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?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Six: Wild 4, Penguins 3
The Minnesota Wild and the Pittsburgh Penguins played dueling forwards in Saint Paul. Lining up in that role for Pittsburgh was Sidney Crosby, the type of player that the league doesn't see that often. His counterpart for the Minnesota Wild was someone who wasn't even part of the team at the beginning of the season, but is quickly becoming proof that the Wild front office have an eye for talent that will fit. And who could have guessed that Guillaume Latendresse would end up coming up on the better side of things than "Sid the Kid"?
In all honesty, the Wild just outplayed the Penguins, and they kept their composure better. It seemed like all of the extracurriculars were started by guys in white jerseys, obviously frustrated that, even though they dumped almost forty shots on net, they were getting beat by a team that had barely put together twenty shots themselves. That, and Pittsburgh had to be feeling pressure, not wanting to fall to the Wild like Chicago did. At the end of the day, they took their own route to defeat, as the Wild pulled off another come-from-behind victory, and won their NHL-leading 17th one-goal game this season.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Latendresse had the biggest night of his career, and he electrified the Xcel Energy Center crowd. One game after capping the Wild's huge comeback with the tying goal against the Blackhawks, Latendresse played a part in all four Minnesota goals, scoring the game winner.
- Martin Havlat. Latendresse may have found his home, but he apparently brought Marty Havlat's game with him. Havlat scored a goal of his own, and now has an eight-game point streak. His give-and-go with Latendresse was fantastic to watch.
- Niklas Backstrom. Sure, he gave up three goals. But he stopped far more chances than he had any right to, including a brilliant glove save that may have sealed the game for the Wild. Not a surprise, as Backstrom has a habit of bouncing back strong after getting pulled from a game.
Game minuses:
- Antti Miettinen. Right now, he's something of a non-presence on the ice, unless you're looking for someone to shoot the puck wide. Something needs to be shaken up on the Wild's top line, and Miettinen might be the odd man out.
- Power play. As it turns out, the Wild didn't need to score with the extra man, but they had a beautiful opportunity to do so during a five-minute major. However, as so many Wild power plays have gone this season, the puck was cycled without any real threat in the offensive zone. Something has to click.
- Sergei Gonchar. Normally, events for the Wild are focused on here. But it's hard to ignore what Sergei Gonchar did to Cal Clutterbuck in retaliation for a clean hit. Gonchar may face suspension for his hit, since it certainly looked like there was an intent to cause injury. He also got lucky to not get tossed out of the game for misconduct. Clutterbuck may antagonize other players, but it's largely because he's physical and plays a clean game. There was no excuse for what Gonchar did, and he deserves to sit for a while because of it.
Next up: The Wild started this current winning streak by beating a divisional opponent. Can they keep it going by taking their first victory of the season from the Vancouver Canucks?
In all honesty, the Wild just outplayed the Penguins, and they kept their composure better. It seemed like all of the extracurriculars were started by guys in white jerseys, obviously frustrated that, even though they dumped almost forty shots on net, they were getting beat by a team that had barely put together twenty shots themselves. That, and Pittsburgh had to be feeling pressure, not wanting to fall to the Wild like Chicago did. At the end of the day, they took their own route to defeat, as the Wild pulled off another come-from-behind victory, and won their NHL-leading 17th one-goal game this season.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Latendresse had the biggest night of his career, and he electrified the Xcel Energy Center crowd. One game after capping the Wild's huge comeback with the tying goal against the Blackhawks, Latendresse played a part in all four Minnesota goals, scoring the game winner.
- Martin Havlat. Latendresse may have found his home, but he apparently brought Marty Havlat's game with him. Havlat scored a goal of his own, and now has an eight-game point streak. His give-and-go with Latendresse was fantastic to watch.
- Niklas Backstrom. Sure, he gave up three goals. But he stopped far more chances than he had any right to, including a brilliant glove save that may have sealed the game for the Wild. Not a surprise, as Backstrom has a habit of bouncing back strong after getting pulled from a game.
Game minuses:
- Antti Miettinen. Right now, he's something of a non-presence on the ice, unless you're looking for someone to shoot the puck wide. Something needs to be shaken up on the Wild's top line, and Miettinen might be the odd man out.
