The presents have been opened, most of the cookies, bars and other delicious delicacies have been consumed. As fans across the State of Hockey refocus from the hangover (maybe literally) from the holidays and make their way to the Xcel Energy Center it will interesting to see what crowd shows up. Will they be the super patient, festive crowd that is simply enjoying the opportunity to go to a game or will be the critical variety I’ve talked a lot to over the last 3 days of this holiday break in the season? The kind of fans that are thoroughly annoyed with the way the team is playing, virtually void of patience for another pathetic effort. The Wild have sleepwalked through a long homestand and have placed their season at a crossroads. If Minnesota needed anymore pressure, part of the crowd today will no doubt be a horde of fans from Winnipeg who are hoping their club can continue what has been their best season since moving north of the border.
The Wild have their backs against the wall and we’re all about to find out what kind of team we have. Do we still a playoff contender or a pretender? Expectations are typical of Minnesota sports fans, both high and low, where fans believe the team should be far better than what they’ve been showing but they’re also expecting to be terribly disappointed. So can the Wild surprise fans with a post-Christmas victory or will sour the holiday cheer with another abysmal effort?
1st Period Thoughts: The game started out fast and physical as the Jets’ dictated the pace early on. The Wild seemed to struggle a bit against the Jets’ physical play as they were able to cause Minnesota to turnover the puck. John Curry, making the emergency start had to keep his wits about him as Winnipeg wanted to test him right away. Minnesota was fast to retreat back to its own end and then used quick passes exit its zone cleanly. Tempers would flare early as Ryan Carter tripped up Winnipeg’s Adam Pardy who didn’t like being knocked down and he punched Carter below the waist and a fracas would ensue near the Jets’ crease. As the pushing and shoving unfolded, Stu Bickel and Chris Thorburn would separate and drop the gloves. It wasn’t an overly spirited fight with Bickel throwing lots of punches early and then Thorburn throwing more later in the fight before Bickel wrestled the Jets’ tough guy to the ice. The net of the play was a Jets’ power play as Carter was given a tripping minor. Minnesota’s penalty kill was very aggressive, as they pressured the puck carrier and never allowed Winnipeg to feel comfortable in the offensive zone. Kyle Brodziak would block a shot near the blueline and then race down the ice on a partial breakaway where he fired a shot high over the Jets’ goal. Minnesota thought it got the big kill, but Carter would play the puck before he had completely exited the box and earned a strange interference penalty in the process. With Carter back in the box, the Wild went back on the kill and again they’d be very aggressive against the Jets’ power play and their puck pressure was able to force turnovers and Minnesota had Winnipeg valuable time chasing them around the ice. Erik Haula and Brodziak were again particularly pesky and Minnesota was able to kill another power play without too much trouble. The Wild seemed to gain some momentum from the big penalty kills and they were really flying all over the ice. The physical play continued as Nino Niederreiter got lit up pretty well by Dustin Byfuglien as he tried to enter the offensive zone, but then moments later it was Pardy dishing a high hit to Parise for an interference penalty. On the power play the Wild were remarkably sharp and efficient, moving the puck well from high to down low and funneling pucks on goal. Parise, Thomas Vanek had a few nice chances from in close but Hutchinson was up to the task. The Jets were able to kill off the power play, but the home crowd was appreciative of the focused effort that seemed to keep the momentum rolling. The Wild would strike a few minutes later as Jason Pominville found Mikael Granlund who got a step on Ben Chiarot and he’d get off a quick wrist shot that just snuck underneath the arm of Hutchinson and in to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead. The Wild would draw another power play late as Mike Peluso earned a pretty weak cross-checking call near the Minnesota bench. Minnesota seemed content to cruise into the 2nd with a 1-0 lead as they took a more relaxed approach on the power play; over passing and overhandling the puck and squandering potential scoring chances. Minnesota out shot the Jets’ 8-7 but was being out hit 10-2. Pretty good start, but they need to keep up their intensity.
