They call this the Information Age. Where the world seems as small as it ever has, where you can stream just about any notable news event worldwide with just a cellphone. Technology has sped up communication to within a matter of minutes millions of people can be informed on just about anything. To me the ultimate version of this is TSN‘s Trade Tracker. On the NHL trade deadline, NHL fans all across the world likely have their Trade Tracker up and running so you can hear about the deals as they happen. I know I have the browser hidden on my computer but any free moment I dash over and hit ‘refresh’ and hope to see my team involved in a trade. To non NHL fans, its probably about as interesting as watching the stock ticker, but for hockey rubes like myself its entertainment even if the Wild are not involved as you consider what these trades mean to their respective clubs.
How man fans are going to be checking this on & off all day on Feb. 28th?
With the NHL’s trade deadline approaching, the buzz has been all about possible deals. There are more rumors swirling about the Internet and newspapers than you hear in your average high school. Its an exciting time for fans of hockey as the hope to see their team make a deal to try to improve their team, but for the players its not a fun time. A healthy scratch can possibly mean you’re on the move, and in the day of twitter and text messages the news can travel faster than ever before, even before the players know what’s going on themselves. That is precisely what happened to Kurtis Foster who found out he was traded when he had a few news reporters like the Minneapolis Star Tribune‘s Wild beat writer Michael Russo texting him about it. Then a few minutes after the messages, New Jersey Devils General Manager Lou Lamiorello pulls him aside and tells him he’s been dealt. Foster admitted that he was a little disappointed, especially after his family had just settled into their new home in New Jersey. This is the part of trades few fans ever think about, because most of us never have to experience anything like this. We don’t have our boss stop by and say, “hey Mike, well I got news for you, you’ve been traded, they’re expecting you to be at work in Florida for your new employer tomorrow, thanks for all you’ve done but it was a deal we couldn’t pass up. I hope you understand.” If they did, what would you be thinking? What would you do with your family, your house, your children’s schooling? For NHL’ers its a part of the business of hockey but do you think it makes it any easier or less complicated to re-arrange your life? So can the Wild focus on the task at hand long enough to earn a win against the Sharks?
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1st Period Thoughts: It did not take long for the Sharks to take the lead as they were hustling well and being physical as Tommy Wingels taps home a shot by Niklas Backstrom to give San Jose a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game. Minnesota tried to answer back and Stephane Veilleux tried to make his presence felt as he delivered two big hits on Jim Vandermeer and Justin Braun respectively on his first shift with the Wild. The Sharks continued to swarm and this time it was their top line burying an opportunity as shot from the point by Brent Burns created a rebound that was pounced upon by Joe Thornton who jammed it home to take a 2-0 lead as you heard a few boo’s from the home crowd. Just over 6 minutes into the game the Wild finally registered their first shot on goal by Marco Scandella that was received with a Bronx cheer as Thomas Greiss held on for a whistle. The Sharks continued to carry the play, using their speed to put Minnesota on its heels as the Wild found themselves chasing San Jose all over its own zone. Minnesota finally were able to counter attack mid-way through he period as Matt Cullen set up a sneaking Justin Falk who snapped a shot up and over the goal. The Wild continued to pressure and it was Cal Clutterbuck taking a chance to fire a shot on goal, and after stepping around a Sharks’ defender he ripped a low-lying shot that glanced off the skate of Colin White and beat Greiss to cut the San Jose lead in half, 2-1. The Sharks tried to catch the Wild while it was still feeling good after its goal and they nearly got behind Minnesota’s defense as they attempted to answer back quickly. Minnesota would re-group with its top line and they just failed to connect on a promising pass by Devin Setoguchi that just missed Dany Heatley. The Wild was starting to counter punch a bit and Cal Clutterbuck found himself in the slot with a chance to shoot and he ripped it wide of the mark. San Jose started to work the puck down low along the wall and a line of Patrick Marleau and Ryane Clowe caused some havoc in the Wild zone. Minnesota would earn the first power play of the game as San Jose’s Marleau cross-checked Kurtis Foster that sent him into the boards awkwardly. The Wild struggled to get set up into the offensive zone, as the Sharks were doing a good job of tying up bodies and never giving them a clear shot to chase the puck down low into the San Jose zone. Minnesota’s 2nd power play unit was able to create a few quality shots as Nick Schultz was taking his chances to rip the biscuit that drew a few saves from Greiss. The Wild came up empty on the power play, but as it expired it was Jed Ortmeyer racing into the Sharks’ zone where he backhanded a pass towards the goal that was directed towards Greiss by Veilleux but he was able to direct the puck to the corner. San Jose tried to add another goal late in the period as Torrey Mitchell turned on the jets to get around the Wild defense but his backhand shot was steered aside by Backstrom. Oddly enough, with a group of Wild players gassed after a long shift iced the puck Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo would take a time out to give his guys a rest. Minnesota would get another power play with less than 40 seconds left after Jamie McGinn earned a weak roughing penalty but the Wild did nothing with the man advantage over that time. The Wild were being out shot 12-7 but for the most part they were being out worked and out hustled by the Sharks thus far in the game. Veilleux looks like he wants to be a hitting machine and Nick Palmieri likes to shoot the puck, good things to see.