- Power play. As it turns out, the Wild didn't need to score with the extra man, but they had a beautiful opportunity to do so during a five-minute major. However, as so many Wild power plays have gone this season, the puck was cycled without any real threat in the offensive zone. Something has to click.
- Sergei Gonchar. Normally, events for the Wild are focused on here. But it's hard to ignore what Sergei Gonchar did to Cal Clutterbuck in retaliation for a clean hit. Gonchar may face suspension for his hit, since it certainly looked like there was an intent to cause injury. He also got lucky to not get tossed out of the game for misconduct. Clutterbuck may antagonize other players, but it's largely because he's physical and plays a clean game. There was no excuse for what Gonchar did, and he deserves to sit for a while because of it.
Next up: The Wild started this current winning streak by beating a divisional opponent. Can they keep it going by taking their first victory of the season from the Vancouver Canucks?
Monday, January 11, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Five: Wild 6, Blackhawks 5 (SO)
There's stealing a point out of a game, and then there's what the Minnesota Wild did to the Chicago Blackhawks over the weekend. After practically giving the game away, and making sure that Niklas Backstrom had no hope to hold them into it, the Wild switched goalies, and started playing hockey. The third period was dominated by Minnesota, who mounted the biggest comeback victory in the history of the franchise.
With the way that this Wild team has played this season, there was reason for the 19,000+ fans to stay in their seats. From the home opener, where Minnesota beat the Anaheim Ducks after falling behind 3-0 all through the season, the Wild have mounted comeback after comeback. They've trailed in over half of their victories. But nothing comes close to the way they fought back against the Blackhawks. Minnesota had no business coming back onto the ice for the final twenty minutes after the way that they played the first forty, and it almost became a question of how much the team cared. Suddenly, the defense that had been suspect all night stifled Chicago, and the offense that couldn't put the puck in the net fired off three goals in four shots, pulling Minnesota back within one. After the score reached 5-4, it was a question of whether enough time lasted for Minnesota to ride the momentum into a tie, and at least sneak one point out of the game. That question was answered with under two minutes remaining, thanks to a smart forecheck and an opportunistic goal, and all that remained was an eventless overtime, and an eight-round shootout, capped by Owen Nolan's top shelf goal.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. Harding may have saved the game for the Wild. He definitely helped them steal their two points. After Niklas Backstrom was hung out to dry all night long, Harding came in and didn't allow a single puck past him until the shootout. With Chicago's firepower, that's no easy task.
- Guillaume Latendresse. Nobody saw Latendresse coming off of the bench to score the tying goal. It even looked like he fooled his teammates with how quickly he got to the loose puck, but there's no questioning his finish in the game. With two goals, Latendresse has now scored nine times since coming to Minnesota. Looks like the fresh start was exactly what he needed.
- Mikko Koivu. His line may not be clicking, but he certainly is. Koivu deserved to be rewarded, and rewarded he was, with a goal in both regulation and during the shootout. Koivu is one of those players who always plays with his heart, and his fire helped the Wild sneak back into the game.
Game minuses:
- Marek Zidlicky. If he hadn't notched the power play goal that put the Wild within one, Zidlicky may have been forced to look for a new home. His pass to Marian Hossa gave the Blackhawks an amazing shorthanded breakaway, and it's hard to stop a player of Hossa's skill when it's just him and the goaltender.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette did not have a very good game, coughing up the puck, taking a bad penalty, and overall playing out of position.
- Defense. At least for the first two periods, the Wild defense was non-existent. On the first three Chicago goals, there was no chance for Backstrom to stop the puck, because the Wild simply watched it get passed around the ice. On the fourth, Cal Clutterbuck crashed the wrong net, and prevented Backstrom from getting a look. And, well, the fifth goal was the aforementioned breakaway for Marian Hossa. The team came together again for the third period, but they definitely didn't deserve the win for the way they played the first two periods.
Next up: The Wild hope to ride the momentum even further than their stunning victory over Chicago, as they face off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wild did beat the Penguins earlier this season, so they will be hoping for history to repeat itself.
