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

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

Hollywood is busy looking at Phoenix right now.

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

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

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

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

2009-10 Game Sixty-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.

Game pluses:

- 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

2009-10 Game Sixty-Three: Wild 1, Oilers 2 (SO)

If this game had happened earlier in the season, or if the Minnesota Wild were higher in the standings, they might have been able to take some consolation from pulling a point out of a game they were outplayed. Unfortunately, the final stretch of the season is underway, the Wild find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture, and they couldn't gather any momentum when playing against the NHL's worst team.

The Edmonton Oilers came out looking to play a physical style of hockey, and they seemed to shock the Wild into making foolish plays. Two nights after Minnesota had all of the momentum against the Calgary Flames, they couldn't connect on plays against Edmonton. The Oilers took the game to the Wild all night long, and Minnesota had their work cut out for them. Even some highlight reel plays by Wild players couldn't swing the game in their favor, and now the Wild find themselves further back, thanks to the Detroit Red Wings winning in convincing fashion.

Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. How pretty was Latendresse's 21st goal of the season? On one of the few plays where the Wild skated like they could, Latendresse was able to beat Edmonton players on the way to a beautiful goal, and he had other opportunities throughout the night.
- Owen Nolan. He may be the oldest player the Wild have, but he's also one that exemplifies a lack of quit. Nolan was a player who had great chances all night, and he created a lot of them himself, not getting a lot of help from teammates.
- Derek Boogaard. True, he was involved in a hit that might lead to a suspension, but, aside from that, Boogaard was actually creating havoc in the offensive zone, through good puck play. Boogaard provided a forecheck, and had some great steals, trying to spark his team.

Game minuses:
- 60 minute game. If the Wild had played a full sixty minutes, they wouldn't have had to worry about the additional five, or the shootout. The Wild just didn't have it, and they didn't deserve to win.
- Passing. When the Wild connected on a pass, it created a play. Unfortunately, most of the night they couldn't make the tape-to-tape pass. Even more unfortunately, too often shots were passed up in favor of trying to pass. Given how the Wild was moving the puck, they should have resorted to shooting more, and digging for rebounds.
- Officiating. No questions about it, the officials still seem to be on their Olympic break. This game started getting out of hand, especially given that Edmonton has nothing to lose, and very little (aside from team identity) to gain. And yet, penalties for both sides were ignored, including situations that were almost carbon copies for situations that have led to suspensions earlier this season.

Next up: The Wild look to rebound, as they find themselves facing the Calgary Flames again, with a game coming up on Sunday afternoon.

2009-10 Game Sixty-Two: Wild 4, Flames 0

Now that the Olympics are a memory, the NHL was able to return to its business this week. The Minnesota Wild, with three freshly-minted bronze medal winners, had a little extra rest before they headed to Calgary, to take on a Flames team that has historically knocked the Wild around. There were definitely questions as to how the Wild would play. Would this be the same time that soundly defeated the Vancouver Canucks on Valentine's Day? Or would this be the team that struggled through so many points of this season? Only one thing was crystal clear, and was made so during the team's morning skate. This would not be a team including Eric Belanger any more.

Mere hours after trading the player who has been their best face-off man this season, the Wild dominated that stat against the Flames almost 2-to-1, and used that, along with some very well-placed shots, to derail the Flames, and climb to within four points of the final playoff spot. The Wild know that the road ahead of them is a tough one, but the team is obviously not willing to give up, and, for the first time in franchise history, the Wild have beaten the Flames four times in a row. They have a chance to make it five this weekend, but first, they'll be travelling to Edmonton.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain didn't even meet the team until they arrived in Calgary, but that didn't stop him from being all over the ice. Koivu was a dominant force, and he contributed offensively (two points) and defensively (bailing out his goaltender on a couple of rebound chances).
-Owen Nolan. A player that many felt may have been set up to move at the trade deadline instead chose to stay with Minnesota, and his career has given him the respect to do that. He responded with a big game, helping create the Wild's first goal, and providing the veteran grit that the Wild will need down the road.
- Niklas Backstrom. Sure, the start of the game looked a little shaky, and the Wild had to bail out their goaltender, but then Backstrom settled down and made some huge saves on the way to his second shutout of the season.

