minutes remaining, thanks to a smart forecheck and an opportunistic goal, and all that remained was an eventless overtime, and an eight-round shootout, capped by Owen Nolan's top shelf goal.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. Harding may have saved the game for the Wild. He definitely helped them steal their two points. After Niklas Backstrom was hung out to dry all night long, Harding came in and didn't allow a single puck past him until the shootout. With Chicago's firepower, that's no easy task.
- Guillaume Latendresse. Nobody saw Latendresse coming off of the bench to score the tying goal. It even looked like he fooled his teammates with how quickly he got to the loose puck, but there's no questioning his finish in the game. With two goals, Latendresse has now scored nine times since coming to Minnesota. Looks like the fresh start was exactly what he needed.
- Mikko Koivu. His line may not be clicking, but he certainly is. Koivu deserved to be rewarded, and rewarded he was, with a goal in both regulation and during the shootout. Koivu is one of those players who always plays with his heart, and his fire helped the Wild sneak back into the game.
Game minuses:
- Marek Zidlicky. If he hadn't notched the power play goal that put the Wild within one, Zidlicky may have been forced to look for a new home. His pass to Marian Hossa gave the Blackhawks an amazing shorthanded breakaway, and it's hard to stop a player of Hossa's skill when it's just him and the goaltender.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette did not have a very good game, coughing up the puck, taking a bad penalty, and overall playing out of position.
- Defense. At least for the first two periods, the Wild defense was non-existent. On the first three Chicago goals, there was no chance for Backstrom to stop the puck, because the Wild simply watched it get passed around the ice. On the fourth, Cal Clutterbuck crashed the wrong net, and prevented Backstrom from getting a look. And, well, the fifth goal was the aforementioned breakaway for Marian Hossa. The team came together again for the third period, but they definitely didn't deserve the win for the way they played the first two periods.
Next up: The Wild hope to ride the momentum even further than their stunning victory over Chicago, as they face off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wild did beat the Penguins earlier this season, so they will be hoping for history to repeat itself.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
2009-10 Game Forty: Wild 2, Ducks 4
Coming off of a thrilling victory the night before, and facing a team that has been struggling as of late, it would seem as though the Minnesota Wild had all of the momentum going their way. Unfortunately for Minnesota, their momentum met up with some desperation from the Anaheim Ducks, and the Wild just couldn't keep pace with their opponents as they fell 4-2.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Wild/Ducks game without extra curriculars, and both of the Wild's big men found themselves in the penalty box for 10 minute stretches. Derek Boogaard got his misconduct for an extra couple of punches after the officials tried to break up his fight, and John Scott followed almost immediately, for dropping the gloves in spite of the officials stepping in right away. It also didn't help that the Wild just didn't have their legs for most of the game, and couldn't do much to slow down Bobby Ryan or the Anaheim attack. The Wild had some chances to tie the game late in the third period, but they couldn't finish with strength, and ended yet another road trip 1-1. At least this time, nothing caught on fire.
Game pluses:
- Kim Johnsson. He's up, he's down, he's praised, he's maligned. Johnsson has had a less-than-impressive season, but he may have found his game, and how he fits in the new system. For the first time in his career, Johnsson has a three-game goal scoring streak, thanks to a booming shot to bring the Wild within one.
- Josh Harding. Aside from one questionable goal, Harding was actually fairly solid in net, especially so for a guy who hadn't played in almost a month. Both of Bobby Ryan's goals were off of shots that any goalie would have problems stopping.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain often got the better of his older brother, and he worked hard to create some of the few chances that Minnesota had. He notched assists in both Wild goals.
Game minuses:
- Officiating. Not to sound like a broken record, but the officials gave this game to the Ducks. Possibly as retaliation of sorts for what happened during the fights during the second period, the Ducks were handed a 5-on-3 power play for almost two minutes thanks to some very weak penalties. The same types of plays had been going on all game, and often for the Ducks, and they were left uncalled. Mere moments after the first penalty expired, Bobby Ryan scored the game winning goal.
- John Scott. With the recent play of Clayton Stoner, Scott needs to prove that he belongs in the line-up. One good way not to do so is to get involved in a fight and get assessed a ten-minute misconduct penalty moments after your team was already saddled with that exact situation.
- Passing. The Ducks looked like they had magnetized their sticks, because, no matter where they stuck them, the puck was drawn to them. Not so for the Wild, who had trouble making passes all game long. It certainly didn't help that the Wild played like they hadn't slept at all since beating Los Angeles the night before.
