With half of the hockey world looked at yesterday, it's time to turn the attention to the West. Teams in the Western Conference may not have quite the star power of their Eastern counterparts, but that doesn't make them lesser teams. Quite the opposite, in fact, as many of the teams in the West are often viewed as being stronger, more physical, and better rounded. Of course, the West also currently houses the team that has become known more for its playoff collapses than for their in-season success.
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Colorado Avalanche
The San Jose Sharks spent the early part of the season looking like they were going to do exactly what Washington did in the East. However, instead of running away with the conference, the Sharks had to fend off some late pressure in the form of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Sharks are a team that has some fantastic forwards (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley), solid goaltender (Evgeni Nabokov), and consistent defense. Because the Sharks had a challenge to keep the top spot, they should be a little better prepared than in year's past.
The Colorado Avalanche, on the other hand, didn't know if they would be in the playoffs until an impressive shoot-out win capped an unbelievable season for them. Matt Duchesne, a rookie who is getting serious Calder Trophy consideration, has helped to power the Avalance to an over-achieving season. Too bad for Colorado that they won't be able to survive against the San Jose onslaught, as the Sharks will dispatch the Avalanche in 5.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #7 Nashville Predators
Chicago has to hope that this year is the year they take home the heavy hardware, because, with the salary cap, a number of players are going to be wearing different jerseys next season. The Blackhawks spent, and it allowed them to put together a very strong team. Obviously, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are expected to shoulder a lot of Chicago's offense, and Marian Hossa is hungry for his first championship, after coming in second two years in a row. The question for Chicago remains how their goaltending will hold up, as it's been the most suspect position for them on the ice.
The Nashville Predators, on the other hand, have just quietly gone about their business, and put together a nice season. In the East, they might even be looking at home-ice advantage, but the West is the tougher conference, and the Predators know it. However, Nashville has yet to win a playoff game on the road. They should pull one out this season, but don't be surprised to see the Blackhawks send the Predators home in 6.
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Los Angeles Kings
The Vancouver Canucks have the NHL's top scorer, his twin brother, and solid defense and goaltending. They also have a player who might be on the NHL's own hitlist, especially given the way that Alex Burrows called out NHL officiating earlier this season (admittedly, with more than a fair reason). The Canucks will have to avoid getting into penalty trouble, which could be tough for them. Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo needs to be stellar in net, and he has a tendency to become merely human in high-pressure games.
The Los Angeles Kings, much like the Chicago Blackhawks, are one of those teams full of youth, size, and speed. They play a style of hockey that fits more closely with that played in the Eastern Conference, and they can pepper the net with shots. The Kings will need to take advantage of the Canucks early, and give themselves chances right away, otherwise Vancouver will lock the game down with their defensive play. All told, though, the Kings should prove triumphant, defeating Vancouver in 7.
#4 Phoenix Coyotes vs #5 Detroit Red Wings
The Phoenix Coyotes come into the playoffs the NHL's most-improved team. After dismal showings in past seasons, Dave Tippett and his coaching staff turned the team around, and molded them into a strong playoff contender. Unfortunately, everything good that has come to the Coyotes has been tinged by wonderings about how much the league has affected the outcome of games for the team that they own. If Phoenix wasn't owned by the NHL, their achievements wouldn't even be suspect. As it is, the Coyotes are definitely coming into the playoffs much better than anyone gave them reason to expect.
Too bad that their running into the Detroit Red Wings. Earlier this season, the Red Wings looked like a team that wasn't going to even make the playoffs, or might sneak in with the #8 spot. Then injured players returned, the team allowed Jimmy Howard to become a star goaltender, and Detroit rattled off a fantastic close to the season. They enter the playoffs the NHL's hottest team, and they aren't looking to go home in the first round after coming in second last year, and winning it all the year before. Expect that Detroit will handle Phoenix in 5 games.