With the way that this Wild team has played this season, there was reason for the 19,000+ fans to stay in their seats. From the home opener, where Minnesota beat the Anaheim Ducks after falling behind 3-0 all through the season, the Wild have mounted comeback after comeback. They've trailed in over half of their victories. But nothing comes close to the way they fought back against the Blackhawks. Minnesota had no business coming back onto the ice for the final twenty minutes after the way that they played the first forty, and it almost became a question of how much the team cared. Suddenly, the defense that had been suspect all night stifled Chicago, and the offense that couldn't put the puck in the net fired off three goals in four shots, pulling Minnesota back within one. After the score reached 5-4, it was a question of whether enough time lasted for Minnesota to ride the momentum into a tie, and at least sneak one point out of the game. That question was answered with under two minutes remaining, thanks to a smart forecheck and an opportunistic goal, and all that remained was an eventless overtime, and an eight-round shootout, capped by Owen Nolan's top shelf goal.
Game pluses:
- Josh Harding. Harding may have saved the game for the Wild. He definitely helped them steal their two points. After Niklas Backstrom was hung out to dry all night long, Harding came in and didn't allow a single puck past him until the shootout. With Chicago's firepower, that's no easy task.
- Guillaume Latendresse. Nobody saw Latendresse coming off of the bench to score the tying goal. It even looked like he fooled his teammates with how quickly he got to the loose puck, but there's no questioning his finish in the game. With two goals, Latendresse has now scored nine times since coming to Minnesota. Looks like the fresh start was exactly what he needed.
- Mikko Koivu. His line may not be clicking, but he certainly is. Koivu deserved to be rewarded, and rewarded he was, with a goal in both regulation and during the shootout. Koivu is one of those players who always plays with his heart, and his fire helped the Wild sneak back into the game.
Game minuses:
- Marek Zidlicky. If he hadn't notched the power play goal that put the Wild within one, Zidlicky may have been forced to look for a new home. His pass to Marian Hossa gave the Blackhawks an amazing shorthanded breakaway, and it's hard to stop a player of Hossa's skill when it's just him and the goaltender.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette did not have a very good game, coughing up the puck, taking a bad penalty, and overall playing out of position.
- Defense. At least for the first two periods, the Wild defense was non-existent. On the first three Chicago goals, there was no chance for Backstrom to stop the puck, because the Wild simply watched it get passed around the ice. On the fourth, Cal Clutterbuck crashed the wrong net, and prevented Backstrom from getting a look. And, well, the fifth goal was the aforementioned breakaway for Marian Hossa. The team came together again for the third period, but they definitely didn't deserve the win for the way they played the first two periods.
Next up: The Wild hope to ride the momentum even further than their stunning victory over Chicago, as they face off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wild did beat the Penguins earlier this season, so they will be hoping for history to repeat itself.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Four: Wild 4, Flames 1
The Minnesota Wild weren't looking to lose five games in a row. They certainly didn't want to hand the hated Calgary Flames a sixth consecutive victory. So, from the initial puck drop all the way through the final buzzer, the Wild played like they had nothing to lose, and everything to prove.
It worked, as the Wild also didn't look like a team playing in the second night of back-to-backs. They attacked the Flames all night long, using a strong forecheck, effective reads, and good defensive positioning to keep Calgary from assembling much of an attack. It also marked the first time in seven games that the Wild held their opponent to fewer than three goals, as they easily coasted to the victory.
One of the interesting things that did come out of the game is the Robbie Earl situation, and that's something that may get repeated again soon with Clayton Stoner, who's nearing his own 10th game. Earl now requires waivers to be sent back to Houston, but it seems like he might be with Minnesota to stay. Earl seems to play the style of hockey that the Wild want to see more of, and he's definitely made an impact on the team, scoring three goals in his ten games. The question now is how the Wild will shed some of the extra players on the team, hopefully to get something in return. After all, with the way he's played, nobody should expect that Earl would clear waivers at this point.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. How do you set a tone against a division rival? Well, for the Wild, it worked to have Clutterbuck get a big hit right away. He was rewarded later in the game with a nice goal, but all game long, Clutterbuck was getting under the skin of the Calgary defense.
- Eric Belanger. Welcome to game 600. Belanger eclipsed that mark, and did so in fine fashion, notching two goals, one on a great deflection, and the other with a wicked backhand.