Game minuses:
- Officiating. Maybe the officials were still on an Olympic break. Absolutely no penalties called until Greg Zanon played the puck with a broken stick? The only other penalty coming on a retaliatory crosscheck? True, the game was fairly clean, but for only two penalties to be called all game long means that the officials weren't quite watching the same contest.
- Shots. The Wild won the game 4-0 with some good offense, so why complain about the shots? Because they didn't take enough of them as the game wore on. In fact, for parts of the second period, they looked like they were Team USA skating against Team Finland. The difference was that Team USA had amassed a six-goal lead, and Team Wild was clinging to a one-goal edge.
- Shane Hnidy. With so much of the Wild defense playing so incredibly well against Calgary, any one making more than a few puck-handling miscues got notice. That one against the Flames was Hnidy, who just couldn't seem to get a handle on the puck through much of the game.

Next up: The Wild look to see if they can keep their roll going against their divisional opponents Friday night, as they take on the Edmonton Oilers.

Olympic break and looking ahead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-10 Game Fifty-Eight: Wild 2, Flyers 1

During the recent game against the Edmonton Oilers, a little known Minnesota Wild player got his name etched into the record books. Anton Khudobin, in his first NHL experience, was able to secure his first win with under ten minutes played, becoming the fastest goalie to reach that mark. He got to follow up that appearance with his first NHL start, against a tough Philadelphia Flyers team, and he couldn't have done much more to impress his teammates.

While Khudobin was solid all game long, the rest of the Wild seemed like they were having difficulty getting things going. The first period, the Wild were lucky to have escaped with a tie game, and while things balanced out in the second, the third period showed a surprising lack of drive, as the Wild didn't really apply the pressure to extend their lead, and give their unorthodox netminder a bit of a cushion. At the end of the game, though, the Wild were the ones celebrating, adding another one-goal win to their record, and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Game pluses:
- Anton Khudobin. Khudobin played solidly against Edmonton, but he only had to face 9 shots. He faced twice as many as that in the first period of the game against the Flyers, and was solid. True, he coughed up a lot of rebounds, but he tended to direct them to safe areas of the ice.
- Owen Nolan. The stats keepers for the game must have thought that Nolan scared the puck to Cal Clutterbuck for the Wild's first goal, since he somehow missed getting an assist. However, his goal and his second period take-down definitely helped lead the Wild to victory.
- Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck showed good awareness, crashing the net at the right time, to tie his goal total from last season.

Game minuses:
- Slow start. When you've got an untested goaltender and you desperately need points in the standings, you can't generally turn in a period like the Wild did for the first twenty minutes of the game. They survived, and Khudobin bailed them out, but it could have gotten scary.
- Physicality. The Wild almost seemed to shy away from the Flyers, even when bowling ball Cal Clutterbuck, or wrecking ball Derek Boogaard were on the ice. Nolan's tackle of Scott Hartnell aside, the Wild almost looked content to take the hits, rather than deliver them.
- Defensive decisions. The Wild defense was sharp most of the game. However, misplayed pucks or baffling passes popped up intermittently throughout the game, with one of the most noticable being a pass from Marek Zidlicky back to Khudobin. The biggest problem? Zidlicky was in the offensive zone at the time.

Next up: The Wild can rest for a couple of days before they welcome the Phoenix Coyotes to town on Wednesday night.

2009-10 Game Fifty-Five: Wild 2, Sharks 5

On Saturday night, the Minnesota Wild skated into San Jose. As long as the play stayed even strength, the Wild had enough to play with the Sharks, and possibly even beat them. Unfortunately, Minnesota gave up too many power plays, and San Jose took advantage, proving why they are one of the best teams in the league yet again.

For awhile, at least, it looked like Minnesota was going to get the better of San Jose. The Wild were working hard, limiting Sharks chances, and getting some opportunities of their own. Even with a banged-up goaltender, the Wild were doing a fairly good job of keeping San Jose out of the net. That is, they were doing a good job even strength. The first six goals scored in the game were scored with the man advantage, and, while Minnesota may have been called for some questionable penalties, they didn't do enough while on the penalty kill to shut down the Sharks, or the league's goal-scoring leader.

Game pluses:
- Power play. In a weird game, the Wild scored twice on the power play, and got good opportunities on other chances. However, when you give up four power play goals, even clicking twice just isn't enough.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak had a great feed to set up Cal Clutterbuck's tenth goal of the season, and his work on both sides of the ice helped hold the Wild in as long as they lasted.
- Owen Nolan. The veteran consistently brings everything he can to the ice. A game after taking a shot off of the wrist, Nolan got set up and fired a pretty wrist shot for the first goal of the game.