2nd Period Thoughts: The Wild started the 2nd with 26 seconds of power play time carrying over from the 1st period. Minnesota did nothing with the extra time; just trying to use it to work the puck deep to gain a territorial advantage early. The Wild were swarming well early and Michael Hutchinson would play the puck and pass it right to Pominville who fired a quick shot that Hutchinson snagged with the glove. Minnesota was using small passes to counter attack quickly and the top line had an improbable sequence as Jason Pominville raced up the ice before dropping it back to Stu Bickel down the slot who got off a heavy shot that Hutchinson juggled a bit before covering it up. The Wild were doing a great job at entering the Jets’ zone with speed and drawing the Winnipeg defense back and this led to shooting opportunities. Minnesota was winning the small races to the loose puck, and the Jets were starting to become frustrated. Great case in point, Justin Fontaine negates an icing with great hustle and then eventually gets the puck on his stick and narrowly misses on a wrap around attempt. The Jets were now scrambling in their own end as Justin Falk stepped into a slap shot from the point that Hutchinson steered into the corner. With the Wild playing well, the Jets would tie the game as Bryan Little beat Curry with a backhander, 5-hole that Curry certainly would want back. 1-1 now. The Jets show more jump after the goal, and they’d come close on a few more chances in the first minute after Little’s tally as Mark Schiefele nearly connected with Michael Frolik that just missed wide on his redirect. The Wild tried to settle things down, as they go back on the attack. A long shot by Jared Spurgeon would be tipped up into the air by Zach Parise and the puck would flutter up and back down into the goal, but was immediately waived off by NHL referee Dean Morton who said Parise’s contact compromised Hutchinson’s ability to make the save. The review certainly demonstrated Parise made contact but he was also being pushed around by Byfuglien the sequence, but it didn’t matter, no goal. Parise and Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo protested the ‘no goal’ call but it didn’t matter. Minnesota and Winnipeg were battling for every foot of ice, as both clubs could sense the importance of the next goal. The Wild was using its 4th line of Fontaine, Carter and Brodziak a lot as the group was working hard and doing a nice job of working the puck into the Winnipeg end. The Wild were trying to work the puck out front and jam it home but they had to pay a physical price to do so as Byfuglien and Chiarot were quick to tackle any Minnesota forward trying to do so. An anxious silence was heard at the conclusion of the period with both clubs knotted at 1-1 going into the 3rd period.
3rd Period Thoughts: The Wild would start the 3rd with a great scoring chance as Marco Scandella set up Mikko Koivu for a wide open shot and the team’s captain blasted a puck several feet wide of the goal as he had a ton of net to work with as Hutchinson was caught out on top of his crease. The missed chance would boomerang into Winnipeg taking the lead as they’d crash the crease as Adam Lowry poked a shot up and over a sprawling Curry who couldn’t corral the puck after the initial save. 2-1 Winnipeg. Minnesota would try to answer back, but the Jets did a pretty good job at challenging the Wild with solid physical play as they were pulling the trigger as they forced shots wide of the mark. The Wild were looking for the perfect set up and at times they were guilty of forcing the fancy passing play instead of just taking the opportunity to send a puck on net. The Jets were willing to retreat and put four players on its blueline and just dare Minnesota to try to enter the offensive zone. Winnipeg also continued to make Minnesota pay a steep physical price to make plays and Byfuglien would send Granlund flying with a high hit that earned him an inteference penalty. On the man advantage the Wild would use a little player movement before Zach Parise set up Pominville for a slap shot that was knocked down and covered up by Hutchinson as players pushed and shoved after the whistle. The veteran-laden group moved the puck around but was unable to get many shots through to Hutchinson. The 2nd unit would come out and they’d have a few nice chances as Thomas Vanek set up Niederreiter for a quick shot that he directed wide of the mark. The Wild would come up empty on the power play, but they were able to build up some positive momentum and Minnesota would go back to work to tie the game. They did not have to wait long as Jason Pominville would skate in and wind up and blast a slap shot that he wired top corner over the shoulder of Hutchinson. 2-2 game. Minnesota would draw a power play as Charlie Coyle got Andrew Ladd to tie him up. Too bad the Wild got overconfident on the power play, as they tried to thread a cross-ice pass through 4-5 bodies to Pominville which was then intercepted and the Jets would counter attack and Evander Kane would send a diagonal pass towards the crease that was directed on goal by the skates of Blake Wheeler who was trying to stop. The goal was reviewed but there was no kicking motion and it was ruled a good goal. Minnesota still had power play time to work with and the 2nd unit would strike as Jared Spurgeon stepped into a slap pass that was redirected by Thomas Vanek and off the leg of Byfuglien and by Hutchinson to tie the game at 3-3. Any shot was a good one at this point in the game as Erik Haula sent a shot on goal that was stopped by Hutchinson and Matt Cooke was there to jam at the rebound before he was knocked down by Grant Clitsome and then hit again by Andrew Ladd. The hit by Ladd drew the ire of Cooke who chirped at the Jets’ captain as they skated back to the bench. Marco Scandella would trip up Bryan Little giving the Jets a power play with less than 5 minutes left in regulation. On the power play the Jets were cautious of making a big mistake and the Wild were able to control the first half of the power play with timely puck pressure to clear the zone. Minnesota’s hustle would draw a power play as Paul Postma‘s shot would be blocked by Ryan Carter who raced up the ice and was tripped up by the Jets’ defenseman giving the Wild a power play. With the ice a bit more open 4-on-4 the Wild had a nice chance as Koivu found Parise with a pass as he entered teh Jets’ zone with speed before firing a wrist shot that was absorbed by Hutchinson. It would take nearly 30 seconds before Minnesota would get set up in the Jets’ zone before they managed to set up Spurgeon for a wide open shot from the high slot that was stopped by Hutchinson as more pushing and shoving occurred after the whistle. After the failed power play the Wild had another glorious chance as Niederreiter and Coyle nearly combined with Coyle sending a puck high over the goal and the game would go to overtime. Big missed opportunity for Minnesota to earn two clean points against Winnipeg.
