Self-induced loss to lowly Thrashers ends playoff hopes; Wild are now sellers after Olympics
By Wild Road Tripper
It was a pathetic ending to a really pathetic game Friday night at Xcel Energy Center, as the playoff intentions of the Minnesota Wild were virtually snuffed out, from within, with a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers before 18,257 somewhat stunned patrons.
The Wild as much beat themselves as the somewhat hapless Thrashers, still reeling themselves by the recent trade of Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils, helped themselves with two power-play goals as a result of 16 minutes in Wild penalties, which included wiping out 3:15 of a double minor power play, including a 2-man advantage for Minnesota in the first period as the minutes just kept on coming.
This game was a microcosm of the Wild season. Truly, the gang that couldn't shoot straight, didn't. Even though Atlanta goaltender Johan Hedberg was credited with 35 saves, most of the night the frustrated Wild just let things fall where they may, instead of taking the action to team which, in my opinion, should have been ripe for the taking. No one in Iron Range Red was on their game tonight. No one.
So enjoy the last Wild game (due to the Olympic break) before the 2:00 PM March 3 trade deadline, Minnesota. Because some of those you see Sunday in green sweaters (it's a third jersey game), you will not see in Minnesota sweaters after they return. Why then?
Yep, you guessed it. They're sellers.
Next Game: vs. Vancouver, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2:00 PM, Xcel Energy Center. (Wild TV: KSTP-5 in HD; Canucks TV: CITY-TV, CSN-Northwest (yes, Seattle, you get hockey on Sunday!); XM Radio, Ch. 207)
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