Showing posts with label Los Angeles Kings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Los Angeles Kings. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy-Six: Wild 3, Kings 2
With their post-season fate decided, the Minnesota Wild are in a position to play spoiler to other teams in the league. They did just that against a Los Angeles Kings team that is still in playoff positioning, but falling quickly. Even with the odds stacked heavily in the favor of the visiting team, the Wild just kept bearing down and they ended up pulling out something of a nail-biter.
It didn't have to be as close as it was. The Wild had a 2-0 lead, but they coughed it up to Los Angeles, who just kept driving. Minnesota also didn't help their case as the spent too much time marching to the penalty box, thereby shortening their bench and making it tougher than it needed to be. However, the defining moment of the game had to be the full two-minute 5-on-3 power play that the Kings had, as the Wild were bottled up in their own zone, unable to even get a line change, but they still stifled every chance that Los Angeles had. Shortly after that turn of events, the Wild got a power play of their own, and they converted it into the game winner.
Game pluses:
- Greg Zanon. Already playing on a broken ankle, Greg Zanon just continues to work, and he blocked another 6 shots against the Kings, including one to a tender area. He was one of the big reasons why the Wild didn't give up a goal during either of their extended 3-on-5 stints.
- Brent Burns. Sometimes, Burns tries too hard to make things happen. Other times, he just lets the game develop around him, and his goal to put the Wild up by two is a prime example of the second. When Burns is feeling the game, amazing things seem to come naturally.
- Niklas Backstrom. It would be tough to find too much at fault with Backstrom's game. He also stepped up at the exact right moment, being the team's best penalty killer.
Game minuses:
- Discipline. The Wild should be used to the fact that calls aren't going to go their way by now. That also means that they should take extra effort to not get themselves into positions where a questionable penalty could be called. Both 5-on-3 power plays could have been avoided if the Wild had been more conscious of their own play.
- Casey Wellman. Eventually, the kid had to have a rough outing, and that game came against the Kings. Wellman is also the type of player who should do better with more ice time, and the dynamic of the game lead him to sitting on the bench quite a bit.
- Marek Zidlicky. Yes, he was questionable before the game. Yes, he gritted it out and played anyways, showing some skill. But he was also one of the more undisciplined Wild players, and he was in the penalty box during both of the 2-man power plays that the Kings secured.
Next up: The Wild will face a team that is fast, powerful, and looking to take home-ice advantage. It's also a team that let Minnesota crawl back and steal a victory after leading them by four goals, as the Wild look to take down the Chicago Blackhawks.
It didn't have to be as close as it was. The Wild had a 2-0 lead, but they coughed it up to Los Angeles, who just kept driving. Minnesota also didn't help their case as the spent too much time marching to the penalty box, thereby shortening their bench and making it tougher than it needed to be. However, the defining moment of the game had to be the full two-minute 5-on-3 power play that the Kings had, as the Wild were bottled up in their own zone, unable to even get a line change, but they still stifled every chance that Los Angeles had. Shortly after that turn of events, the Wild got a power play of their own, and they converted it into the game winner.
Game pluses:
- Greg Zanon. Already playing on a broken ankle, Greg Zanon just continues to work, and he blocked another 6 shots against the Kings, including one to a tender area. He was one of the big reasons why the Wild didn't give up a goal during either of their extended 3-on-5 stints.
- Brent Burns. Sometimes, Burns tries too hard to make things happen. Other times, he just lets the game develop around him, and his goal to put the Wild up by two is a prime example of the second. When Burns is feeling the game, amazing things seem to come naturally.
- Niklas Backstrom. It would be tough to find too much at fault with Backstrom's game. He also stepped up at the exact right moment, being the team's best penalty killer.
Game minuses:
- Discipline. The Wild should be used to the fact that calls aren't going to go their way by now. That also means that they should take extra effort to not get themselves into positions where a questionable penalty could be called. Both 5-on-3 power plays could have been avoided if the Wild had been more conscious of their own play.
- Casey Wellman. Eventually, the kid had to have a rough outing, and that game came against the Kings. Wellman is also the type of player who should do better with more ice time, and the dynamic of the game lead him to sitting on the bench quite a bit.
