| Record | Pts | Div. Rank | G/G | GA/G | PP% | PK% | |
| Minnesota Wild | (1-2-1) | 3 | 5th NW | 2.50 (19) | 2.50 (12) | 38.1%(1) | 85.7% (14) |
| Vancouver Canucks |
(2-2-1) | 5 | 2nd NW | 2.40 (20) | 2.20 (8) | 27.8% (5) | 88.0% (10) |
| Minnesota Wild | |||
| Top 5 Scorers: | G | A | Pts |
| 1. #7 Matt Cullten | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 2. #9 Mikko Koivu | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 3. #15 Andrew Brunette | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4. #20 Antti Miettinen | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5. #24 Martin Havlat | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Top 3 Penalty Minutes: | PIM | ||
| 1. #5 Greg Zanon | 8 | ||
| 2. #16 Brad Staubitz | 7 | ||
| 3. #25 Cam Barker | 6 | ||
| Goaltenders: | GAA | SV% | |
| 1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (1-2-1) | 2.48 | .916 | |
| 2. #60 Jose Theodore (0-0-0) | |||
| Vancouver Canucks |
|||
| Top 5 Scorers: | G | A | Pts |
| 1. #22 Daniel Sedin | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 2. #33 Henrik Sedin | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 3. #26 Mikael Samuelsson | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 4. #21 Mason Raymond | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 5. #5 Christian Ehrhoff | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Top 3 Penalty Minutes: | PIM | ||
| 1. #13 Raffi Torres | 21 | ||
| 2. #17 Ryan Kesler | 14 | ||
| 3. #41 Andrew Alberts | 9 | ||
| Goaltenders: | GAA | SV% | |
| 1. #1 Roberto Luongo (1-2-1) | 2.46 | .920 | |
| 2. #35 Corey Schneider (1-0-0) | 1.00 | .970 | |
There are times that I wish I was an astrologist. This is one of those times. I don’t have this wish because I wish to predict the future. However, I’d be curious to look at how the respective star charts of the players, coaches, and management affect the team as a whole. Just seeing how this team seems to be falling apart right now, I have to wonder if their are powers at work that no one can control.
With the new players brought in for this season, as well as the last members of the previous coaching and management team moved out, many thought this would be a season of change and growth. Sure, no one expected playoffs, but many expected vast improvement. However that has not been what we’ve seen. A dismal pre-season rolled into a dismal two games in Helsinki. What should have been a positive start to the season came to a head during Sunday’s practice. According to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, players took their frustrations out on each other. It’s hard to say if the frustrations came just because of how they’re playing as a team or if their emotions were simply running high because of the grueling bag skate that head coach Todd Richards put the team through. According to Russo, not only was the practice physically taxing, Richards (finally) laid into the team with what Russo called an “profanity-laced screamfest.” After that practice, John Madden believes the message has finally been received by the team. I suppose you better “get it” quickly because I don’t anyone wants to spend another 20 minutes doing nothing but skating without sticks and pucks. Too bad Richards couldn’t have had more practices like this last season instead of holding the dreaded optional ones.
Now, it appears that some sort of bug is making its way through the locker room. Eric Nystrom missed the practice from hell because of being sick. Sunday, Matt Cullen joined him. Then yesterday, Nick Schultz and Martin Havlat missed practice. With all the players feeling under the weather, the Wild have called up Colton Gillies from Houston in case we’re short forwards for tonight. Clayton Stoner is in reserves in the event we lose a defenseman before game time. Along with illness, there are some additional injuries in the ranks as well. Brent Burns has a broken foot, but plans on playing with protective gear on his foot much like Greg Zanon did last season. In the event that Burns simply can’t keep up or injures his foot further (or gets sick), it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Stoner on the ice tonight.
It is my sincerest wish that the Wild finally got the message on Sunday that efforts like Saturday’s are completely unacceptable. Truly, they should need to have their coach bark at them. Hopefully, they can combine their feelings of frustration, with a sense of urgency, along with the fans’ excitement (or dread) at the prospect of Vancouver being tonight’s opponent. It’s hard to say what sort of fireworks will show up on the ice, it really just depends on which Wild team shows up. Of course, fans on both sides will be without the Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Alexander Burrows sideshow, as both are out with injuries. It also appears that there could be a size-able local force of Canucks fans in the stands, as Vancouver’s Andrew Alberts is from Eden Prairie. I don’t know about you, but it just seems odd to think of locals wearing Vancouver gear willingly. But then things aren’t so pretty in Wild-land these days. With apathy waiting in the wings, the Wild are going to have to do something soon before they become even more insignificant.
Since I’m not an astrologist, I think I’ll stick to the classic Magic 8 Ball. And in the case of the Minnesota Wild, just the thought of the Magic 8 Ball is somewhat appropriate. Many on that roster have to be wondering if they’re behind the proverbial 8-ball, which is not a good place to be. Having submitted my question to an online version of the Magic 8 Ball if the Wild will beat the Canucks tonight, I was instructed to ask again later. Something tells me that’s not a good sign. I only hope that I’m wrong about that.
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