Next up: The Wild reach the mid-point of the season before they reach the new decade, as they return home for a Thursday night match-up against the Los Angeles Kings.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Wild/Ducks game without extra curriculars, and both of the Wild's big men found themselves in the penalty box for 10 minute stretches. Derek Boogaard got his misconduct for an extra couple of punches after the officials tried to break up his fight, and John Scott followed almost immediately, for dropping the gloves in spite of the officials stepping in right away. It also didn't help that the Wild just didn't have their legs for most of the game, and couldn't do much to slow down Bobby Ryan or the Anaheim attack. The Wild had some chances to tie the game late in the third period, but they couldn't finish with strength, and ended yet another road trip 1-1. At least this time, nothing caught on fire.
Game pluses:
- Kim Johnsson. He's up, he's down, he's praised, he's maligned. Johnsson has had a less-than-impressive season, but he may have found his game, and how he fits in the new system. For the first time in his career, Johnsson has a three-game goal scoring streak, thanks to a booming shot to bring the Wild within one.
- Josh Harding. Aside from one questionable goal, Harding was actually fairly solid in net, especially so for a guy who hadn't played in almost a month. Both of Bobby Ryan's goals were off of shots that any goalie would have problems stopping.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain often got the better of his older brother, and he worked hard to create some of the few chances that Minnesota had. He notched assists in both Wild goals.
Game minuses:
- Officiating. Not to sound like a broken record, but the officials gave this game to the Ducks. Possibly as retaliation of sorts for what happened during the fights during the second period, the Ducks were handed a 5-on-3 power play for almost two minutes thanks to some very weak penalties. The same types of plays had been going on all game, and often for the Ducks, and they were left uncalled. Mere moments after the first penalty expired, Bobby Ryan scored the game winning goal.
- John Scott. With the recent play of Clayton Stoner, Scott needs to prove that he belongs in the line-up. One good way not to do so is to get involved in a fight and get assessed a ten-minute misconduct penalty moments after your team was already saddled with that exact situation.
- Passing. The Ducks looked like they had magnetized their sticks, because, no matter where they stuck them, the puck was drawn to them. Not so for the Wild, who had trouble making passes all game long. It certainly didn't help that the Wild played like they hadn't slept at all since beating Los Angeles the night before.
Next up: The Wild reach the mid-point of the season before they reach the new decade, as they return home for a Thursday night match-up against the Los Angeles Kings.
Monday, December 14, 2009
2009-10 Game Thirty-Two: Wild 3, Canucks 4
The end of an extended road trip. The sixth game in eight days. Fresh off of an unlikely, but energetic win. It wouldn't surprise anyone if the Minnesota Wild had come out flat against the Vancouver Canucks, and skated quietly into the night. Instead, the Wild showed life, and, if it hadn't been for some very questionable officiating, the Wild might have finished their time away from Saint Paul with a 4-1 road mark.
However, regardless of the penalty status, the Wild did start off a bit slow, and that allowed the Canucks to get a quick jump. When given that opportunity, few take it as quickly or as efficiently as the Sedin twins, who put up huge nights against Minnesota. It certainly didn't help that the Wild penalty kill was as strong as wet paper, and that Josh Harding played one of his worst games in awhile. Still, the Wild didn't shut down, and made a game of it, continually fighting to get back into it. This is drastically different from the team that began this season.
Game pluses:
- Martin Havlat. Havlat definitely looks like he's found his game. After playing a part in both Wild goals against Calgary, he followed up by notching a goal and two assists. The last two games, Havlat has been the catalyst for the offense, and this can only help the team.
- Faceoffs. The Wild won over 70% of the faceoffs against the Canucks, and that number helped create an exciting end to the game. Unfortunately, Minnesota didn't do enough to capitalize on that puck possession advantage.
- Surprising contributions. Who would have guessed that, before Havlat, the Wild goal scorers would be Greg Zanon and Shane Hnidy? Both defensemen scooped up fantastic feeds from Martin Havlat, and put terrific shots into the net.
Game minuses:
- Game ownership. The Wild had the advantage in faceoffs, in shots, and, in many ways, in control of the game when playing it five-on-five. And yet they stopped moving the puck, instead relying on the method of shooting pucks straight into the goaltender's body. The Wild need to get better about getting the opposing goalie moving, or getting shots on net that are likely to create rebounds.
- Josh Harding. True, Harding played the game while battling an illness, and that may have contributed to his poor showing. He also didn't secure the posts, and dropped into his butterfly far too quickly. Vancouver knew it, and they showed it by putting shots up and towards the corners.