Game minuses:
- Penalty kill. This goes without saying, but giving up a franchise-record 4 power play goals? The Wild were just disjointed while a man down, and spent too much time chasing the puck.
- Shots. The Wild took plenty of shots during the game. They just didn't get enough really high-quality shots on the net.
- Luck. Sometimes, you have to make your own luck, and the good teams in the league tend to do that. This is an area where Minnesota has often struggled, as either a fluky bounce ends up in their own net, a puck just can't get shoveled into the opponent's open net, questionable penalties, or posts hit. Still, the Wild had chances until the fourth Sharks goal took the wind out of their sails, and, if they had been able to create a little of their own luck, the outcome might have been very different.

Next up: The Wild head to Dallas for a Groundhog's Day game against the Stars.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009-10 Game Forty-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.

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.

2009-10 Game Thirty-Seven: Wild 3, Oilers 1

What a way to enter the two-day holiday break. After suffering through a fire and some rough losses, the Minnesota Wild needed something to get them back on track. It couldn't have worked out better for Minnesota to draw a game against the Edmonton Oilers, in the arena that they've dominated Edmonton in ever since Niklas Backstrom first wore a Wild jersey.

Things didn't go as planned, but, over the last week, how much really has. Backstrom, wearing some new gear thanks to the Ottawa fire, finally looked like the player he was before the accident, and the Wild gave him enough support on the front end to take the game. Edmonton kept the contest close, but they couldn't get any more shots into the net, and the Wild took advantage of the narrow openings that they could. Meanwhile, a recent call-up, Clayton Stoner, set the tone early with a convincing fight, and may be on the way to edging out some of the Wild's other defensemen.

Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. The Wild's resident Irishman was not going to be denied a goal. Chance after chance came to Nolan's stick, and he kept getting thwarted. That is, until he showed a little extra patience and roofed a backhander.
- Guillaume Latendresse. For a guy who was just recovering from the flu, Latendresse played a very strong game. He was creating chances, and was eventually rewarded with an empty-net goal.
- Clayton Stoner. This spot almost went to Mikko Koivu, but it was Stoner who really turned in a fantastic game, and, as mentioned above, set the tone early with a fight. If Stoner keeps playing the way he has, a roster spot might just be his for the taking.

Game minuses:
- Kim Johnsson. A few too many times, Johnsson passed the puck either straight to an Oilers player, or to an open spot where nobody was nearby. For an offensive defenseman, he isn't showcasing the playmaking ability that he was heralded for.
- Eric Belanger. Maybe he's coming down with the flu again, but Belanger looks like he's skating through molasses. He doesn't have the same speed he did in previous seasons, and his puck handling has suffered because of it.
- Power play. True, the Wild got a power play goal. But it was also on the only power play where the team decided to shoot at the net from everywhere on the ice. Most of the time, too many passes lead to a lack of shots, and the Wild need to stop looking for the perfect play. Sometimes, ugly hockey is enough.

Next up: The Wild, and the NHL as a whole, have the next two days off for the Christmas holiday, but they return to action against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.

2009-10 Game Thirty-Six: Wild 3, Avalanche 4

There's no place like home, and, after the way the most recent road trip ended up, the Minnesota Wild had to be happy to return to their arena. They also got the benefit of playing against an opponent that they've had the number of over the last few years, including a 4-0 mark against this season. It was bound to help shake some of the problems lingering from Ottawa.

Well, maybe the Wild took Colorado for granted. Maybe the players still don't have their heads fully in the game. One thing that is certain is that the Wild didn't put together much of an effort as a team until the third period, and that they actively worked to cripple themselves. Of course, it also didn't help that the officials didn't do a lot to control the game at the start, and, by the time that the game became a physical contest (one which took the Wild out of their own heads), it was too late for the refs to do anything more than call a few weak penalties. Unfortunately, a fair number of those went against Minnesota, including one simply because #24 was the one doing the hitting.

