I don’t know about you, but it’s beginning to feel like season hasn’t really started yet. Remember those two games against the Colorado Avalanche? They might as well have been an extension of the pre-season. There is only one other team in the entire league who has played a mere two games. That team would be the Vancouver Canucks. And there are also eight teams that have only played one more game. I would like to think that whoever created this season’s schedule is getting some heat for how unbalanced the schedule is. Why is it that there are 20 teams in the league have played at least four games? By this point in the season, the range of games played should be more even across the board. Of course, it makes one wonder if there’s some sort of conspiracy in play. Looking at the standings, the teams with 5-6 games under their belts already are teams that one would expect to see in the playoff picture. Just looking at Boston’s schedule, you definitely see some nice breaks in their schedule in February and March, when teams are in the desperate push for playoff appearances and positioning.
So the Wild head to Anaheim. It’s been a tough opponent for Minnesota in the past, but it’s going to be even harder after a week’s break. Some teams do well getting a decent amount of time off. However, Minnesota has never been that team. Ever since the inaugural season, if the Wild have had more than three days off between games, that first game back is usually a major disappointment. And to make matters worse, it’s a late game for Wild players, coaches and fans. I am not a fan of West Coast games. In fact, they’re my least favorite games we play all season, especially if they land on a work night. Realignment has certainly helped the lateness factor, but there are still enough late games. Yet, I do have some good news. The other night, I took a look at the Wild’s schedule. In 82 regular season games, there is only one with a 9:30pm (Central Time) start time. 9:00pm start times are bad enough, but that extra half hour can be a killer. Although, it’s not as if the games actually start at 7, 8, or 9. But that’s another issue for another day.
1st Period Thoughts: First things first. That was a horrific rendition of the national anthem. For the love of music people, sing it with some respect and dignity. Okay, I’m finished with that rant for the night. One thing I’ve noticed, is that the Wild have definitely come out with some energy and offensive thinking tonight. The first minute and a half was spent predominantly in the Anaheim end. While Minnesota only registered one shot on goal, there was a feeling that they had a nose for the net. Yet while they had that pressure, Charlie Coyle would register the first penalty just 2 minutes and 20 seconds in. With hard work and skating, the Wild would be able to kill the penalty. Not only that, it was if they took over where they left off prior to Coyle’s penalty. You definitely want to see your team winning faceoffs and spending lots of time in the offensive zone. Just under seven minutes into the game, and the Wild have won all the faceoffs. Hopefully that is a trend that continues. It looks like this could be a night of questionable ice, which is not uncommon this time of the year in California. There have been a couple of times already that Wild players have fallen, when normally (meaning on good ice) they wouldn’t have those issues. The Wild have gotten some nice scoring chances due to turnovers or the inability of Anaheim to clear the zone. However, they’ve been unable to convert those chances. Either the puck is on the heel of the stick or it lands in their skates. You have to think that eventually one of those are going to have to get past Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen. Just when I think Minnesota will back off, they prove me wrong. I don’t know though, if they will be able to maintain the puck possession in the offensive zone all game like they’ve managed to do so far. With around five minutes remaining in the period, the Wild spent a lot more time in their zone. Not something you want to see, especially when combined with a Matt Dumba penalty for hooking. Late in the period, Minnesota will need to work on clearing the puck, because a late period goal can often be demoralizing. Thankfully the Wild would get their first power play with one second left in Dumba’s penalty. While the Wild have done fairly well in the scoring department in their two games, they have not fared well on the power play. That sad trend would continue yet again. Minnesota would head into the locker room after a scoreless period.