- Special teams. The Wild got victimized by questionable penalties, but didn't do enough to kill off Vancouver power plays. When they got their chance with the man advantage, including a full four minutes, they retreated to the old system of making too many passes, and not getting enough shots on net. Now that the rest of the game seems to be clicking, it might be time for the Wild to look seriously at their special teams, and figure out what needs to be done to make them work again.
Next up: The Wild return home for one game, facing off against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
However, regardless of the penalty status, the Wild did start off a bit slow, and that allowed the Canucks to get a quick jump. When given that opportunity, few take it as quickly or as efficiently as the Sedin twins, who put up huge nights against Minnesota. It certainly didn't help that the Wild penalty kill was as strong as wet paper, and that Josh Harding played one of his worst games in awhile. Still, the Wild didn't shut down, and made a game of it, continually fighting to get back into it. This is drastically different from the team that began this season.
Game pluses:
- Martin Havlat. Havlat definitely looks like he's found his game. After playing a part in both Wild goals against Calgary, he followed up by notching a goal and two assists. The last two games, Havlat has been the catalyst for the offense, and this can only help the team.
- Faceoffs. The Wild won over 70% of the faceoffs against the Canucks, and that number helped create an exciting end to the game. Unfortunately, Minnesota didn't do enough to capitalize on that puck possession advantage.
- Surprising contributions. Who would have guessed that, before Havlat, the Wild goal scorers would be Greg Zanon and Shane Hnidy? Both defensemen scooped up fantastic feeds from Martin Havlat, and put terrific shots into the net.
Game minuses:
- Game ownership. The Wild had the advantage in faceoffs, in shots, and, in many ways, in control of the game when playing it five-on-five. And yet they stopped moving the puck, instead relying on the method of shooting pucks straight into the goaltender's body. The Wild need to get better about getting the opposing goalie moving, or getting shots on net that are likely to create rebounds.
- Josh Harding. True, Harding played the game while battling an illness, and that may have contributed to his poor showing. He also didn't secure the posts, and dropped into his butterfly far too quickly. Vancouver knew it, and they showed it by putting shots up and towards the corners.
- Special teams. The Wild got victimized by questionable penalties, but didn't do enough to kill off Vancouver power plays. When they got their chance with the man advantage, including a full four minutes, they retreated to the old system of making too many passes, and not getting enough shots on net. Now that the rest of the game seems to be clicking, it might be time for the Wild to look seriously at their special teams, and figure out what needs to be done to make them work again.
Next up: The Wild return home for one game, facing off against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
Monday, December 7, 2009
2009-10 Game Twenty-Eight: Wild 5, Predators 3
There's something strange that happens when the Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators get together. Teams known for defensive stands put together offensive flurries, and no goal is safe from the onslaught. In two games, the Wild and Predators had put 16 goals up. After three games, that total was 24.
The Wild had to survive a rough start, when they spent almost half of the first period on the penalty kill. However, Nashville only burned them once, and, surprisingly, at the end of the period, the Wild held a one-goal lead. That confidence carried them into the second period, and they had enough of a lead going into the third that their late-game mistakes didn't hurt as badly as they could have. The Wild now have a five-game winning streak, a seven-game points streak, and are surprisingly only five points back from the #8 team in the conference.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. True, Harding didn't keep things together in the third period, but he was strong throughout the rest of the game, shutting down Nashville's scorers with some brilliant saves.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat has been much maligned this season, but he may be finding his groove. After his second assist, he looked like a different player on the ice, making moves more reminiscent of his play last year with Chicago.
- Transition hockey. The Wild was able to apply a forecheck, and they were pouncing on Nashville turnovers, playing very opportunistic hockey.
Game minuses:
- Quick deficit. Yet again, the Wild gave up the first goal of the game, and yet again, they had to come from behind. Give them credit for composure, though, for not folding.
- Penalty march. The first period could, and probably should, have been much worse for Minnesota, as four defensemen made foolish mistakes for four quick Nashville powerplays.
- Late let down. Maybe it was the four-goal lead. Maybe it was playing back-to-back games. Either way, the Wild didn't turn in a very strong third period. The four-goal differential was almost the only thing that kept the Wild from giving the game away.
Next up: The Wild road trip continues, as they head to Phoenix to play the Coyotes. Will the Wild have better success in Arizona than the Vikings did?
