Game #47: Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames, Wednesday January 19, 2011 at 8:30pm CST, Scotiabank Saddledome [GAME PREVIEW]

If you watch any amount of television, you generally find yourselves annoyed by commercials.  However, from time to time, a commercial appears that makes you laugh, if not smile, every time you see it.  Satellite television provider, Direct TV came out with the above gem in the last year.  I’m not sure what it is about the commercial that makes me laugh, but it gets me every time.  I don’t know if it’s the broken English, the possibility that he’s a member of Russian organized crime, or his joy over his impossibly miniature giraffe.  Now if every commercial on television could be as fun, I know I wouldn’t be as annoyed by commercials.

In recent days, I find myself thinking of this commercial.  Why you might ask?  That can be answered simply with two words.  Anton Khudobin.  Yes, I know by birth, he’s technically from Kazakhstan.  However, one only has to think back to a post-game interview last season, where he most emphatically (was as emphatically as one can in broken English) corrected Kevin Gorg (I believe) that he’s Russian.  I can understand that feeling.  I consider myself from Minnesota, however my husband likes to remind me that I’m technically from Wisconsin, as that’s where the hospital I was born in is located.  I would say for some people, and Khudobin appears to be one of those people, where one is born is simply a technicality.  Anyway, listening to Khudobin’s interviews instantly make me think of the Russian man in the Direct TV commercial.  In fact a comment in today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune makes me think that even more.  In an article today about Khudobin, Michael Russo spoke with Wild goaltending coach, Bob Mason.  Mason mentioned a comment by Khudobin after the loss to Colorado where Khudobin asked Mason “Why I move so much?”  For some reason broken English spoken by Russians strikes me as humorous.  Please don’t take this as a slam against Khudobin and other people of foreign birth in North America.  Trust me, I have to admire his progress.  I know his English is better now than my own grasp of the German language will ever be.  However, having studied two languages that are not my own, I can appreciate the humor that can come with those studies.

While Khudobin’s grasp of English is humorous at times, his antics in the crease have been equally humorous at times.  In the same article I referenced above, fellow Wild goaltender, JoseTheodore was asked to comment on Khudobin’s style.  The gist is that Khudobin is a very athletic goaltender, however extremely unorthodox.  That combination results  in a lot of flailing and flopping.  It’s not pretty, however we have seen how his flailing and spinning has saved the team, especially last night in Edmonton where he had little support in front of him.  The unorthodoxy of his style is most likely due to the fact that he is essentially self-taught.  When he was 10 years-old, he moved from defenseman to goaltender, however was on his own for the most part.  Perhaps he somehow is able to channel those defenseman vibes to his defenseman as there have been times when players like Brent Burns have saved his hide.  Yes, Khudobin is entertaining to watch and listen to, but you can be sure that he is working hard on a more orthodox style of goaltending.  With as athletic as he is, he can only get better when he figures out how to combine his athleticism with more conventional goaltending.

Khudobin’s days in Minnesota, at least for this season, may be limited.  Tonight in Calgary, Niklas Backstrom is expected to get the start.  He’s been out with a hip issue since the New Year.  For tonight, Khudobin will be filling in the role as backup.  Of course if Backstrom struggles, Wild head coach, Todd Richards will hopefully feel confident in Khudobin after the past two games to make the switch.  Also, Theodore is hoping to return to practice on Friday in San Jose.  When both Backstrom and Theodore come back to form, Khudobin will be back to Houston.  However, there are still a lot of questions regarding his more long-term future.  One of the positions that the Wild are flush with, is at goaltender.  I wouldn’t immediately write Khudobin off though, as a smart team will stock up on goaltenders because you never know when injuries, lack of success, trades or other such hockey issues come up.  Khudobin may benefit by the one-year deal that Theodore signed, as with the relative success that Theodore has found in Minnesota, he could say to the Wild this off-season that he needs a fatter contract.  With some of the salary cap issues that the Wild have, they really can’t afford another big goaltending contract.  And there are teams in this league that will definitely take another look at Theodore as a possible cure for their own goaltending woes.

With the Wild playing the second game of a back-to-back, the Wild need to channel some sort of energy.  Especially considering that the Wild have an abysmal 1-6-3 record this season in the second games of back-to-backs.  Calgary is a dangerous opponent to face on the second night.  With the Wild’s consistency woes, it could easily be an ugly game.  Hopefully they realize how poorly they truly played last night.  Truth be told, there really is no reason the Wild should have won last night.  If the Wild are smart, they’ll take a cue from the Russian in the Direct TV commercial, and simply “jump in it.”   

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