Game pluses:
- Clayton Stoner. The kid can definitely play with the big boys, and got to prove that for the first time in front of the home fans. Aside from his physical play, Stoner also delivered the beautiful pass creating Martin Havlat's goal, and almost put a shot in for the tying marker.
- Owen Nolan. Give the veteran a lot of credit for a patient goal, and for playing well in his return from injury. The biggest thing that Nolan brought, though, was his old self, as he flew to the defense of teammates all game, even being willing to take penalties to make sure the Avalanche knew who was on the ice.
- Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck is the type of guy to get under your skin, and he drew a couple of penalties to give the Wild chances to climb back into the game. He also got the scoring started for Minnesota, thanks to a beautiful shorthanded goal.

Game minuses:
- Greg Zanon. Zanon wasn't his usual imposing, defensive self against the Avalanche, and he had problems staying on his feet. A less-than-effective Zanon was a strange experience for this year's Wild team.
- Niklas Backstrom. Equipment struggles or not, Backstrom just isn't on top of his game, and he hasn't been as stellar this year from start to finish as he has been in year's past. Many of the shots that have beaten him this season have been pucks that he would normally have stopped, and he got victimized yet again, giving up four goals for the second game in a row.
- Power play. Something has to give. The Wild power play has been awful recently, and a misplayed puck coupled with a bad line change handed the Avalanche their fourth goal on a silver platter. Fixing what's wrong won't be easy, but something has to be done to help this team out, or the man advantage will continue to be a detriment.

Next up: The Wild get to stay at home, as they welcome the Edmonton Oilers to their rink.

2009-10 Game Twenty-Two: Wild 3, Islanders 2

It wouldn't have come as much of a shock to anyone if the Minnesota Wild had come out as fiercely as they did against the New York Islanders, and still ended up losing the game. After all, this Minnesota team is still getting itself together, and learning a brand new system (which, contrary to how it looks, does not rely on the team forgetting how to play hockey at least three times per game). Add to that the number of players out injured, including a couple that found out they'd be missing the game in the 24 hours running up to it, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see the New York Islanders skate away with the win.

But that wasn't in the cards for either team. The Wild came out playing a very physical game, and, in the end, got some gritty goals from their oldest player, outdueling New York and skating away with the one goal win. Again, Niklas Backstrom did a lot to keep the Wild in the game, but that's become somewhat standard. Thankfully for Minnesota, Backstrom was back to being on top of his game, and he stopped some beautiful scoring chances, including a couple off of the stick of the most recent number one draft pick, John Tavares.

Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. He's been playing NHL hockey as long as Tavares has been alive, and he came up big. His second goal, set up by a great Eric Belanger play, showed that he still has a shooter's touch.
- Mikko Koivu. Koivu still relies too much on passing first, but it's hard to fault the guy who finally broke the Wild's power play drought, and did so with a great redirection.
- Playing with fire. The Wild came out of the locker room energized, gritty, and a little mean. Fights and big hits in the first period set the tone, and gave Minnesota the energy to play hard.

Game minuses:
- Officiating. There was no consistency from the officials. Calling an instigator penalty when it was clear that both guys were ready to fight? Missing high sticks and cross checks all game long? True, both teams had their fair share of power plays, but the officials still almost let this game get out of hand with their stunning lack of consistency.
- Defensive puck handling. Far too often, the Wild would get the puck onto the stick of one of their defensemen, and they'd make a miscue, letting it slip away from them. It was no more glaring than during the Wild's long 5-on-3 power play.
- Power plays. True, the Wild is missing a lot of key power play guys. True, they finally found a way to score one. But there's no excuse for coming up short during the 5-on-3, and for missing on so many others. Passing is all well and good, but you can't score if you don't get the puck on the net.

Next up: The Wild have a little time to recover, but hopefully that will just bring injured players back, as opposed to a system shutdown. The Wild play host to the Boston Bruins the night before Thanksgiving, and bring out their newly acquired center, Andrew Ebbett, who was claimed off waivers.

2009-10 Game Eighteen: Wild 3, Lightning 4 (SO)

Two plays that dramatically changed the course of the game. One huge mistake that handed the win away. One point left behind on the ice in Tampa Bay, as the Minnesota Wild dominated the Lightning for 60 minutes, and still lost the game.

