Sometimes, it just takes a hot goalie, some puck luck, and some timely offense to get out of a horrendous losing streak. When you do it against one of the NHL's top 6 teams, all the better. Such was the case on Friday night at HSBC Arena, where the Minnesota Wild took a three-goal lead into the third period, and held on to snap their disasterous four-game losing streak by defeating the Northeast Division-leading Buffalo Sabres 3-2, as 18,690 mostly Sabres fans looked on in somewhat stunned disbelief.
Josh Harding, playing his second game in as many nights, made 43 saves to preserve the victory, which, depending on the results of the Nashville-Anaheim and LA Kings-Dallas games, will put the Wild either into 11th or remain in 12th in the NHL's Western Conference. Andrew Ebbett, Guillaume Latendresse, and Andrew Brunette scored for Minnesota, and ex-Gopher Thomas Vanek scored both Buffalo goals.
The Wild were without a number of players; Brent Burns (hip), Niklas Backstrom (groin), and Shane Hnidy, who did not go on the road trip (leg) were all scratched due to injury; Wade Dubleiewicz was recalled by the Wild from the AHL Houston Aeros for Backstrom, whose groin tweak is day-to-day.
The Wild, following their March pattern, now come home for the next two games, starting with the Next Game: vs. St. Louis, Sunday, March 14, 5:00 PM Central Daylight Time, Xcel Energy Center. (Wild TV: FSNorth (includes FSWisconsin); Blues' TV: FSMidwest, all feeds in HD; XM NHL Home Ice, Ch. 204)
-- WRT
Remember: Set your clocks AHEAD one hour before going to bed Saturday night!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Demolished in the 'D': Wings crush Wild, 5-1
In a city whose residents know all too well how to demolish what has been built over time, the Detroit Red Wings practiced Detroit's second favorite activity -- demolition -- with a 5-1 dismantling of the Minnesota Wild at Joe Louis Arena Thursday night before an announced crowd of 19,327.
The current Wild theme of not showing up to start the game began 2:25 into the contest as Johan Franzen started the show with a deflection into the goal behind last-minute starter Josh Harding, thrust into the start after Niklas Backstrom had come up with what head coach Todd Richards called 'a tweaked groin' in the pre-game.
We'll save the details for the likes of Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star-Tribune Vikings beat writer, who is filling in on this two game road trip for Michael Russo, who luckily had arranged to take this road trip off after his Olympic adventure.
Let's leave it at this: the difference in the game was the fact that the Red Wings are on the cusp of the playoffs, and the Wild are not. The Wings played like the playoffs were in their future, and the Wild played like they had already searched Teemaster.com thoroughly, looking ahead for April warm-weather times.
To make matters worse, Wild leading scorer Guillaume Latendresse did not come out for the third period, as he was clobbered by an errant Brian Rafalski stick in the back of the neck, late in the second period. Latendresse was taken to Detroit Medical Center for observation.
If you dare, the Next Game: at Buffalo, Friday (tomorrow), 6:00 PM Central (7:00 PM Eastern) Time, HSBC Arena. (Wild TV: FSNorth; Sabres' TV: MSG-Buffalo; XM Radio, Ch. 206)
-- WRT
The current Wild theme of not showing up to start the game began 2:25 into the contest as Johan Franzen started the show with a deflection into the goal behind last-minute starter Josh Harding, thrust into the start after Niklas Backstrom had come up with what head coach Todd Richards called 'a tweaked groin' in the pre-game.
We'll save the details for the likes of Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star-Tribune Vikings beat writer, who is filling in on this two game road trip for Michael Russo, who luckily had arranged to take this road trip off after his Olympic adventure.
Let's leave it at this: the difference in the game was the fact that the Red Wings are on the cusp of the playoffs, and the Wild are not. The Wings played like the playoffs were in their future, and the Wild played like they had already searched Teemaster.com thoroughly, looking ahead for April warm-weather times.
To make matters worse, Wild leading scorer Guillaume Latendresse did not come out for the third period, as he was clobbered by an errant Brian Rafalski stick in the back of the neck, late in the second period. Latendresse was taken to Detroit Medical Center for observation.
If you dare, the Next Game: at Buffalo, Friday (tomorrow), 6:00 PM Central (7:00 PM Eastern) Time, HSBC Arena. (Wild TV: FSNorth; Sabres' TV: MSG-Buffalo; XM Radio, Ch. 206)
-- WRT
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
WRT's View: Time to start the Funeral Dirge for moribund Wild
By Wild Road Tripper
Let's all face facts, Minnesota Wild fans. Your 2009-2010 season is officially over, especially after last night's disasterous, Andria Doria-esque rollover at home by blowing a two-goal third period lead to the otherwise hapless Florida Panthers.