- Marek Zidlicky. Yes, he was questionable before the game. Yes, he gritted it out and played anyways, showing some skill. But he was also one of the more undisciplined Wild players, and he was in the penalty box during both of the 2-man power plays that the Kings secured.
Next up: The Wild will face a team that is fast, powerful, and looking to take home-ice advantage. It's also a team that let Minnesota crawl back and steal a victory after leading them by four goals, as the Wild look to take down the Chicago Blackhawks.
Monday, March 29, 2010
2009-10 Game Seventy-Five: Wild 2, Red Wings 6
If this hockey season were a Hollywood movie, the Minnesota Wild would have knocked off the Detroit Red Wings, along the way to an improbable spot in the playoffs. They would have skated hard and at least matched their 2003 appearance with a series for the right to play for the Cup. No matter the injuries, they would have just kept pushing, and would have found a way to win against seemingly insurmountable odds.
Hollywood is busy looking at Phoenix right now.
Meanwhile, the Wild found themselves up against a team trying to keep themselves in the playoff picture, but also a team that doesn't look like your typical #8 seed. The Detroit Red Wings are firing on most, if not all, of their cylinders right now, and it was a bad time for Minnesota to come to town, especially with both of their goaltenders banged up, and their captain sidelined. The Wild struggled to keep themselves in the game, but four goals in the second period put an end to their hopes, as they slunk off to a lopsided defeat.
Game pluses:
- Justin Falk. The Wild rookie barely played in his first game, and took a brutal hit to the head. He returned against Detroit, and played well in limited ice-time. With the Wild's deep defense, getting Falk some playing time now will only help him in the future.
- Owen Nolan. For a guy who might be in the twilight of his career, Nolan comes to play night-in and night-out, and he notched another goal for the Wild.
- Grit. A number of players were in the game, despite injuries that should have kept them on the bench or in the press box. When the season's on the line, sometimes that level of grit can go a long way.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. The flip side to playing with grit, is that sometimes players will insert themselves even though they can't perform. That describes fairly well the game Josh Harding played, and he may have put himself out for the remainder of the season because of it.
- Discipline. The Wild marched to the penalty box all night long. While not all of the penalties were as clear and obvious, they were the types of calls that have gone against Minnesota all season, and the team should be aware of how the officials are going to work their games.
- Antti Miettinen. How many times can one player have a beautiful scoring chance, and completely miss the net? Miettinen did it again against Detroit, and it almost directly created Detroit's short-handed goal.
Next up: The banged-up Wild are now just playing out the remainder of the season, and may get to play spoilers for playoff teams. They return home to play the Los Angeles Kings.
Hollywood is busy looking at Phoenix right now.
Meanwhile, the Wild found themselves up against a team trying to keep themselves in the playoff picture, but also a team that doesn't look like your typical #8 seed. The Detroit Red Wings are firing on most, if not all, of their cylinders right now, and it was a bad time for Minnesota to come to town, especially with both of their goaltenders banged up, and their captain sidelined. The Wild struggled to keep themselves in the game, but four goals in the second period put an end to their hopes, as they slunk off to a lopsided defeat.
Game pluses:
- Justin Falk. The Wild rookie barely played in his first game, and took a brutal hit to the head. He returned against Detroit, and played well in limited ice-time. With the Wild's deep defense, getting Falk some playing time now will only help him in the future.
- Owen Nolan. For a guy who might be in the twilight of his career, Nolan comes to play night-in and night-out, and he notched another goal for the Wild.
- Grit. A number of players were in the game, despite injuries that should have kept them on the bench or in the press box. When the season's on the line, sometimes that level of grit can go a long way.
Game minuses:
- Injuries. The flip side to playing with grit, is that sometimes players will insert themselves even though they can't perform. That describes fairly well the game Josh Harding played, and he may have put himself out for the remainder of the season because of it.