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild goalies haven't been very solid as of late, so it was nice to see Backstrom put together a very solid effort. The one goal that got past him was due to a huge rebound that he could have controlled better, but the rest of the game was just solid.
Game minuses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Truthfully, Latendresse had a pretty good game from start to finish. But players have been dinged in this space for getting chances and not finishing before, and that's where Latendresse falls after the Calgary game. It's a matter of finishing, although Latendresse did have a sure goal stolen away from him, thanks to a brilliant save.
- Line changes. The Wild still hasn't learned. After getting exposed by both New Jersey and Chicago, one would think that Minnesota would start being more careful about when they make a line change, so as to not create an odd-man chance.
- Slow start. The Wild almost gave this game away right from the beginning, coughing up the opening goal in the first two minutes. Oddly enough, though, this team tends to play better if they don't get the first goal.
Next up: The Wild can fly high after beating Calgary, but they can't get too unfocused. After all, next up is a return engagement with the conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks.
It worked, as the Wild also didn't look like a team playing in the second night of back-to-backs. They attacked the Flames all night long, using a strong forecheck, effective reads, and good defensive positioning to keep Calgary from assembling much of an attack. It also marked the first time in seven games that the Wild held their opponent to fewer than three goals, as they easily coasted to the victory.
One of the interesting things that did come out of the game is the Robbie Earl situation, and that's something that may get repeated again soon with Clayton Stoner, who's nearing his own 10th game. Earl now requires waivers to be sent back to Houston, but it seems like he might be with Minnesota to stay. Earl seems to play the style of hockey that the Wild want to see more of, and he's definitely made an impact on the team, scoring three goals in his ten games. The question now is how the Wild will shed some of the extra players on the team, hopefully to get something in return. After all, with the way he's played, nobody should expect that Earl would clear waivers at this point.
Game pluses:
- Cal Clutterbuck. How do you set a tone against a division rival? Well, for the Wild, it worked to have Clutterbuck get a big hit right away. He was rewarded later in the game with a nice goal, but all game long, Clutterbuck was getting under the skin of the Calgary defense.
- Eric Belanger. Welcome to game 600. Belanger eclipsed that mark, and did so in fine fashion, notching two goals, one on a great deflection, and the other with a wicked backhand.
- Niklas Backstrom. The Wild goalies haven't been very solid as of late, so it was nice to see Backstrom put together a very solid effort. The one goal that got past him was due to a huge rebound that he could have controlled better, but the rest of the game was just solid.
Game minuses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Truthfully, Latendresse had a pretty good game from start to finish. But players have been dinged in this space for getting chances and not finishing before, and that's where Latendresse falls after the Calgary game. It's a matter of finishing, although Latendresse did have a sure goal stolen away from him, thanks to a brilliant save.
- Line changes. The Wild still hasn't learned. After getting exposed by both New Jersey and Chicago, one would think that Minnesota would start being more careful about when they make a line change, so as to not create an odd-man chance.
- Slow start. The Wild almost gave this game away right from the beginning, coughing up the opening goal in the first two minutes. Oddly enough, though, this team tends to play better if they don't get the first goal.
Next up: The Wild can fly high after beating Calgary, but they can't get too unfocused. After all, next up is a return engagement with the conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Three: Wild 1, Blackhawks 4
Will the real Minnesota Wild please report to the Xcel Energy Center? Is the Wild the team that rattled off ten wins through December, thanks to some opportunistic goal scoring and impressive defense? Or are they the team that's currently in a tailspin, finding themselves further and further from a playoff spot thanks to a four-game losing streak, while surrendering at least three goals for the past six games?
More troubling, are both teams the current representation of the Wild? The last four losses, with the exception of the game against the Ducks, the Wild were playing against teams that have propelled themselves towards the NHL's elite, and the last two games specifically have been against conference leaders. The Wild simply don't have the finishers to make themselves competitive against some of the better teams in the league. Maybe today's call-up of Robbie Earl will help pull this team off of their recent skid, but even Earl's call-up makes for some interesting managerial moves.