2nd Period Thoughts: The second period didn’t seem to have the same kind of jump for Minnesota. While it’s not horrible, I think the Ducks have decided to start showing their superior size. Now while I like the speed that Minnesota finally has, the size is still an issue. However, that speed showed its importance. Very quietly, the Wild were able to put up the first goal of the night, thanks to Jason Zucker. It was the kind of shot that players take all the time, but usually a goaltender will stop it or it hits another player on the way toward the net. But hey, the goal came about thanks to the speed of Zucker and Erik Haula. One thing I don’t like, is that after the goal, it feels like the Wild got a little sloppy. I can’t fully tell if it’s a matter of Minnesota backing off or if the ice is really that bad. You know the ice is really bad when you can possibly pawn off poor play on the ice. So if it wasn’t warm enough to effect the ice, it’s seems to be raising the temperatures of the players as well. After Darcy Kuemper made a tricky save, Ryan Getzlaf decided to take an extra jab on Jonas Brodin. Standing up for his teammate, Coyle stepped in. However, that earned Coyle two penalties, one for charging and one for roughing. Getzlaf earned a penalty of his own. With Coyle in the box with Justin Fontaine (serving the extra), the Wild would only have to kill two minutes. Minnesota would successfully kill the penalty. However, the minutes just after the kill were a bit tense as it just felt like they couldn’t clear the zone. Thankfully, they got the next best thing, Kuemper stopping and freezing the puck. Just past the midway part of the period, I’m starting to feel a bit nervous. Once again, the Wild find themselves in the penalty box on a tripping infraction by Keith Ballard. Eventually you just can’t kill anymore penalties, especially when combined with bad ice and bigger players. They are getting the shorthanded faceoffs which definitely helps kill the penalty. Both teams are getting better scoring chances, especially Anaheim. There was a scary moment where Kuemper took a shot right on his mask. It looked like he purposely threw his mask to stop play. However, the shot broke a strap and/or buckle, so he had the right to throw his mask. After the equipment repair, the Wild’s play seems to have improved a little bit. I would feel a little more comfortable if the Wild could head into the locker room with another goal, but I don’t know if either team will manage to score in the waning minutes of the period. Minnesota had some great opportunities for wide open nets, but once again the ice rears its ugly head and the Wild would be unable to convert. Surprisingly, the Wild would head into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
3rd Period Thoughts: If Darcy Kuemper isn’t named one of, if not the first star tonight I will be shocked. Even when Anaheim gets pressure on him, he has managed to stand tall and stop everything coming at him. Minnesota would get an early power play after Clayton Stoner was called for roughing. Minnesota would get a great scoring chance which ended up with Thomas Vanek in the bottom of a pile in the crease. I could also argue that Vanek has had his best game in a Wild uniform tonight. He’s in the right places tonight, and I have to wonder if the ice was in better shape if he wouldn’t have a goal tonight. And just when you think Minnesota would get the puck back in the zone, it got juggled at the blue line, and the Ducks would tie it up with a shorthanded goal by Andrew Cogliano. Goals are going to be hard to come by, so giving up a shorthanded goal is going to be tough to fight back from. Sure, the game is tied, but somehow Minnesota is going to have to work even harder to find another goal. And now that Anaheim has that goal, they have the energy. Unfortunately that energy is being manifested by using their bodies to crush our smaller players. Minnesota would earn another power play after Chris Wagner hooked Ryan Carter at the blue line. Minnesota continues to get close to scoring, but still finding difficulties scoring a power play goal. Another positive I’ve seen in tonight’s game is that the Wild have managed to win the “small ice” game, meaning when they have a player on them in the corner or along the boards, Minnesota has managed to control the puck. That’s something that Minnesota has rarely been successful with. Regardless of the final score tonight, it’s these little things that I’m happy to see. In the long run, if they continue the little things and build on them, the Wild are going to have a good season. And then they turn around and make a major mistake. A series of poor clearing attempts and passes, and the Ducks have the first lead of the game. The passing is not the passing we saw in the first period. My other issue, other than Zucker’s foolish pass, is I really do not like Matt Dumba’s game. He makes me nervous every time he’s on the ice. Personally I wish they would send him to Iowa for some seasoning. I don’t think he’s ready for the NHL, but considering what our blue line looks like, we really don’t have any other choices. Yes, the blue line will be Minnesota’s Waterloo. The Wild appear to making a concerted issue to reduce Ryan Suter’s time on ice. However, I almost wish we’d play him more until the rest of the blue line was prepared to take some of his minutes. A tired Suter is sometimes better than the rest of Minnesota’s defensemen. So there are a lot of lessons coming out of this game, both good and bad. Of course, another lesson I learned, is that Ryan Kesler is as much of a jerk in Ducks uniform as he was in a Canucks jersey. Although, he may be even worse now.
Darcy Kuemper did enough to give his team a chance to win as he made 24 saves in the loss. He came up with some outstanding saves, but the players in front of him didn’t help by not burying their chances when they materialize. Vanek appeared more comfortable tonight, leading the team with 7 shots on goal. Hopefully the team can rebound on Sunday against the Kings.
Wild Notes:
~ The Wild roster tonight was as follows: Charlie Coyle, Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise, Justin Fontaine, Jason Zucker, Ryan Carter, Nino Niederreiter, Matt Cooke, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Keith Ballard, Marco Scandella, Ryan Suter, Jonas Brodin, Jaren Spurgeon, and Matt Dumba. Darcy Kuemper was backed up by Niklas Backstrom.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1st Star Frederik Andersen, 2nd Andrew Cogliano, 3rd Star Sami Vatanen
~ Attendance was 17,000+ at Honda Center.
Wild Prospect Report:
D – Hunter Warner (Prince Albert, WHL) ~ The hard-hitting Eden Prairie-native is throwing his weight around on a struggling Prince Albert squad. Warner’s lone assist wasn’t enough in a 5-3 loss to Moose Jaw on Wednesday night. The 6’3″, 205lbs blueliner has just 1 assist in 6 games played this season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