- Discipline. The Wild marched to the penalty box all night long. While not all of the penalties were as clear and obvious, they were the types of calls that have gone against Minnesota all season, and the team should be aware of how the officials are going to work their games.
- Antti Miettinen. How many times can one player have a beautiful scoring chance, and completely miss the net? Miettinen did it again against Detroit, and it almost directly created Detroit's short-handed goal.
Next up: The banged-up Wild are now just playing out the remainder of the season, and may get to play spoilers for playoff teams. They return home to play the Los Angeles Kings.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-One: Wild 2, Kings 5
With a chance to make December 2009 the winningest month in their ten year history, the Minnesota Wild came out flat twice in a row. First, taking on an Anaheim Duck team that has been ripe for the pickings all season long. Then, after failing to get the win in Anaheim, the Wild returned home, had a day of rest, and prepared to face a Los Angeles Kings team that was in the middle of a four-game losing streak, and had to play a brutal game the night before in Calgary.
Maybe someone should have told the Wild that, because they came out with no jump, no skating ability, and they continued to have serious problems passing the puck. For a team that had started to put things together and was moving in the right direction, their last two games, with flat efforts, showed just how far the team really has to go before they can consider themselves among the NHL's elite.
Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. One of the few Wild players to get some offensive chances, Nolan was able to convert one.
- Petr Sykora. It was good to see Sykora back on the ice, and he had some chances at the net. It's obvious that his hands aren't back yet, but he should be able to soon give the Wild a bit of help on the scoring end.
- Derek Boogaard. Oddly enough, the Wild's enforcer had some of the best looks at the net, and was one of the strongest defensive forwards all game long. Boogaard may not have his goal yet, but he's getting much closer.
Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. Three goals allowed in the first period. Another very early on in the second. It was surprising that Backstrom didn't get replaced.
- Kim Johnsson. Johnsson was one of a few players on the ice for most of the Kings goals, but his positioning and the defensive choices he made certainly didn't help an already shaky goaltender keep the team in the game.
- Opportunity. The Wild didn't have a lot of chances, and it seemed like the refs went out of their way to keep more from piling up, but, all told, the Wild just didn't take care of the chances that they did get. From missing the net to just not taking a shot at all, Minnesota needs to find ways to make ugly hockey work for them.
Next up: The Wild have no time to rest, as former coach Jacques Lemaire brings his new squad to town. The Wild take on the New Jersey Devils Saturday night.
Maybe someone should have told the Wild that, because they came out with no jump, no skating ability, and they continued to have serious problems passing the puck. For a team that had started to put things together and was moving in the right direction, their last two games, with flat efforts, showed just how far the team really has to go before they can consider themselves among the NHL's elite.
Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. One of the few Wild players to get some offensive chances, Nolan was able to convert one.
- Petr Sykora. It was good to see Sykora back on the ice, and he had some chances at the net. It's obvious that his hands aren't back yet, but he should be able to soon give the Wild a bit of help on the scoring end.
- Derek Boogaard. Oddly enough, the Wild's enforcer had some of the best looks at the net, and was one of the strongest defensive forwards all game long. Boogaard may not have his goal yet, but he's getting much closer.
Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. Three goals allowed in the first period. Another very early on in the second. It was surprising that Backstrom didn't get replaced.
- Kim Johnsson. Johnsson was one of a few players on the ice for most of the Kings goals, but his positioning and the defensive choices he made certainly didn't help an already shaky goaltender keep the team in the game.
- Opportunity. The Wild didn't have a lot of chances, and it seemed like the refs went out of their way to keep more from piling up, but, all told, the Wild just didn't take care of the chances that they did get. From missing the net to just not taking a shot at all, Minnesota needs to find ways to make ugly hockey work for them.
Next up: The Wild have no time to rest, as former coach Jacques Lemaire brings his new squad to town. The Wild take on the New Jersey Devils Saturday night.