Plain and simply, Robbie Earl playing tonight, unless it gets deemed an emergency call-up due to players being injured, means that he'll have to be thrown on waivers before returning to Houston, so he could end up being here for the long haul. This is due to Earl not being on an entry-level contract, so his free call-up time was limited. With the Wild's playoff hopes dimming rapidly, it might also be the best time of year for GM Chuck Fletcher to start seriously evaluating who he would like to see wearing a Minnesota Wild jersey next season, and start trying to work his magic through trades to improve the team in the long run. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that the Chicago Blackhawks were one of the worst teams in the league, and through good drafting and smart trades, they assembled themselves into a powerhouse. It's time for Fletcher to start making moves to help the Wild do that in the next couple of years.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Proof that Fletcher can spot talent that fits his team, Latendresse has been a huge acquisition for the Wild, and he notched another goal against the Blackhawks. He had another couple of chances later in the game, but was stifled on each.
- Martin Havlat. Wild fans are starting to see the type of player that Havlat can be on any given night, as he continues to direct the play around him. He helped set up the Latendresse goal, and created chances for plenty of other players.
- Clayton Stoner. Stoner may not have had the strongest game of the season, but his poise while playing against some of the bigger and tougher NHL teams has been impressive, and he hasn't made any glaring mistakes.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. Yes, the line of Brodziak/Havlat/Latendresse was buzzing the net all night, but Brodziak was one of a few Wild players to show a problem that the team has. When the puck ended up on his stick, he just couldn't finish and take the goal.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette suffered the same problems as Brodziak, not being able to finish. Brunette had opportunities at wide open nets, but delayed too long, allowing Chicago to get back into position, turning a golden opportunity into a momentum breaker.
- Greg Zanon. The third minus almost went to the Wild for allowing so many odd-man rushes, or to the officials for some glaring no-calls, especially when Josh Harding was knocked down shortly before Chicago's second goal. However, Zanon was plagued all night by bad passes and out-of-position play. His clearing attempt in the third period that gave Chicago the 5-on-3 power play was just the capper to a rough night.
Next up: The schedule just doesn't look good for the Wild, as they come fresh off of playing the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks, only to return home and face the Calgary Flames, a team that has regularly had the Wild's number.
More troubling, are both teams the current representation of the Wild? The last four losses, with the exception of the game against the Ducks, the Wild were playing against teams that have propelled themselves towards the NHL's elite, and the last two games specifically have been against conference leaders. The Wild simply don't have the finishers to make themselves competitive against some of the better teams in the league. Maybe today's call-up of Robbie Earl will help pull this team off of their recent skid, but even Earl's call-up makes for some interesting managerial moves.
Plain and simply, Robbie Earl playing tonight, unless it gets deemed an emergency call-up due to players being injured, means that he'll have to be thrown on waivers before returning to Houston, so he could end up being here for the long haul. This is due to Earl not being on an entry-level contract, so his free call-up time was limited. With the Wild's playoff hopes dimming rapidly, it might also be the best time of year for GM Chuck Fletcher to start seriously evaluating who he would like to see wearing a Minnesota Wild jersey next season, and start trying to work his magic through trades to improve the team in the long run. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that the Chicago Blackhawks were one of the worst teams in the league, and through good drafting and smart trades, they assembled themselves into a powerhouse. It's time for Fletcher to start making moves to help the Wild do that in the next couple of years.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Proof that Fletcher can spot talent that fits his team, Latendresse has been a huge acquisition for the Wild, and he notched another goal against the Blackhawks. He had another couple of chances later in the game, but was stifled on each.
- Martin Havlat. Wild fans are starting to see the type of player that Havlat can be on any given night, as he continues to direct the play around him. He helped set up the Latendresse goal, and created chances for plenty of other players.
- Clayton Stoner. Stoner may not have had the strongest game of the season, but his poise while playing against some of the bigger and tougher NHL teams has been impressive, and he hasn't made any glaring mistakes.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. Yes, the line of Brodziak/Havlat/Latendresse was buzzing the net all night, but Brodziak was one of a few Wild players to show a problem that the team has. When the puck ended up on his stick, he just couldn't finish and take the goal.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette suffered the same problems as Brodziak, not being able to finish. Brunette had opportunities at wide open nets, but delayed too long, allowing Chicago to get back into position, turning a golden opportunity into a momentum breaker.