The two plays that were mentioned above? One was on the short-handed goal that put Tampa Bay on the board. Shane Hnidy was banged up in the play, thanks to a tripping non-call. Instead of an immediate whistle when Tampa touched the puck, play was allowed to continue, and the Lightning scored. Given that Brent Burns was called for a trip after getting his stick caught in a player's skates earlier in the game, and a whistle was blown right away when a Tampa player went down with an injury later in the game, this play stood out. The second play was Chuck Kobasew's goal that was waved off by the officials, because it bounced off of his glove. Because it touched the glove, it was waved off, no matter that there was no forward motion. If it had been a skate, at least the goal would have stood. If he'd bounced it off of his stomach, the Wild take their fourth goal of the game. But because it hit his glove (and barely hit his glove), the goal was disallowed.

Still the Wild should have had this game. To go from leading 3-1 to losing 4-3 in the shootout is a tough pill to swallow, but hopefully it will lead to Minnesota learning to take care of their business on the ice. Late mistakes gave Tampa enough life to claw back into the game that they had no right to be in.

Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. How pretty was Nolan's goal, giving the Wild the 3-1 lead? The grizzled Irishman may be trying to show the kids how it's done.
- James Sheppard. Sheppard has been having a rough season, and things probably aren't turning around yet, but he made some great plays against Tampa, including the play that set up Benoit Pouliot's goal.
- Greg Zanon. Zanon is a shot-blocking machine, and he's giving the Wild something they may not have realized they were missing.

Game minuses:
- Kyle Brodziak. The biggest mistake of the game for the Wild came off of Brodziak's stick, as he somehow completely lost the puck while on a 3-on-1, leaving it behind instead of making a pass. It was a glaring example of a lack of awareness.
- Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky has a lot of offensive upside, and he's been a more consistent defenseman this season. However, against Tampa he stopped moving his legs, and took some foolish penalties after the Lightning pulled to within 1.
- Killer instinct. The Wild just didn't have the drive to finish off the Lightning, and they paid for it in the end. They had multiple opportunities to put the game out of reach, but resorted to a "pass first" mentality, instead of peppering the net with shots.

Next up: The Wild don't have time to dwell on the loss, as they face the Washington Capitals this evening. Luckily for Minnesota, it appears as though they won't have to face Alex Ovechkin.

2009-10 Game Twelve: Wild 3, Predators 4

This Minnesota Wild team will get better. They will play hard for 60 minutes, and apply a strong offense. They will have a forecheck to be reckoned with, and the goaltending will be stellar. The defense will help out, and the stars on the team will be allowed to shine.

But right now, and until that happens, watching the games could be difficult for more fair-weather fans. Part of what the previous regime did to the Wild through consistent competitiveness is to strip the cupboard bare, and the Wild aren't keeping pace with other teams when it comes to young talent. Add to that an extremely road-heavy schedule to start the season, and it isn't much of a shock that the Wild had barely any fire, even after a goal-scoring flurry in the second period. The team needs a win badly, and they need some confidence, but they're skating on tired legs after having lived on a plane for the first month of the season. The tide will turn, but how long will Wild fans give the team before the sell-out streak ends?

Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. The oldest member of the team is still showing that he wants to get the Wild going in the right direction, and his skate-to-stick play leading to his goal was an example of what kind of puck handling skills he can possess.
- John Scott. The big defenseman almost put the puck in the net, most notably during a scrum in front. The fact that Scott was heading to the goal mouth is a great sign. Hopefully, the rest of the Wild pay attention to this.
- Opening of the second period. For three minutes, the Wild showed just what kind of team they can be. However, after firing off three quick shots, getting three goals, and chasing the Nashville netminder, the Wild sat back on their heels, waiting to give the lead back.

Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. Plenty of times this young season, Backstrom has kept the Wild in games. Against Nashville, he was one of the big reasons that they were out of it, giving up three relatively soft goals, which is something he doesn't do often.
- James Sheppard. While the officials certainly didn't help, Sheppard once again showed a lack of awareness of his surroundings, or what he was doing with his stick.
- Possession. The Wild couldn't keep the puck on their sticks. One of the more glaring times came when Marek Zidlicky got his pocket picked on the way to Nashville's game-winning shorthanded goal, but none of the Wild seemed to have a good handle on the puck.

Next up: The Wild have their work cut out for them, but they get to stay home through Friday, when they take on the New York Rangers. Former Wild star Marian Gaborik is currently sitting with an injury, so he may be out of the line-up, which would be a bit of a blessing for the Wild, given that Gaborik is leading the Rangers in scoring thus far.