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.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
2009-10 Game Thirty-Nine: Wild 4, Kings 3
The way the first two periods were going, it certainly looked like the Wild were going to coast to their first victory over Los Angeles in six tries. Then the third period started, the entire game shifted, and it started to look like Minnesota was going to come down on the wrong side of a one-goal game.
It's amazing what twelve seconds can do.
That's how long it took the Wild to turn around from tying the game to taking back the lead, and, this time, not giving it up. The Wild have played more one-goal games than anyone else in the league, and they seem to keep finding ways to win them. Even when the game started slipping away, the Wild were able to keep enough composure to put the puck back into the net, and they head into the second half of the back-to-back tonight with an impressive victory.
Game pluses:
- Eric Belanger. Just a game ago, Belanger looked like nothing more than a face-off specialist. Against the Kings, Belanger lit the lamp twice, and assisted on Martin Havlat's opening goal. Belanger scored the game winner just seconds after being on the ice for the Kings tying goal.
- Martin Havlat. Taking a great poke check from Belanger, Havlat turned up the ice and fired a quick wrist shot that blew through to the Kings net. The opening goal put a little more jump into the Wild, and helped them carry the first two periods.
- Andrew Brunette. Just watching his pass on the power play goal is mesmerizing. Brunette is starting to find the open spots, and appears to be the third Wild player to get a really good grasp of the team's offensive system.
Game minuses:
- Officiating. Once again, the officiating fell short in the game. Not only did they count a goal that should have been wiped out because of goaltender interference, but they didn't keep control, which almost certainly created a much chippier atmosphere in the final period.
- Kim Johnsson. Yes, he scored a power play goal, giving himself a two-game goal streak. He also deflected a harmless shot past his own goaltender. Again, Johnsson showed a lack of awareness for spacing on the ice, and his own positioning again came into question.
- Antti Miettinen. Maybe the guy's just snakebit, but how can one player hit so many posts and not get a shot into the net? True, he's beating the opposing goalies, but he hasn't been able to do anything more than ring the iron. Looks like he needs to work some target shooting in practice.
Next up: If the Wild played in the East, they'd be firmly entrenched in the playoff positioning, as opposed to still trying to crack the top 8, in spite of their recent success. Tonight, they try to keep things moving in the right direction when they take on the Anaheim Ducks.
It's amazing what twelve seconds can do.
That's how long it took the Wild to turn around from tying the game to taking back the lead, and, this time, not giving it up. The Wild have played more one-goal games than anyone else in the league, and they seem to keep finding ways to win them. Even when the game started slipping away, the Wild were able to keep enough composure to put the puck back into the net, and they head into the second half of the back-to-back tonight with an impressive victory.
Game pluses:
- Eric Belanger. Just a game ago, Belanger looked like nothing more than a face-off specialist. Against the Kings, Belanger lit the lamp twice, and assisted on Martin Havlat's opening goal. Belanger scored the game winner just seconds after being on the ice for the Kings tying goal.
- Martin Havlat. Taking a great poke check from Belanger, Havlat turned up the ice and fired a quick wrist shot that blew through to the Kings net. The opening goal put a little more jump into the Wild, and helped them carry the first two periods.
- Andrew Brunette. Just watching his pass on the power play goal is mesmerizing. Brunette is starting to find the open spots, and appears to be the third Wild player to get a really good grasp of the team's offensive system.
Game minuses:
- Officiating. Once again, the officiating fell short in the game. Not only did they count a goal that should have been wiped out because of goaltender interference, but they didn't keep control, which almost certainly created a much chippier atmosphere in the final period.
- Kim Johnsson. Yes, he scored a power play goal, giving himself a two-game goal streak. He also deflected a harmless shot past his own goaltender. Again, Johnsson showed a lack of awareness for spacing on the ice, and his own positioning again came into question.
- Antti Miettinen. Maybe the guy's just snakebit, but how can one player hit so many posts and not get a shot into the net? True, he's beating the opposing goalies, but he hasn't been able to do anything more than ring the iron. Looks like he needs to work some target shooting in practice.
