Big games often magnify the smallest moments. Case in point, the Wisconsin Badgers have 15 seconds left in a game against Syracuse trailing by just a single point. They have a timeout in hand but inexplicably a mental error caused the Badgers to waste time and resulted in Wisconsin forcing up a very difficult 3-point shot that didn’t fall for them and they lost. It was a series of mistakes that led to this failure and just like that their season is over. We see this all the time in sports; and I must admit I don’t watch college basketball. I read about that in a yahoo! article; but the same sort of things happen in hockey. A lazy pass, failed defensive coverage and allowed the University of Massachusetts-Lowell to prevail 4-3 in overtime over Miami (OH) in the NCAA tournament. It was a tremendous rebound by UMass-Lowell who had watched an early 3-0 lead disappear in the 3rd period as Miami poured and with a 5:00 power play late in the game it appeared as though their fate was sealed. But as ESPN’s Chris Berman loves to say, “that’s why the play the games” and the Riverhawks puled off the upset. Sports give us countless examples of how timing, mistakes, and persistence can result in a game changing moment.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell Riverhawks
The Minnesota Wild will have a similar challenge this evening against the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres are fighting for their playoff lives as they currently sit in 9th place in the Eastern Conference as they are tied with 8th place Washington with 82 points. This is the recipe for a very intense game and I think Minnesota is starting to embrace the role of spoiler. Some Wild fans may wish they’d lose to improve their standing in the draft but right now they seem to be playing for pride; its just too bad they didn’t decide to play like this when they were still realistically in the hunt. So will Minnesota frustrate another possible playoff bound team tonight?
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1st Period Thoughts: Minnesota’s 4th line of Jed Ortmeyer, Warren Peters and Stephane Veilleux again had some excellent jump in their skates to start the game, and throughout the period they continued to cause havoc with their forechecking. Buffalo started the game as though it was sleepwalking as Minnesota was being assertive and pressuring the Sabres right from the drop of the puck. Ryan Miller was busy right away as Minnesota was funneling pucks on goal, and the Wild were swarming all over the Buffalo zone. The Wild’s hustle would be rewarded with the first goal of the game as Kyle Brodziak worked a 2-on-1 with Steven Kampfer who had joined the rush and Brodziak delivered a perfect saucer pass to Kampfer who buried a shot by Miller to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead. It was quite remarkable, the Wild were playing confidently and executing passes in a way that we haven’t seen in a long time. The Wild continued to funnel shots on goal that kept Miller and the Sabres very busy in their own end. You could even sense the level of anxiety rising in First Niagara Center as their team didn’t seem to have the fire to really counteract Minnesota’s lunch pail like effort. Dare I say it, at moments the Wild looked like they had speed. I haven’t said that phrase since Marian Gaborik left and Jacques Lemaire was coach. Minnesota was also playing smart, using good active sticks to disrupt the Sabres from mounting much of an attack of their own. Josh Harding was very solid, making some key stops to thwart Buffalo from ever really gaining any momentum. Minnesota would hold onto its 1-0 lead going into the 1st intermission, and were out shooting the Sabres 17-11. An excellent road period, perhaps one of their best in two months. Love the way this team is hustling, maybe its a side effect of just relaxing and playing like you have nothing to lose.
2nd Period Thoughts: The flat, uninspired team that played the Wild in the first had a lot more energy to start the 2nd. The Sabres were looking a little angry and it was Cody Hodgson that drove towards the Wild net as he fired a shot at Harding that he stopped but he was unable to stop Thomas Vanek from lifting the rebound over his shoulder to tie the game at 1-1. As much as the Sabres were playing with more fire, the Wild looked were looking a little lethargic as well as Buffalo was winning many of the races for the loose pucks. Harding was very busy early, and even he was looking a little shaky as he struggled to hold onto the biscuit on a few different occasions. Minnesota would try to counter attack as they set up Tom Gilbert for a shot from the high slot that he fired wide of the goal and Mikko Koivu tried to pounce on it but he was stonewalled by Miller but as the Wild continued to hustle after the puck Devin Setoguchi was tripped up by Robyn Regehr giving the Wild their first power play of the game. On the power play the Wild were fairly static with not a lot of player or puck movement. This resulted in near disaster as Derek Roy stole a pass and raced down the ice in a 2-on-1 with Drew Stafford. Roy would rip a wrist shot that was knocked up into the air by Harding that he’d reach out and catch in mid-air before Roy could