The Wild had to survive a rough start, when they spent almost half of the first period on the penalty kill. However, Nashville only burned them once, and, surprisingly, at the end of the period, the Wild held a one-goal lead. That confidence carried them into the second period, and they had enough of a lead going into the third that their late-game mistakes didn't hurt as badly as they could have. The Wild now have a five-game winning streak, a seven-game points streak, and are surprisingly only five points back from the #8 team in the conference.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. True, Harding didn't keep things together in the third period, but he was strong throughout the rest of the game, shutting down Nashville's scorers with some brilliant saves.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat has been much maligned this season, but he may be finding his groove. After his second assist, he looked like a different player on the ice, making moves more reminiscent of his play last year with Chicago.
- Transition hockey. The Wild was able to apply a forecheck, and they were pouncing on Nashville turnovers, playing very opportunistic hockey.
Game minuses:
- Quick deficit. Yet again, the Wild gave up the first goal of the game, and yet again, they had to come from behind. Give them credit for composure, though, for not folding.
- Penalty march. The first period could, and probably should, have been much worse for Minnesota, as four defensemen made foolish mistakes for four quick Nashville powerplays.
- Late let down. Maybe it was the four-goal lead. Maybe it was playing back-to-back games. Either way, the Wild didn't turn in a very strong third period. The four-goal differential was almost the only thing that kept the Wild from giving the game away.
Next up: The Wild road trip continues, as they head to Phoenix to play the Coyotes. Will the Wild have better success in Arizona than the Vikings did?
Monday, November 30, 2009
2009-10 Game Twenty-Five: Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (SO)
While it wasn't a standard back-to-back situation for the second game of the home-and-home series between Minnesota and Colorado, the game did carry some of the main symptoms. Both teams jumped out trying to get a fast start. There was a bit of a drag in the middle, and then the end came with some flurries and some lucky bounces. At stake were big divisional points, and the Avalanche were trying to solve the Wild, as Minnesota had beaten Colorado in both previous games.
Well, the answer still isn't there for Colorado, as Minnesota overcame a 2-goal deficit, some weird bounces, and, for one player at least, a lack of practice to defeat the Avalanche for the third time this season. The injuries and illnesses that the Wild have faced have led to the team already having a different look than the one presented at the beginning of the season, but that look, high energy, physical, and offensively-minded, is starting to show positive results.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. For a guy who wasn't getting a lot of looks in Montreal, and didn't get the chance to practice with his new teammates, he played well. Not only did he get the game-tying goal, but he played a basic yet physical brand of hockey, which should net him some quick fans.
- Andrew Ebbett. True, his goal in the shootout was a lot of luck, but Ebbett also had a goal waved off in the third period after it bounced of his glove. Ebbett is able to create opportunites by showing an awareness for getting to the front of the net.
- Josh Harding. Harding came up big, keeping the Wild in the game when mistakes created Colorado chances.
Game minuses:
- Opportunity. The Wild had a number of chances at wide-open nets, but they couldn't seem to put the puck where it counted until late. If the Wild had converted, they would have easily taken the game in regulation.
- Power play. True, a lot of the Wild's main power play guys were out of the line-up, but the team just looked like they were floundering. It certainly didn't make things any better that, if it hadn't been for a huge save by Harding, the Wild would have given up their sixth shorthanded goal of the season.
- Kim Johnsson. One thing that has plagued Wild defensemen this season is stick awareness. It hurt Nick Schultz when he redirected the puck into his own net earlier this season. It hurt Johnsson when he tripped Harding in this game, practically giving Colorado the two goal lead. Johnsson also misplayed the puck more than a few times, including on the cough-up that almost gave Colorado the shortie.
Next up: The Wild may not want to leave Colorado or the Avalanche behind, but they return to St. Paul to face the Nashville Predators on Wednesday evening.
Well, the answer still isn't there for Colorado, as Minnesota overcame a 2-goal deficit, some weird bounces, and, for one player at least, a lack of practice to defeat the Avalanche for the third time this season. The injuries and illnesses that the Wild have faced have led to the team already having a different look than the one presented at the beginning of the season, but that look, high energy, physical, and offensively-minded, is starting to show positive results.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. For a guy who wasn't getting a lot of looks in Montreal, and didn't get the chance to practice with his new teammates, he played well. Not only did he get the game-tying goal, but he played a basic yet physical brand of hockey, which should net him some quick fans.
- Andrew Ebbett. True, his goal in the shootout was a lot of luck, but Ebbett also had a goal waved off in the third period after it bounced of his glove. Ebbett is able to create opportunites by showing an awareness for getting to the front of the net.
- Josh Harding. Harding came up big, keeping the Wild in the game when mistakes created Colorado chances.