The fact that this was even allowed to happen shows that the players have already made their travel arrangements for April 12, the second day after the regular season's last game vs. Dallas.
And, as a season ticket holder and fervent Wild fan, and one who will be getting even more squeezed next season by a $5/seat per game increase, two words described my feelings about this team right now.
Pissed. Off.
The game last night was just a microcosm for the season in general, as the way the Wild rolled over and played dead for the better part of 55 minutes last night generated the following thought:
EPIC FAIL.
Andrew Brunette looked as if he needed a walker to skate up and down the ice with; in my mind, he has never, ever looked older than he has the last week or so. Antti Miettinen? Maybe they should go get a barn picture, and hang it in goal to give Antti a target to shoot at. He has missed more goals than he has scored.
While linemates Martin Havlat and Guillaume Latendresse have clicked very nicely, thank you, that line needs a legitimate NHL center. And no, that answer is not Andrew Ebbett. And who really is our third and fourth-line centers? Does anyone know?
Owen Nolan stayed here because he was promised that the roster would get better. After last night, when he was lined up with Houston call-up Petr Kalus and Sheppard, I'm sure he was wishing he would be with Alex Ovechkin and Co. in Washington, or lined up with Devin Setoguchi in San Jose. Anywhere but with this bunch of minor-leaguers.
And then there is the question of all the dead weight still on this roster. While GM Chuck Fletcher has done major surgery to lop off loads of the deadbeats off the roster, he knows he still has a lot of work to be done. Shane Hnidy, John Scott, about half of the Houston Aeros' roster, all need to be exorcised. And then, there is the single biggest poster child for exorcism since Linda Blair:
James Sheppard.
The consensus amongst most (not all) Wild fans is that he is the ultimate waste of a roster spot. Sheppard was mis-scouted, drafted way-y-y too high, molly-coddled, mis-handled, and mis-promoted through the organization, which has now made him a mis-fit here in Minnesota. He is not a bad player, given the right set of circumstances. There has to be a team in need of a big power forward out there somewhere.
His faults: He has absolutely NO motivation to work at his game. He is as slow as any player in the NHL. He has next to no puck sense; you normally can count on him for 3-5 bad (or, outright wrong) plays per game. This guy really could use a change of scenery. Now, having said all that, the best solution for both sides, in my opinion, is simple: addition by subtraction. Fletcher may not like this, but you really need to cut ties with this guy, and both go your separate ways.
And soon. Like this summer. Before the free agency season ends on July 1. It might not be the best move, but it ends the tragedy which is the relationship between Sheppard and the fans, the organization, and the management.
The brain trust in Downtown St. Paul knows they have their job cut out for them after this season ends. It just isn't fair to the fan base not to try to get better; the previous Wild administration tried 'something for nothing', and look where it got them. The 'bargain basement' days of the Wild need to end. This summer. Or else risk alienating the fan base.
Until then, happy sucking, Wild. You now reap what you sow.
Let's all face facts, Minnesota Wild fans. Your 2009-2010 season is officially over, especially after last night's disasterous, Andria Doria-esque rollover at home by blowing a two-goal third period lead to the otherwise hapless Florida Panthers.
The fact that this was even allowed to happen shows that the players have already made their travel arrangements for April 12, the second day after the regular season's last game vs. Dallas.
And, as a season ticket holder and fervent Wild fan, and one who will be getting even more squeezed next season by a $5/seat per game increase, two words described my feelings about this team right now.
Pissed. Off.
The game last night was just a microcosm for the season in general, as the way the Wild rolled over and played dead for the better part of 55 minutes last night generated the following thought:
EPIC FAIL.
Andrew Brunette looked as if he needed a walker to skate up and down the ice with; in my mind, he has never, ever looked older than he has the last week or so. Antti Miettinen? Maybe they should go get a barn picture, and hang it in goal to give Antti a target to shoot at. He has missed more goals than he has scored.
While linemates Martin Havlat and Guillaume Latendresse have clicked very nicely, thank you, that line needs a legitimate NHL center. And no, that answer is not Andrew Ebbett. And who really is our third and fourth-line centers? Does anyone know?
Owen Nolan stayed here because he was promised that the roster would get better. After last night, when he was lined up with Houston call-up Petr Kalus and Sheppard, I'm sure he was wishing he would be with Alex Ovechkin and Co. in Washington, or lined up with Devin Setoguchi in San Jose. Anywhere but with this bunch of minor-leaguers.