knock it in. Minnesota still had most of its power play left to work with and they’d have a great chance as they freed up Kurtis Foster for a slapper that he rifled on goal that seemed to sneak through but at the last moment was swept aside as Dany Heatley raised his arms thinking it was a goal. The Sabres went back on the attack and Marcus Foligno and Buffalo provided some good pressure but the Wild were able to scramble and clear the puck down the ice. Yet the onslaught in the Wild end would continue as Harding came up with a huge save on Derek Roy, but unfortunately Clayton Stoner hauled down Hodgson that would give the Sabres their first power play of the game. Minnesota’s penalty kill did a nice job of challenging the Sabres’ point men and forcing some turnovers that really kept Buffalo’s power play from ever feeling comfortable. The Wild got the big kill but it did little to alleviate pressure in Minnesota’s end of the ice. Tempers would flair as Travis Turnbull would get into it with Nick Johnson after he took offense to Turnbull’s little shove to Marco Scandella. Turnbull and Johnson would eventually drop the gloves, but it was more of a wrestling match than a fight and after a few short ranged body punches they’d fall to the ice and it was over. As the officials explained to Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo why Johnson got tagged with an extra roughing call on top of his fighting major, you could see a little sarcasm in Yeo’s mannerisms responding to their logic. This gave the Sabres a power play, but Minnesota would have the best scoring chance of the man advantage as a nice steal by Darroll Powe caused a bad pass by Buffalo that was poked on goal by Mikko Koivu that nearly caught Miller by surprise as he struggled to keep it out. The shot also seemed to cause Miller some discomfort who had to move awkwardly to make the stop on such sudden notice. Minnesota would get the kill, and you could see a little fire from the Wild as they started to move their feet again. Warren Peters would carry the puck deep into the Sabres zone where he sent a pass towards the top of the crease that missed Ortmeyer and then was fanned on by Heatley. The scrappy play would continue as Powe got into a shoving match with Cody McCormick but this time the Sabres would get the extra minor giving Minnesota a power play. On the power play the Wild were moving their feet well and Kyle Brodziak set up Cal Clutterbuck for a quick shot that he pushed just wide of the goal. Minnesota wasn’t able to get too much accomplished on the power play but they continued to hustle and scrap for the go-ahead goal. It was a step backward for the Wild but they started to regain some of their early game form towards the latter half of the period. Minnesota was out shot 17-5.
3rd Period Thoughts: The Sabres were again playing with some urgency to start the 2nd period and Minnesota would find itself a man short due to a holding call on Powe. The penalty proved costly as the Sabres took the lead as Houston, Texas-native Tyler Myers unleashed a rocket of a slap shot that was redirected perfectly by Foligno that beat Harding cleanly. Harding found himself under siege as the Sabres were flying all over the ice while Minnesota was sort of leaning and watching. Minnesota found itself chasing Buffalo players all over its own zone as they tried to add to their lead as Jason Pominville drove a shot off the side of the net. When Minnesota went on the attack they found some obstruction; a great example was Christian Ehrhoff holding onto Erik Christensen‘s stick to no call. The Wild started to press a bit late, forcing the Sabres to ice the puck a few times. And with a tired line on the ice the Wild failed to win the faceoff and Buffalo was able to get a change. Minnesota continued to challenge as Mikko Koivu tracked down a dump in where he set up Heatley for a quick shot that he shoveled wide of the mark. A few minutes later Matt Cullen was struck in the hand by a shot that had him reeling in pain as he skated back to the bench in clear distress. The Wild persisted as its 3rd line of Kyle Brodziak, Darroll Powe and Nick Johnson combined for a good scoring chance as Brodziak turned and delivered a soft pass to Johnson who didn’t get much on the shot that was easily absorbed by Miller. As Minnesota tried to create a last ditch attempt with the extra attacker their flip into the Buffalo zone was intercepted and the Sabres looked as though they might bury an empty netter but Kurtis Foster hauled down Ville Leino for an obvious tripping penalty. The Wild were now on the penalty kill but they’d attempt one last time with an extra attacker but again they’d fail miserably as Hodgson scored the empty netter sealing a 3-1 Sabres victory.
You can’t blame Harding for the loss, he played well enough for the Wild to earn a victory but the team just stopped working in front of him. Harding had lots of traffic near his crease most of the night, and there was nothing he could do on the goals that were scored. Defensively, Kurtis Foster was a disaster. He looked more than just rusty; he looked fragile and slow. As the Wild’s feet stopped moving, the ice tilted in Buffalo’s favor and Minnesota found itself scrambling in its own end.