Game minuses:
- Opportunity. The Wild had a number of chances at wide-open nets, but they couldn't seem to put the puck where it counted until late. If the Wild had converted, they would have easily taken the game in regulation.
- Power play. True, a lot of the Wild's main power play guys were out of the line-up, but the team just looked like they were floundering. It certainly didn't make things any better that, if it hadn't been for a huge save by Harding, the Wild would have given up their sixth shorthanded goal of the season.
- Kim Johnsson. One thing that has plagued Wild defensemen this season is stick awareness. It hurt Nick Schultz when he redirected the puck into his own net earlier this season. It hurt Johnsson when he tripped Harding in this game, practically giving Colorado the two goal lead. Johnsson also misplayed the puck more than a few times, including on the cough-up that almost gave Colorado the shortie.
Next up: The Wild may not want to leave Colorado or the Avalanche behind, but they return to St. Paul to face the Nashville Predators on Wednesday evening.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
2009-10 Game Nineteen: Wild 1, Capitals 3
There are many reasons why the Wild are currently in the Western Conference basement. There are just as many reasons why the Washington Capitals are on top of the Eastern Conference. When a team can continue to win, and win with strength, while missing one of the best players in the league, they know they've got something special. Without Alex Ovechkin, the Caps have continued cruising, and they took out the Wild in strong fashion.
Not to say that Minnesota didn't challenge the Caps. In fact, for a while, it looked like the Wild were going to do to Washington what they did to Pittsburgh. The difference between the games? In Pittsburgh, the Wild didn't have as many chances, but they converted better. In Washington, Minnesota either didn't take good quality shots, or just missed with the shots that they did take. To win in the NHL, you need to be able to convert odd-man rushes, and the Wild didn't have any luck doing that against that Capitals.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck has been picked by many across the league to eventually be a 20-goal scorer. If he keeps playing like he has recently, people may want to amend that to 30 goals. He's still playing his physical game, too, making the goals that much more impressive.
- Robbie Earl. A call-up to play for an injured Chuck Kobasew, Earl played a strong game for his first one in a Wild sweater.
- Josh Harding. This is the Josh Harding that people have wanted to see all season. No, he didn't win the game, but he singlehandedly kept the Wild in it. Both goals that he let past him were off of terrific shots, and Washington couldn't get a third goal until the Wild's net was empty.
Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild just can't get things moving on their power play with any regularity. They're still focusing on trying to set up the perfect play, which means that they're not taking shots that they should be.
- Defensive puck handling. The entire defensive corps had problems keeping the puck on their stick. Whether it was failing to hold the puck in the offensive zone, or simply miscuing a pass, the defense need to get better with the black rubber.
- Finishing the rush. The Wild got a number of odd-man rushes throughout the game. They just couldn't connect the dots on what should have been a brilliant scoring attempt.
Next up: The Wild play a rare afternoon game, as they travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes. Last time the two teams played, Cal Clutterbuck scored an impossible goal for the overtime winner.
Not to say that Minnesota didn't challenge the Caps. In fact, for a while, it looked like the Wild were going to do to Washington what they did to Pittsburgh. The difference between the games? In Pittsburgh, the Wild didn't have as many chances, but they converted better. In Washington, Minnesota either didn't take good quality shots, or just missed with the shots that they did take. To win in the NHL, you need to be able to convert odd-man rushes, and the Wild didn't have any luck doing that against that Capitals.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck has been picked by many across the league to eventually be a 20-goal scorer. If he keeps playing like he has recently, people may want to amend that to 30 goals. He's still playing his physical game, too, making the goals that much more impressive.
- Robbie Earl. A call-up to play for an injured Chuck Kobasew, Earl played a strong game for his first one in a Wild sweater.
- Josh Harding. This is the Josh Harding that people have wanted to see all season. No, he didn't win the game, but he singlehandedly kept the Wild in it. Both goals that he let past him were off of terrific shots, and Washington couldn't get a third goal until the Wild's net was empty.
Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild just can't get things moving on their power play with any regularity. They're still focusing on trying to set up the perfect play, which means that they're not taking shots that they should be.
- Defensive puck handling. The entire defensive corps had problems keeping the puck on their stick. Whether it was failing to hold the puck in the offensive zone, or simply miscuing a pass, the defense need to get better with the black rubber.
- Finishing the rush. The Wild got a number of odd-man rushes throughout the game. They just couldn't connect the dots on what should have been a brilliant scoring attempt.
Next up: The Wild play a rare afternoon game, as they travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes. Last time the two teams played, Cal Clutterbuck scored an impossible goal for the overtime winner.
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