Next up: If the Wild played in the East, they'd be firmly entrenched in the playoff positioning, as opposed to still trying to crack the top 8, in spite of their recent success. Tonight, they try to keep things moving in the right direction when they take on the Anaheim Ducks.
Monday, December 28, 2009
2009-10 Game Thirty-Eight: Wild 4, Blues 3
The stockings may have been hung by the chimney, and sugar plums may have danced in people's heads, but, in the NHL, Christmas means some time away from the ice. However, barely a week removed from the bizarre equipment fire, the Minnesota Wild had one more gift left to give to their fans, and was delivered by one of the newest faces in the building, as the Wild skated to a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues.
The game itself was fast, hard-hitting, and featured some things that wouldn't have been predicted before the puck hit the ice. With recent history as a guide, who would have guessed that the Wild would score first? Who could have predicted that the defensemen would be so active? And yet, the Wild did just that, and they kept the pressure on a St. Louis team that had recently been trouncing Northwest Division opponents.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. A change of scenery has done "The Tenderness" wonders, as he has put up 6 goals since coming to the Wild, including two goals against the Blues.
- Kim Johnsson. The much-maligned Wild defenseman (especially here, admittedly) turned in a terrific performance against St. Louis, even without his stellar play to create his own goal.
- Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky was active all night, moving the puck well, stick handling when needed, and finding the open man. Latendresse may have scored the game winner, but Zidlicky set him up with great plays.
Game minuses:
- Nick Schultz. Schultz got victimized on Blues goals, getting turned inside out. He was out of position more than a few times, and St. Louis capitalized on it.
- Cal Clutterbuck. Sometimes, Clutterbuck's willingness to hit anything he gets in his sights works against him, as it did when the Blues scored during a 4-on-4 stretch of hockey. Clutterbuck connected with a Blues player, but it completely removed him from the play, and set up St. Louis for a quick rush.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger is a face-off specialist, but, after the puck was dropped, he became a detriment. He seems to be trying to accomplish some of the same things that Mikko Koivu is doing, but he seems to be trying to do them without Koivu's awareness or skill.
Next up: The Wild take a quick trip to California, starting tonight against the Los Angeles Kings.
The game itself was fast, hard-hitting, and featured some things that wouldn't have been predicted before the puck hit the ice. With recent history as a guide, who would have guessed that the Wild would score first? Who could have predicted that the defensemen would be so active? And yet, the Wild did just that, and they kept the pressure on a St. Louis team that had recently been trouncing Northwest Division opponents.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. A change of scenery has done "The Tenderness" wonders, as he has put up 6 goals since coming to the Wild, including two goals against the Blues.
- Kim Johnsson. The much-maligned Wild defenseman (especially here, admittedly) turned in a terrific performance against St. Louis, even without his stellar play to create his own goal.
- Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky was active all night, moving the puck well, stick handling when needed, and finding the open man. Latendresse may have scored the game winner, but Zidlicky set him up with great plays.
Game minuses:
- Nick Schultz. Schultz got victimized on Blues goals, getting turned inside out. He was out of position more than a few times, and St. Louis capitalized on it.
- Cal Clutterbuck. Sometimes, Clutterbuck's willingness to hit anything he gets in his sights works against him, as it did when the Blues scored during a 4-on-4 stretch of hockey. Clutterbuck connected with a Blues player, but it completely removed him from the play, and set up St. Louis for a quick rush.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger is a face-off specialist, but, after the puck was dropped, he became a detriment. He seems to be trying to accomplish some of the same things that Mikko Koivu is doing, but he seems to be trying to do them without Koivu's awareness or skill.
Next up: The Wild take a quick trip to California, starting tonight against the Los Angeles Kings.
Friday, October 9, 2009
2009-10 Game Three: Wild 3, Kings 6
It's going to be a long month. After a thrilling come-from-behind victory in their home opener, the Minnesota Wild departed on a long road trip. Their first stop? Staples Center, where they took on the Los Angeles Kings. At least, that was the story for the day yesterday. Once the puck was dropped, it became clear that a different story was happening, as the Wild's biggest opponent seemed to be themselves.
