Game #77: Minnesota Wild vs Edmonton Oilers, Thursday March 31, 2011 at 7:00pm CDT, Xcel Energy Center [GAME PREVIEW]

Record Pts Div. Rank G/G GA/G PP% PK%
Minnesota Wild (36-32-8) 80 3rd NW 2.47 (26) 2.76 (16) 18.9% (9)

83.4% (11)

Edmonton Oilers
(23-42-11) 57 5th NW 2.34 (28) 3.18 (28) 12.8% (30) 77.0% (28)

 

Minnesota Wild
Top 5 Scorers: G A Pts
1. #24 Martin Havlat 21 40 61
2. #9 Mikko Koivu 17 40 57
3. #8 Brent Burns 16 27 43
4. #15 Andrew Brunette 17 25 42
5. #7 Matt Cullen 12 26 38
Top 3 Penalty Minutes: PIM
1. #16 Brad Staubitz 152
2. #8 Brent Burns 94
3. #4 Clayton Stoner 81
Goaltenders: GAA SV%
1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (21-21-5) 2.60 .918
2. #60 Jose Theodore (13-10-3) 2.74 .916
Edmonton Oilers
Top 5 Scorers: G A Pts
1. #4 Taylor Hall 22 20 42
2. #89 Sam Gagner 15 27 42
3. #83 Ales Hemsky 14 28 42
4. #25 Dustin Penner 21 18 39
5. #14 Jordan Eberle 17 22 39
Top 3 Penalty Minutes: PIM
1. #49 Theo Peckham 162
2. #5 Ladislav Smid 79
3. #33 Steve MacIntyre 76
 
Goaltenders: GAA SV%
1. #40 Devan Dubnyk (10-12-8) 2.87 .911
2. #35 Nikolai Khabibulin (10-30-3) 3.31 .893
3. #29 Martin Gerber (3-0-0) 1.30 .958


Here we go.  Once again, another pointless game.  Truly it could go either way, and there are Wild fans who will be upset with whatever outcome.

Finally breaking that horrid losing streak in St. Louis, there is chance that the Wild could easily slip back into their losing ways.  Add that to the fact, that they’re playing the worst team in the National Hockey League.  Playing a team who has struggled as it has, often becomes a major stumbling block for the opposition.  In the course of the Wild’s ten years, we’ve all witnessed them completely fall apart against a lesser opponent.  Tonight could easily be another of those.  It’s frustrating, but entirely possible.  Considering the poor play, poor leadership (both players and coach), and poor effort, during the recent losing streak (especially while at home), it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they lost again.  I know I for one am sick and tired of the poor effort.  And I know I’m not the only one.  No one wants to see that, especially the hometown fans who shelled out some serious money to do so.

And then there’s the opposite side of the coin, meaning they win tonight.  There will be some fans annoyed with the team finding their winning ways once again.  First off, they will be wondering why they couldn’t have avoided the losing streak that could have kept them in the playoff picture.  However that losing streak happened and booted them out of the playoffs.  When that happened, some fans started looking ahead to the 2011 Entry Draft, especially since it will be at the Xcel Energy Center.  There are fans who have suggested that the Wild just tank the rest of the season in a hope of getting a better draft pick.  To start winning at this point would jeopardize the chance of getting that better pick.  While you want the best possible pick, those particular fans need to realize there’s no way the Wild are going to beat out tonight’s opponent on the best pick.

Win or lose, there will be fans upset.  All I can say in response, is that this is what happens when your team is once again on the outside looking in.  Until things fundamentally change with the team, I would expect more the same in the near future.  However, how much longer the team can continue operating like they are until the fans completely revolt has yet to be seen.

You can follow us on Twitter at @StateofHckyNews where we will have Live in game tweets updating you on the action. 

    

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