Overtime Thoughts: In overtime the Wild would get hemmed into its own zone early but Minnesota would regroup and try to go on the attack but an offsides call squandered what looked to be a 3-on-2 rush for Minnesota. The Wild seemed to have a sense of urgency in overtime, taking every chance to go on the attack as Scandella fired a wrist shot off the wing that was stopped by Hutchinson. Winnipeg would get Minnesota scrambling a bit and a hard shot by Andrew Ladd would carom off the glass and off top of the net and off the back of Curry and in. 4-3 Jets. The goal would be reviewed for a high stick but there was none and Winnipeg would win.
Tough to be too mad at John Curry for the outcome of the game. Arriving to the team in an emergency role he stopped 18 shots in the loss. The team played better defensively in front of him, limiting the amount of shots he faced but it still wasn’t enough. Curry still could not deliver the big timely save when the Wild needed him to do so. I thought Marco Scandella had a terrific game at both ends, playing strong and getting the team going on the attack the other way rather efficiently. Minnesota was perfect on the penalty kill but that will come with little solace after this loss tonight.
Offensively the Wild got a power play goal, as well as some scoring from players who it needs to raise their game in Mikael Granlund, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. Unfortunately, the team took some moments to be too fancy and too choosy with the puck and the result was a backbreaking shorthanded goal in the 3rd. Luckily they were able to score on the remainder of the power play, but the shorthanded goal was a result of the team forcing a play that wasn’t there for what would’ve probably been of limited value to begin with. I thought Nino Niederreiter was a little too unselfish tonight, taking a page out of some of the clubs’ more disappointing veterans by trying one too many passes. It will be interesting to see what the prognosis is for Granlund who got bounced around more than a few times in this game. If he’s concussed that would trigger some more shuffling on its top 6.
The ‘no goal’ call will be discussed a lot especially since it appeared that Byfuglien pushed Parise into Hutchinson which by rule would offset the contact and thus make it a good goal. Still, the Wild had plenty of chances to score and missed on open nets. The Mikko Koivu mega miss to start the 2nd period comes to mind. Even if the Wild had managed to win this game, the Wild gave up a crucial point to the Jets in the standings. This team cannot afford to give up extra points like this, especially to Winnipeg whom they trail already in the division and conference standings. The last goal was a perfect personification to the Wild season where the team had dominated most of the play in overtime to give up one flukey chance that managed to hit the glass, then the top of the goal and go in off the back of its 3rd string goaltender. Its just not the Wild’s year and I think most Wild fans are resigned to that fact. Missed opportunities will come back to haunt you and the lucky events keep happening for the Jets who seemed to be primed for their first playoff appearance as a franchise since 2004. The Wild will have to rest up, and heal up and be ready for another war on Monday against the Jets.
Wild Notes:
~ The Wild roster tonight was as follows: Mikko Koivu, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, Justin Fontaine, Zach Parise, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, Kyle Brodziak, Matt Cooke, Ryan Carter, Erik Haula, Ryan Suter, Stu Bickel, Justin Falk, Marco Scandella, Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon. Darcy Kuemper backed up John Curry. Nate Prosser was the lone healthy scratch while Jason Zucker was out of the lineup with an illness.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1st Star Andrew Ladd, 2nd Star Jason Pominville, 3rd Star Blake Wheeler
~ Attendance was 19,177 at Xcel Energy Center.
Iowa Wild Report:
Recent Score: Iowa 2, Rockford 1
The Iowa Wild stopped 59 shots in route to a big victory over the Ice Hogs the last time they were in town. Could they do it again? Iowa would take a 1-0 lead with a power play marker as Michael Keranen set up Tyler Graovac from behind the goal for a quick shot that beat Michael Leighton. Meanwhile the Wild got tremendous goaltending from John Curry who was sharp and absorbing all pucks that came near him to preserve a 1-0 lead going into the 2nd. In the 2nd period, the Ice Hogs would tie the game as Teuvo Teravainen snuck behind the Wild defense and he took a long pass from Cody Bass for a breakaway where he beat Curry with a backhander. Iowa would re-take the lead late in the 2nd as Jordan Schroeder fought off a defender as he got off a shot from between his legs that surprised Leighton to give the Wild a 2-1 lead going into the 3rd. In the 3rd period, it was all Curry who stopped all 14 shots he faced to save a 2-1 victory for Iowa. Curry had 38 saves in the victory. Michael Keranen had two helpers to his credit.
Wild Prospect Report:
F – Christoph Bertschy (SC Bern, NLA) – The shifty forward is a key contributor on the Swiss National League’s top team, as he chipped in an assist in SC Bern’s 4-0 win over HC Fribourg-Gotteron. Bertschy is setting career high’s in goals (11), points (24), 18 PIM’s and is a ‘even’ rating in 32 games this season.
RW – Alex Tuch (Team USA, WJC’s) – The big winger would bury a Jack Eichel pass to help the United States earn a 2-1 shootout victory over Finland. Tuch has a goal and 5 shots on goal in his first game of the tournament.
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