Los Angeles didn't need long to jump out to a lead, scoring a little over a minute into the game, and they got another two before the end of the first period. Throughout the period, the Wild looked like they were skating through molasses, and, even worse, it appeared as though they'd checked their hockey knowledge, and it was headed on to the next stop. Things improved slightly in the second period, but by that point, it was too late, as the closest the Wild got was being down 4-3 before collapsing again at the end of the game.
Game pluses:
- Second period. If only the Wild hadn't taken twenty minutes to wake up. The second period showcased a Wild team that was intense, quick, and creative with the puck.
- Power play. The Wild scored with the man advantage, and almost was able to turn the tide. The power play moved the puck well, until it became clear that any effort was futile.
- Faceoffs. One area that Wild really struggled in last year was in winning the face-off. They did a good job of taking the puck initially against the Kings, but gave it up far too readily.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. While Harding didn't have a lot of help from his defense, he needed to put together a solid start, especially this early in the season. He failed to do so, and never looked like he had any business putting the pads on.
- Kim Johnsson. True, Johnsson scored a goal, bringing the Wild to within one. However, he also was responsible for at least one, if not two, of the goals scored by the Kings. Watching him almost fall after bumping into his own goaltender was painful.
- Benoit Pouliot. Taking the minus originally reserved for the first period, Pouliot showed a distinct lack of drive yet again last night. The kid has talent, but he has yet to put it together on the ice. How much longer will he wear a Wild sweater, especially given his lack of desire to play any sort of defense, and how it led to Kings tallies.
Next up: The Wild travel up the coast to San Jose, where they'll take on Todd Richard's old team, the Sharks, who are led by Joe Thornton and newly acquired Dany Heatley.
Los Angeles didn't need long to jump out to a lead, scoring a little over a minute into the game, and they got another two before the end of the first period. Throughout the period, the Wild looked like they were skating through molasses, and, even worse, it appeared as though they'd checked their hockey knowledge, and it was headed on to the next stop. Things improved slightly in the second period, but by that point, it was too late, as the closest the Wild got was being down 4-3 before collapsing again at the end of the game.
Game pluses:
- Second period. If only the Wild hadn't taken twenty minutes to wake up. The second period showcased a Wild team that was intense, quick, and creative with the puck.
- Power play. The Wild scored with the man advantage, and almost was able to turn the tide. The power play moved the puck well, until it became clear that any effort was futile.
- Faceoffs. One area that Wild really struggled in last year was in winning the face-off. They did a good job of taking the puck initially against the Kings, but gave it up far too readily.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. While Harding didn't have a lot of help from his defense, he needed to put together a solid start, especially this early in the season. He failed to do so, and never looked like he had any business putting the pads on.
- Kim Johnsson. True, Johnsson scored a goal, bringing the Wild to within one. However, he also was responsible for at least one, if not two, of the goals scored by the Kings. Watching him almost fall after bumping into his own goaltender was painful.
- Benoit Pouliot. Taking the minus originally reserved for the first period, Pouliot showed a distinct lack of drive yet again last night. The kid has talent, but he has yet to put it together on the ice. How much longer will he wear a Wild sweater, especially given his lack of desire to play any sort of defense, and how it led to Kings tallies.
Next up: The Wild travel up the coast to San Jose, where they'll take on Todd Richard's old team, the Sharks, who are led by Joe Thornton and newly acquired Dany Heatley.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
2009-10 Game Two: Wild 4, Ducks 3 (OT)
Maybe the Minnesota Wild were too busy watching the Minnesota Twins during the first period to put together a sustained rush. Maybe they were too hyped up from watching their crosstown neighbors achieve the highly improbable for them to remember that they were playing their home opener until after they found themselves down 3-0.
Maybe all they needed was a good fight.