And then there is the question of all the dead weight still on this roster. While GM Chuck Fletcher has done major surgery to lop off loads of the deadbeats off the roster, he knows he still has a lot of work to be done. Shane Hnidy, John Scott, about half of the Houston Aeros' roster, all need to be exorcised. And then, there is the single biggest poster child for exorcism since Linda Blair:
James Sheppard.
The consensus amongst most (not all) Wild fans is that he is the ultimate waste of a roster spot. Sheppard was mis-scouted, drafted way-y-y too high, molly-coddled, mis-handled, and mis-promoted through the organization, which has now made him a mis-fit here in Minnesota. He is not a bad player, given the right set of circumstances. There has to be a team in need of a big power forward out there somewhere.
His faults: He has absolutely NO motivation to work at his game. He is as slow as any player in the NHL. He has next to no puck sense; you normally can count on him for 3-5 bad (or, outright wrong) plays per game. This guy really could use a change of scenery. Now, having said all that, the best solution for both sides, in my opinion, is simple: addition by subtraction. Fletcher may not like this, but you really need to cut ties with this guy, and both go your separate ways.
And soon. Like this summer. Before the free agency season ends on July 1. It might not be the best move, but it ends the tragedy which is the relationship between Sheppard and the fans, the organization, and the management.
The brain trust in Downtown St. Paul knows they have their job cut out for them after this season ends. It just isn't fair to the fan base not to try to get better; the previous Wild administration tried 'something for nothing', and look where it got them. The 'bargain basement' days of the Wild need to end. This summer. Or else risk alienating the fan base.
Until then, happy sucking, Wild. You now reap what you sow.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Aim Low, Boys; It's only the Panthers!
Gutless, putrid, embarrassing Minnesota effort leads to shootout loss, starts lowering the coffin on Wild season
By Wild Road Tripper
The Florida Panthers were given a very special gift for being tonight's participant at Xcel Energy Center.
The gift? Two points in the standings, courtesy of a team that has lost its' will to win a hockey game.
The Minnesota Wild, in true Minnesota fashion, took a two-goal lead into the third period of tonight's game in front of an announced 18,191...and promptly went out and blew the hell out of it. Two Florida goals in just under 11 minutes tied the game in the third period, and then Cory Stillman ended the torture, by a score of 3-2, for the 'Team of 18,000', by finally ending the nightmare with the lone goal of the four-round shootout, a shootout which, in the opinion of this blogger, should rightfully have never even been allowed to happen.
I can go on and on about how there were goals scored, etc., and how Niklas Backstrom would do well to contact an attorney, as he should sue the players in front of him for non-support. Even after both Shane Hnidy (leg) and Brent Burns (hip) left the game due to injury, the Wild still proved they could disappoint.
There were new lows for shots in regulation (9), a tie for overall fewest shots in a game (11), the second time the Wild has taken a two-goal lead into the third period, and so on. But, this is the most telling stat that I could come up with:
There were as many broken sticks (7) as shots on goal (also, 7) until 8:45 remained in the third period. This means there had been 51:15 played, and only seven shots in goal. Seven. Against a Florida Panthers' team of few real stars, and many career 3rd and 4th liners.
This is a classic embarrassment for the Minnesota franchise which vowed to be that much better, on the ice and off, than their other pro counterparts. To play a game like this one, with pretty much your season on the line, against a team which has shown they can be as bad as any in hockey when pushed, in your own building, on regional free TV, when you are in the middle of your season ticket renewal drive, is beyond any possible scope of human comprehension or understanding of how successful businesses draw fans (and, their money, necessary in today's sports landscape of escalating salaries) in the middle of this downturned economy.
As if the Wild needed help alienating any more of their upper-level faithful, most of whom are seeing their season ticket prices raised $5/seat per game, this squad comes out and quite frankly beat themselves this evening. They didn't need the Panthers around to do that.
New Ulm High School would have gladly done the honors, but they were busy next door at the State High School Boys' Hockey banquet at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
Too bad for the Wild. Because New Ulm would have provided a better challenge...
and if you care to stomach it:
Next Game: at Detroit, Thursday, March 11, 6:30 PM Central (7:30 PM Eastern) Time, Joe Louis Arena. (Wild TV: FSNorth; Detroit TV: FSDetroit; NHL Network-US; XM Radio, Ch. 237)
By Wild Road Tripper
The Florida Panthers were given a very special gift for being tonight's participant at Xcel Energy Center.
