Game #72: Minnesota Wild vs Vancouver Canucks, Monday March 19, 2012 at 7:00pm (CST), Xcel Energy Center [GAME PREVIEW]

Just about every American family has some sort of over-the-counter pain medication in their bathroom medicine cabinet.  Usually, we have more than one type, because we’ve found that one kind works better for headaches and another works better for body aches and pains.  For myself personally, I find an aspirin and acetaminophen combination works best for headaches, while naproxen sodium is best for those other aches and pains.  Those with children have some form of fever and pain reliever on hand for when their kids get sick.  Then there are those of us who have the prescription variety on hand for the excruciating kind of pain. 

Lately though, I’ve been finding myself with a horrible headache during and after Wild games.  I refuse to imagine that I’m the only person out there.  In fact, I know I’m not the only one.  The games have been painful to watch on TV.  So painful in fact that I feel for those who have spent money to see the games in person.  Back in January, my husband and I had considered attending Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day game against Carolina.  About three weeks ago, we decided we could spend our almost non-existent disposable income elsewhere.  Strangely enough, we had moments during Saturday’s game where we thought the team just might have a chance at a win.  However, we should have known better.  I have to wonder how many other Wild fans thought of Friday night’s WCHA Final Five game between the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota when the Wild scored their third goal of the night.  The scores were eerily similar at the end of the game. 

Driving home from the Twin Cities yesterday, we realized that if the season was over, the Wild would be in possession of the third overall pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.  And if by some stretch of the mind Minnesota actually won the draft lottery, that would be even better.  It’s not the strongest of drafts, so the better pick would be ideal.  But just the thought of a good position in the draft pretty much took care of the bad headache I woke up with yesterday morning.  I know it’s not the most exciting thing to look forward to, especially since it’s only mid-March.  For season ticket holders and those who are buying single-game tickets the thought of a good draft isn’t a remedy for what they have to endure during those sixty minutes of regulation.  There’s not much these days beyond winning that will makes these games palatable.  Of course winning will cause a headache for those looking ahead to the draft.

Help is desperately needed these days.  Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be really done right now.  We just need to weather the current storm, and if that means we don’t win another game, then so be it.  The draft will be here before we know it as will the opening of free agency.  Help is wanted and needed, but we’re not going to get it now. 

Injury Report:

Minnesota:  Mikko Koivu (shoulder, questionable)Mike Lundin (lower body),  Guillaume Latendresse (concussion), Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion, groin),    Niklas Backstrom (groin, questionable), Justin Falk (leg)    

Vancouver:  Manny Malhotra (personal, questionable), Keith Ballard (concussion), Andrew Ebbett (concussion), Aaron Volpatti (shoulder)       

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