The Minnesota Wild entered their home opener with a record of 7-0-1, and they were hoping to extend it. They were also excited to show the hometown crowd what the new look Wild was going to be like. For two periods, it didn't look good. While part of the problem is still not having a good grasp on the system, the rest of the problem was more about not having a good grasp on hockey fundamentals. It wasn't until after the Ducks had beaten Niklas Backstrom three times that they stood up and paid attention. Not that Backstrom could have done much against any of those goals, as he was caught in a perfect storm of great shots and lousy defense.
Leave it to a player who almost didn't make the roster to change the tone, and then a player that was heralded as the new Wild savior to take control and put the pressure on. After John Scott and Martin Havlat turned the momentum, all the Wild needed to do was play the type of hockey Todd Richards has been hoping for from the first drop of the puck, and it resulted in an overtime winner for Minnesota.
Game pluses:
- John Scott. The big man stood up to another giant in the beginning of the third, getting into a fight with George Parros. Impressively, Scott knocked Parros to the ice, and the Wild took the energy from that confrontation to find their legs and change the game.
- Martin Havlat. Showcasing some of his puck handling skills, Havlat took control of the game, and notched the first assist on all three of the Wild's third period goals.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger finished the game between Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, and brought a goal and two assists along with him. The veteran may be fighting to stay in Minnesota, and more periods like the third will only help.
Game minuses:
- Eric Belanger. The guy had a fantastic third period, but was very below average before that. Thankfully, he put it all together, but he has to start playing the right style earlier.
- Passing. Far too often, Wild passes went straight to Duck players, or worse, straight to open ice with nobody to take advantage of it. The first two periods also featured far too many passes for each shot.
- Defense. Watching the first and second period, it appeared that the Wild defense forgot who to cover, and just chased the puck instead. Again, they tightened up for the third, but the Wild aren't yet a team that can hope for too many come-from-behind victories.
Next up: The Wild leave the friendly ice of the Xcel Energy Center again, this time for two weeks as they head to their next game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
Maybe all they needed was a good fight.
The Minnesota Wild entered their home opener with a record of 7-0-1, and they were hoping to extend it. They were also excited to show the hometown crowd what the new look Wild was going to be like. For two periods, it didn't look good. While part of the problem is still not having a good grasp on the system, the rest of the problem was more about not having a good grasp on hockey fundamentals. It wasn't until after the Ducks had beaten Niklas Backstrom three times that they stood up and paid attention. Not that Backstrom could have done much against any of those goals, as he was caught in a perfect storm of great shots and lousy defense.
Leave it to a player who almost didn't make the roster to change the tone, and then a player that was heralded as the new Wild savior to take control and put the pressure on. After John Scott and Martin Havlat turned the momentum, all the Wild needed to do was play the type of hockey Todd Richards has been hoping for from the first drop of the puck, and it resulted in an overtime winner for Minnesota.
Game pluses:
- John Scott. The big man stood up to another giant in the beginning of the third, getting into a fight with George Parros. Impressively, Scott knocked Parros to the ice, and the Wild took the energy from that confrontation to find their legs and change the game.
- Martin Havlat. Showcasing some of his puck handling skills, Havlat took control of the game, and notched the first assist on all three of the Wild's third period goals.
- Eric Belanger. Belanger finished the game between Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, and brought a goal and two assists along with him. The veteran may be fighting to stay in Minnesota, and more periods like the third will only help.
Game minuses:
- Eric Belanger. The guy had a fantastic third period, but was very below average before that. Thankfully, he put it all together, but he has to start playing the right style earlier.
- Passing. Far too often, Wild passes went straight to Duck players, or worse, straight to open ice with nobody to take advantage of it. The first two periods also featured far too many passes for each shot.
- Defense. Watching the first and second period, it appeared that the Wild defense forgot who to cover, and just chased the puck instead. Again, they tightened up for the third, but the Wild aren't yet a team that can hope for too many come-from-behind victories.
Next up: The Wild leave the friendly ice of the Xcel Energy Center again, this time for two weeks as they head to their next game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
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