The gift? Two points in the standings, courtesy of a team that has lost its' will to win a hockey game.
The Minnesota Wild, in true Minnesota fashion, took a two-goal lead into the third period of tonight's game in front of an announced 18,191...and promptly went out and blew the hell out of it. Two Florida goals in just under 11 minutes tied the game in the third period, and then Cory Stillman ended the torture, by a score of 3-2, for the 'Team of 18,000', by finally ending the nightmare with the lone goal of the four-round shootout, a shootout which, in the opinion of this blogger, should rightfully have never even been allowed to happen.
I can go on and on about how there were goals scored, etc., and how Niklas Backstrom would do well to contact an attorney, as he should sue the players in front of him for non-support. Even after both Shane Hnidy (leg) and Brent Burns (hip) left the game due to injury, the Wild still proved they could disappoint.
There were new lows for shots in regulation (9), a tie for overall fewest shots in a game (11), the second time the Wild has taken a two-goal lead into the third period, and so on. But, this is the most telling stat that I could come up with:
There were as many broken sticks (7) as shots on goal (also, 7) until 8:45 remained in the third period. This means there had been 51:15 played, and only seven shots in goal. Seven. Against a Florida Panthers' team of few real stars, and many career 3rd and 4th liners.
This is a classic embarrassment for the Minnesota franchise which vowed to be that much better, on the ice and off, than their other pro counterparts. To play a game like this one, with pretty much your season on the line, against a team which has shown they can be as bad as any in hockey when pushed, in your own building, on regional free TV, when you are in the middle of your season ticket renewal drive, is beyond any possible scope of human comprehension or understanding of how successful businesses draw fans (and, their money, necessary in today's sports landscape of escalating salaries) in the middle of this downturned economy.
As if the Wild needed help alienating any more of their upper-level faithful, most of whom are seeing their season ticket prices raised $5/seat per game, this squad comes out and quite frankly beat themselves this evening. They didn't need the Panthers around to do that.
New Ulm High School would have gladly done the honors, but they were busy next door at the State High School Boys' Hockey banquet at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
Too bad for the Wild. Because New Ulm would have provided a better challenge...
and if you care to stomach it:
Next Game: at Detroit, Thursday, March 11, 6:30 PM Central (7:30 PM Eastern) Time, Joe Louis Arena. (Wild TV: FSNorth; Detroit TV: FSDetroit; NHL Network-US; XM Radio, Ch. 237)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Iggy Pop: Iginla's hat trick singes Wild, Flames win 5-2
Second straight Sunday afternoon heartbreaker for Minnesota hockey fans dooms Wild
By Wild Road Tripper
You just knew it was going to be Jarome Iginla's day Sunday afternoon in St. Paul, after the Wild's 'Propaganda Minister', Kevin Falness, started talking about how Iginla hadn't scored a point vs. the Minnesota Wild this season, and had not found twine vs. the Wild in nearly two years.
All that came to a crashing halt, as the Calgary Flames officially put the Wild's playoff chances on life-support, after a 5-2 drubbing before 18,217 at Xcel Energy Center, on the day when the Wild celebrated the 400th consecutive full house (albeit with NO presents) in team history.
Iginla not only ended his drought, he started a flood. His three goal, one assist afternoon put the Flames only one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the 8th and final playoff spot in the NHL Western Conference. The Wild loss, combined with Detroit's win in Chicago, now means the Wild are 7 points back of Detroit with 18 games remaining in the season. The Wild now actually have a two game losing streak going into a stretch of 4 games, a pattern which will repeat itself virtually the rest of the month of March.
If there was any doubt as to how the game was going to go, all that was decided just 19 seconds into the game when Rene Borque's tip-in of a Steve Staios shot went past a screened Niklas Backstrom for a 1-0 Calgary lead, the fastest goal after the game's start ever scored against the Wild. The Flames were never even brought close after that. Iginla's afternoon was his third all-time hat trick against the Wild, his eighth career game-winner against the Wild, and his 28th, 29th and 30th all-time goals against the Wild. He now leads all NHL players in game-winners against Minnesota (surpassing Colorado's Joe Sakic) and now has 53 all-time points against the Wild. Iginla also assisted on Sidney Crosby's Olympic gold medal-winning goal last Sunday afternoon in Vancouver, when Canada defeated the USA in overtime, as well.