Offensively the team started the first 7 minutes of the game by piling up 17 shots in the first period and then just 8 shots the rest of the game. That can’t happen; especially when you’re up just 1-0. Mikko Koivu may have been hustling real well but he and is linemates need to be shooting the puck more than they did. The line had just 6 shots between Koivu, Heatley and Setoguchi. That’s not good enough. Making matters worse, Matt Cullen told the Minneapolis Star Tribune‘s Michael Russo that he broke his finger so he’s probably out the rest of the season. I am not sure who would get called up, but I doubt Cullen’s injury will suddenly open the door for Matt Kassian’s return to the Wild lineup. Perhaps this is the opportunity the team uses a rookie player who let’s say just finished his last game of his college season (cough Jason Zucker cough).
This loss was really frustrating after the clubs good start. A start where the team hustled and executed well and then for whatever reason took their foot off the pedal and more or less allowed the Sabres to take it to them. It certainly didn’t deprive the Wild of anything this season, but when you’re looking for a development of your team and philosophy you want to finish strong starts like this by earning victories. It seems like a broken record but this problem has to get fixed doesn’t it? Hopefully its fixed by tomorrow because they’re going to be facing a determined Capitals’ squad tomorrow.
Wild Notes:
~ Wild roster tonight was as follows: Mikko Koivu, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Warren Peters, Jed Ortmeyer, Stephane Veilleux, Darroll Powe, Kyle Brodziak, Nick Johnson, Matt Cullen, Erik Christensen, Cal Clutterbuck, Kurtis Foster, Tom Gilbert, Clayton Stoner, Nate Prosser, Marco Scandella and Steven Kampfer. Matt Hackett backed up Josh Harding. Justin Falk, Niklas Backstrom, and Matt Kassian were the healthy scratches.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1st Star Marcus Foligno, 2nd Star Corey Tropp, 3rd Star Josh Harding
~ Attendance was 18,690 at First Niagara Center.
Houston Aeros Report:
Houston Aeros’ Joe Fallon
The race for the playoffs in the NHL and AHL is like a knife fight in a phone booth. Its all about who wants it more. Its also not the pretty plays that win games; its often the ugly, gritty goals that turn the tide. The Aeros are in that knife fight as they hope to scratch and claw their way into the AHL post-season. Houston currently sits in 4th place, just one point ahead of the Peoria Rivermen who they have a game in hand on. The Aeros lost 2-1 last night to Rockford; a team sitting 13th in the Western Conference and they play them again this evening. Houston got some tough news late this week when it was determined that rookie goaltender Darcy Kuemper is done for the season as he undergoes season ending shoulder surgery. This means goaltender Joe Fallon, who has been very strong in relief late in the season is now going to be on the Aeros playoff roster if they qualify; certainly something he’s earned with his play. Unfortunately for the Bemidji-native he was hurt at the end of last night’s game which prompted the team to call up two more goaltenders in Mike Brodeur and Scott Greenham. The Aeros did add a skater to their roster recently as the Wild signed Notre Dame defenseman Sean Lorenz who just finished his fourth season with the Fighting Irish where he had 3 goals 13 points and 10 penalty minutes in 39 games. Lorenz is a mobile stay-at-home defenseman and with the race for the playoffs so tight it will be interesting to see if he gets a look.
Wild Prospect Report:
Saint John’s Charlie Coyle is a beast
C / RW – Charlie Coyle (Saint John, QMJHL) ~ I’ve said in previous reports how Coyle’s arrival in Saint John provided an already good club a boost; I probably should’ve said that he was more like a jolt of Nitrous Oxide. Coyle had an absolutely monster performance in his first QMJHL playoff game as the Sea Dogs steamrolled the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 13-4 Friday night. The Weymouth, Massachusetts-native had 3 goals, 3 assists, he went 7-for-10 (70%) on his draws, was a +4 and had 4 hits in the victory.
C – Zack Phillips (Saint John, QMJHL) ~ It was a bit quieter night for Phillips than that of his teammate but he tallied an assist on all 3 of Coyle’s goals and chipped in a goal of his own (4 points) as he had a 4-point evening. Phillips did not have a great night in the faceoff circle going 2-for-6 (33.3%), but he finished the game a +2 and had hit as well.
LW – Brett Bulmer (Kelowna, WHL) ~ Brett Bulmer has been carrying the Rockets on his back since he arrived in early November. Yet, his team’s current challenge; trying to prevail against a very loaded Portland Winterhawks squad might be a little too much to ask. The Winterhawks wore down the Rockets in a 6-3 victory Friday night, but Bulmer still found a way to contribute 2 assists in the losing cause.
F – Mario Lucia (Penticton, BCHL) ~ The Penticton Vees finished off the pesky Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday with a 3-0 victory. Lucia chipped in a goal and an assist in the victory and earned 1st Star honors in the process. It has been a good playoffs thus far for the future member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as he has 3 goals, 3 assists in the 6 game series.
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