- Greg Zanon. The third minus almost went to the Wild for allowing so many odd-man rushes, or to the officials for some glaring no-calls, especially when Josh Harding was knocked down shortly before Chicago's second goal. However, Zanon was plagued all night by bad passes and out-of-position play. His clearing attempt in the third period that gave Chicago the 5-on-3 power play was just the capper to a rough night.
Next up: The schedule just doesn't look good for the Wild, as they come fresh off of playing the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks, only to return home and face the Calgary Flames, a team that has regularly had the Wild's number.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Two: Wild 3, Devils 5
Don't look now, but the Minnesota Wild are in a pile of trouble. With one of the toughest parts of their schedule just getting under way, everything is starting to turn the wrong direction. A strong December moved the Wild up in the standings, but, with so many hockey games being worth three points now, it wasn't enough to get them to crack the top eight in the Western Conference. And now they are in the middle of a three-game losing streak, having given up at least four goals in each of those contests.
The Wild were shown just how far they still have to go to compete with the elite teams in the league Saturday night, when the New Jersey Devils got outplayed in most areas of the ice except for where it counted. Minnesota had energy and a lot of jump, but couldn't do enough to beat Martin Brodeur, and the Devils took advantage of every single Minnesota mistake, turning them into goals. The lack of pure goal scorers was shown, as the Wild had many chances at mostly open nets, but too often the puck was turned harmlessly aside.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Watching Koivu's shorthanded goal, and the way he continues to scrap for every inch of ice, and it's easy to see why the Wild are being built around him.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The Wild's bowling ball was showing a more offensive side to his game, and his shots were buzzing the net well. He simply was up against the NHL's premier goaltender.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat's awareness was most evident during Eric Belanger's goal, but he was directing the play when he was on the ice all night, and it kept allowing the Wild to get good chances. Now to work on the finish.
Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. Sheppard played a stronger game than he has recently, but he still doesn't have the ability to finish. Sheppard was robbed at least twice by Brodeur on what should have been easy empty-net goals.
- Line changes. The Devils took advantage of Wild mistakes, and a couple of times, Minnesota got caught in the middle of a line change, giving New Jersey an almost unhindered look at the net.
- Letting down. Mikko Koivu had just tied the hockey game, and the Wild had all of the momentum, especially with the period about to end in less than a minute. The very next shift, the Wild gave up a goal with under five seconds to play, and they never recovered. The Wild have been prone to big let downs after scoring in the past, and they need to find a way to keep themselves from taking a mental break.
Next up: As stated above, the Wild schedule doesn't get any easier, as they play against the Chicago Blackhawks next.
The Wild were shown just how far they still have to go to compete with the elite teams in the league Saturday night, when the New Jersey Devils got outplayed in most areas of the ice except for where it counted. Minnesota had energy and a lot of jump, but couldn't do enough to beat Martin Brodeur, and the Devils took advantage of every single Minnesota mistake, turning them into goals. The lack of pure goal scorers was shown, as the Wild had many chances at mostly open nets, but too often the puck was turned harmlessly aside.
Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. Watching Koivu's shorthanded goal, and the way he continues to scrap for every inch of ice, and it's easy to see why the Wild are being built around him.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The Wild's bowling ball was showing a more offensive side to his game, and his shots were buzzing the net well. He simply was up against the NHL's premier goaltender.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat's awareness was most evident during Eric Belanger's goal, but he was directing the play when he was on the ice all night, and it kept allowing the Wild to get good chances. Now to work on the finish.
Game minuses:
- James Sheppard. Sheppard played a stronger game than he has recently, but he still doesn't have the ability to finish. Sheppard was robbed at least twice by Brodeur on what should have been easy empty-net goals.
- Line changes. The Devils took advantage of Wild mistakes, and a couple of times, Minnesota got caught in the middle of a line change, giving New Jersey an almost unhindered look at the net.
- Letting down. Mikko Koivu had just tied the hockey game, and the Wild had all of the momentum, especially with the period about to end in less than a minute. The very next shift, the Wild gave up a goal with under five seconds to play, and they never recovered. The Wild have been prone to big let downs after scoring in the past, and they need to find a way to keep themselves from taking a mental break.
Next up: As stated above, the Wild schedule doesn't get any easier, as they play against the Chicago Blackhawks next.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