Lost (or, almost so) in all the Iggy-love, is the fact the Guillaume Latendresse scored twice in the second period, to bring the game to within 3-2, as close as the Wild would get all afternoon. Latendresse now has 20 goals with the Wild since coming from Montreal Nov. 23rd, 13 of which are in the friendly confines of the 'X'. He surpasses Andrew Brunette as the leading goal scorer on the Wild (Brunette has 18, all with the Wild this season). In addition, Cal Clutterbuck was injured early in the first period (initial reports are a charleyhorse) and he did not return.
Next Game: vs. Florida, Tuesday, Mar. 9, 7:00 PM, Xcel Energy Center. (Wild TV: KSTC-45; Panthers' TV: FSNFlorida (in HD); XM Radio, Ch. 207)
By Wild Road Tripper
You just knew it was going to be Jarome Iginla's day Sunday afternoon in St. Paul, after the Wild's 'Propaganda Minister', Kevin Falness, started talking about how Iginla hadn't scored a point vs. the Minnesota Wild this season, and had not found twine vs. the Wild in nearly two years.
All that came to a crashing halt, as the Calgary Flames officially put the Wild's playoff chances on life-support, after a 5-2 drubbing before 18,217 at Xcel Energy Center, on the day when the Wild celebrated the 400th consecutive full house (albeit with NO presents) in team history.
Iginla not only ended his drought, he started a flood. His three goal, one assist afternoon put the Flames only one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the 8th and final playoff spot in the NHL Western Conference. The Wild loss, combined with Detroit's win in Chicago, now means the Wild are 7 points back of Detroit with 18 games remaining in the season. The Wild now actually have a two game losing streak going into a stretch of 4 games, a pattern which will repeat itself virtually the rest of the month of March.
If there was any doubt as to how the game was going to go, all that was decided just 19 seconds into the game when Rene Borque's tip-in of a Steve Staios shot went past a screened Niklas Backstrom for a 1-0 Calgary lead, the fastest goal after the game's start ever scored against the Wild. The Flames were never even brought close after that. Iginla's afternoon was his third all-time hat trick against the Wild, his eighth career game-winner against the Wild, and his 28th, 29th and 30th all-time goals against the Wild. He now leads all NHL players in game-winners against Minnesota (surpassing Colorado's Joe Sakic) and now has 53 all-time points against the Wild. Iginla also assisted on Sidney Crosby's Olympic gold medal-winning goal last Sunday afternoon in Vancouver, when Canada defeated the USA in overtime, as well.
Lost (or, almost so) in all the Iggy-love, is the fact the Guillaume Latendresse scored twice in the second period, to bring the game to within 3-2, as close as the Wild would get all afternoon. Latendresse now has 20 goals with the Wild since coming from Montreal Nov. 23rd, 13 of which are in the friendly confines of the 'X'. He surpasses Andrew Brunette as the leading goal scorer on the Wild (Brunette has 18, all with the Wild this season). In addition, Cal Clutterbuck was injured early in the first period (initial reports are a charleyhorse) and he did not return.
Next Game: vs. Florida, Tuesday, Mar. 9, 7:00 PM, Xcel Energy Center. (Wild TV: KSTC-45; Panthers' TV: FSNFlorida (in HD); XM Radio, Ch. 207)
Friday, March 5, 2010
Slick Ending: Comrie's SO goal greases Wild, 2-1
It was fan appreciation night in Edmonton Friday, but the Edmonton Oilers took the biggest giveaway away from the Minnesota Wild at Rexall Place in the shootout, as a Mike Comrie backhander meant the Wild lost by a score of 2-1 in front of 16,839.
Mikko Koivu and Marek Zidlicky scored for Minnesota in the shootout, as ex-Gopher Ryan Potulny and Gilbert Brule also scored for Edmonton.
Jeff Deslauriers single-handedly willed the Oilers to the shootout, as he robbed several Wild players in the last minute of OT to take the game to the shootout session.
The game started with the only goal of the first period coming from a Comrie wrap-around nearly half-way thru the period. The Wild only had one shot in the first 10 minutes of the game.
The second period was Guillaume Latendresse doing unto Edmonton what Edmonton did unto him earlier, a wrap-around which glanced off Oilers' goalie Jeff Deslauriers' skate and into the net, tying the game at one-all.
The third period was nearly a free-for-all as the referees (Kelly Sutherland and Olympic referee Dennis LaRue) stopped calling anything at all, save for an Owen Nolan goalie interference penalty at 14:01 after he was pushed over in front of the Edmonton goal. Niklas Backstrom saved the day when a Gilbert Brule back-door play was robbed with just over 2 minutes left in regulation.
