Game #24: Minnesota Wild vs Phoenix Coyotes, Wednesday December 1, 2010 at 7:00pm CST, Xcel Energy Center [GAME PREVIEW]

I’m sitting here wondering if I should feel excited or not. 

The Wild’s recent play as of late makes it hard to feel excited about anything.  Sure, those opening periods have generally been good ones, full of solid play.  Yet, the second periods tend to be cringe-worthy.  They’re so bad, you have to wonder what is going through the minds of players, coaches and management.  In fact, I think it’s time that someone makes the players cringe like the fans have.  It’s time for them to be uncomfortable.  It’s time for them to be pulled into the boss’ office and given a performance review.  And perhaps it is time for all involved to take a page from Jacques Lemaire’s playbook.  In that if you find yourself in the doghouse, everyone knows it.  We as fans do pay part of a player’s salary, and I think we deserve to see some of the players squirm.

It just seems to be a bit ironic, that with all the drama we’ve been through in this still early part of the season, that Pierre-Marc Bouchard and the team have announced that he will be making his return tonight.  He’s not just returning from any injury, but from a severe concussion that pretty much knocked him out (pun intended) of action almost the entire previous season.  Concussions have easily become the current sports medicine buzzword.  Little kids playing contact sports, especially youth hockey and football are having to undergo the baseline neurological testing now.  What scares many fans about Bouchard’s return is that he has never been known as a physical player.  He’s never been a player willing to go into the corners to dig for a puck.  And what is even more concerning is that Todd Richard’s game-plan involves skaters playing a physical game, and heading into the corners.  People coming back from concussions are often lack some confidence, and are more prone to future concussions.  Another thing that worries me, is that Bouchard’s professional return is directly to the NHL.  No one would have criticized him for doing a rehab stint in the AHL.

It’s also difficult to get excited about tonight’s opponent.  There once was a time when a game against the Phoenix Coyotes was almost a sure win.  Those days have changed.  Last season, the Wild were swept by the Coyotes.  While this may seem somewhat blasphemous, one has to respect the turn around that has happened in the desert.  With all the chaos surrounding that team, the fact that they can put a winning team on the ice is amazing.  In fact, you have to admire that.  However, it does beg the question why a team such as the Wild with solid ownership can’t find continuous success when a team without an owner is most likely playoff bound.  Just comparing the salary makeup of the Wild and the Coyotes, really makes you wish we had the salary numbers that they have in Phoenix.  Just one more example of why paying someone more does not mean they will play better. 

Tonight’s game will most likely hinge on that crucial second period.  So goes the second period, so goes the Wild.

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