Overtime began with the Wild charging into the Edmonton zone, as Koivu and Latendresse having clear chances and coming away empty-handed in the first minute. The Wild actually lost ground in the West, as both Detroit and Calgary won Friday night, as the Wild are still in 13th in the West going into Sunday afternoon, and the Next Game: vs. Calgary, 2:00 PM Sunday, Central Time (TV: KSTP-5 (in HD).
-- WRT
Mikko Koivu and Marek Zidlicky scored for Minnesota in the shootout, as ex-Gopher Ryan Potulny and Gilbert Brule also scored for Edmonton.
Jeff Deslauriers single-handedly willed the Oilers to the shootout, as he robbed several Wild players in the last minute of OT to take the game to the shootout session.
The game started with the only goal of the first period coming from a Comrie wrap-around nearly half-way thru the period. The Wild only had one shot in the first 10 minutes of the game.
The second period was Guillaume Latendresse doing unto Edmonton what Edmonton did unto him earlier, a wrap-around which glanced off Oilers' goalie Jeff Deslauriers' skate and into the net, tying the game at one-all.
The third period was nearly a free-for-all as the referees (Kelly Sutherland and Olympic referee Dennis LaRue) stopped calling anything at all, save for an Owen Nolan goalie interference penalty at 14:01 after he was pushed over in front of the Edmonton goal. Niklas Backstrom saved the day when a Gilbert Brule back-door play was robbed with just over 2 minutes left in regulation.
Overtime began with the Wild charging into the Edmonton zone, as Koivu and Latendresse having clear chances and coming away empty-handed in the first minute. The Wild actually lost ground in the West, as both Detroit and Calgary won Friday night, as the Wild are still in 13th in the West going into Sunday afternoon, and the Next Game: vs. Calgary, 2:00 PM Sunday, Central Time (TV: KSTP-5 (in HD).
-- WRT
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Roasted: Kiprusoff shows Olympic form as Backstrom shines, Wild shutout Flames
The same form which Calgary Flames goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff showed in the medal round of the recent Winter Olympics, was shown again on Wednesday night in the Pengrowth Saddledome against the Minnesota Wild.
With a similar result.
Niklas Backstrom, who bailed out Kiprusoff in that semi-final Finnish loss to the USA, made 29 saves as the Wild defeated the Flames 4-0 in front of 19,289 booing and jeering patrons, the third win of the season for the Wild versus the Flames, and their second straight in an arena which, until this season, has traditionally been a house of horrors.
Mikko Koivu and Andrew Brunette each tallied a goal and an assist, and Martin Havlat and Kyle Brodziak also chipped in as the Wild moved to 66 points, 4 behind eighth-place Detroit. Owen Nolan, rumored to be on the trade block until Wednesday's trade deadline, also chipped in an assist, setting up Brodziak on a textbook give-and-go which beat Kiprusoff for what would be the game winning goal.
Two defensemen -- Brent Burns and Cam Barker, Barker playing his second game for the Wild following his Feb. 12 trade from Chicago for Kim Johnsson -- each were a +3 for the night, as the Wild closed to within four points of eighth-place Detroit for the final playoff spot in the NHL Western Conference. But with the schedule featuring match-ups of teams the Wild must get ahead of playing each other, night after night, one must pose the question:
Is it too little, too late?
--WRT
With a similar result.
Niklas Backstrom, who bailed out Kiprusoff in that semi-final Finnish loss to the USA, made 29 saves as the Wild defeated the Flames 4-0 in front of 19,289 booing and jeering patrons, the third win of the season for the Wild versus the Flames, and their second straight in an arena which, until this season, has traditionally been a house of horrors.
Mikko Koivu and Andrew Brunette each tallied a goal and an assist, and Martin Havlat and Kyle Brodziak also chipped in as the Wild moved to 66 points, 4 behind eighth-place Detroit. Owen Nolan, rumored to be on the trade block until Wednesday's trade deadline, also chipped in an assist, setting up Brodziak on a textbook give-and-go which beat Kiprusoff for what would be the game winning goal.
Two defensemen -- Brent Burns and Cam Barker, Barker playing his second game for the Wild following his Feb. 12 trade from Chicago for Kim Johnsson -- each were a +3 for the night, as the Wild closed to within four points of eighth-place Detroit for the final playoff spot in the NHL Western Conference. But with the schedule featuring match-ups of teams the Wild must get ahead of playing each other, night after night, one must pose the question:
Is it too little, too late?
--WRT
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