2nd Period Thoughts: Minnesota would have 1:23 left in the power play to start the 2nd period. The Wild had difficulty getting established in offensive zone and would not be able to get anything going offensively until the waning seconds of the man advantage as a Kurtis Foster point shot drew a rebound and Dany Heatley ripped a shot that was stolen out of the air by the glove of Greiss. Minnesota would come up empty on the power play, but the Wild would go right back on the power play as a steal in the neutral zone would’ve turned into 2-on-1 for Kyle Brodziak but he was hauled down by Benn Ferriero for an easy call. The Sharks would pay the price for their lack of discipline and the Wild got the equalizer just 4 seconds into the power play as Nick Schultz fired a shot from the point that deflected off a few skates and by Greiss to make it 2-2. It was Schultz’ first goal since 2009! With the arena loud and boisterous again, a very scary moment would take place as Sharks’ head coach Todd McClellan would fall behind his own bench. Wild trainer Don Fuller and team physician Joel Boyd went to the San Jose bench. After a few tense minutes, McClellan would stand up and slowly make his way to the locker room on what was a freaky event that sort of killed the crowd. Minnesota would go on the attack, and Matt Cullen found a little space and he ripped a shot short side that was sealed off by Greiss. The Wild continued to press the play as Warren Peters would motor around the Sharks’ defense and he’d slide a pass over to Veilleux who put a shot on goal that nearly beat Greiss as he was sprawling in his crease and Palmieri shoveled a shot on goal that was swept away by Burns. Minnesota was really flying all over the ice, and Cullen and Setoguchi worked a 2-on-1 but unfortunately Cullen wasn’t able to get his pass by Braun and the 2-on-1 was thwarted. A few minutes later the Wild would give the Sharks their first power play of the game as Kyle Brodziak ran into Thomas Greiss for an easy goaltender interference call. The Wild’s penalty kill got out to a good start as Matt Cullen took advantage of a misplay of the puck by Burns as he’d race into the Sharks’ zone on a shorthanded break away only to be robbed by Greiss who had to stretch to make a huge save. Burns hauled down Cullen after his shot but he would not be given a penalty. Minnesota’s penalty killers did a nice job of having active sticks, denying passing and shooting lanes and the Wild would get a huge kill. A few moments later, former Wisconsin Badger Brad Winchester found himself on a rare breakaway but his attempt was thwarted by the hustle of Foster who got his stick on his shot directing it wide of the goal. A few minutes later the Wild would get another power play as Marc-Edouard Vlasic for hauling down Matt Cullen. As was the case in the previous Wild power plays, Minnesota struggled to get set up in the offensive zone but this time it was more do to their own lack of hustle which gave San Jose easy opportunities to clear the zone. The Wild were only able to set up a one-timer for Jared Spurgeon during an uneventful power play. Minnesota would take a late penalty as Greg Zanon was flagged for slashing Plover, Wisconsin’s Joe Pavelski with less than a minute left in the period. The Wild’s penalty killers, particularly Marco Scandella made a nice place to disrupt a pass and gather it up and clear the zone. Minnesota would skated into the 2nd intermission tied at 2-2, and out shooting the Sharks 20-14. A pretty good 2nd period for a team that typically has issues during this part of the game. Could this be Greg Zanon’s last penalty as a member of the Wild!?!?
3rd Period Thoughts: The Sharks started the period with about 1:20 on the power play, but Minnesota’s penalty killers’ active sticks continued to disrupt San Jose’s power play. Clutterbuck would knock a puck away from Dan Boyle and then work it off the wall to himself before stepping into a slapper that was held onto by Greiss. Justin Falk would level Ryane Clowe on a big hit as the penalty expired. Minnesota continued hustle well, and they came dangerously close to taking the lead when Nick Palmieri picked up a puck and tried to beat Greiss back to his crease and he nearly wrapped it in but just didn’t have enough curl on it and the Sharks would escape. The Wild had another great chance a few moments later as Heatley dropped a pass back to Scandella who rocketed a slap shot that hit Brodziak in the chest but the puck just eluded a roving Setoguchi. The Sharks would try to counter with some offense of their own and a bad turnover by Matt Cullen turned into a close-range chance for Thornton that was stopped by Backstrom. The Wild would give the Sharks a power play when Warren Peters hauled down Burns for an obvious penalty. Minnesota’s penalty killers continued to exhibit good puck support and as their active sticks disrupted passing attempts they would gather up their own failed clearing attempts and get it out of the zone. Yet it wasn’t good enough as Brent Burns one-timed a slapper by a well-screened Niklas Backstrom and the Wild found themselves down 3-2. The Wild tried to answer back, and they were able to create a few quality chances as Scandella gunned a slap shot that Greiss punched up and over the goal and the top line came close to connecting on a few nice cross-ice passes in the offensive zone. A few minutes later the Wild would strike, as Nick Palmieri helped get it started by putting his shoulder down and firing a shot on goal that kept the Sharks bottled up in its zone and the puck went out to the point where Scandella ripped a wrist shot that was redirected towards the ice and the puck bounced over the arm of Greiss and into the back of the net to tie the game 3-3. Moments after Cullen’s goal the 4th line would take their example and run with it as a point shot by Jared Spurgeon was redirected just slightly by Jed Ortmeyer and beat Greiss cleanly giving Minnesota a 4-3 lead and the 17,000+ in attendance were very much back in the game. The two goals were just 24 seconds apart. The Sharks tried to answer back and San Jose captain Joe Thornton stripped Scandella of the puck and he took the puck to the crease and Backstrom had to come up with a big save. San Jose would pull Greiss for an extra attacker in the closing minute and they were able to keep the puck deep but Minnesota was persistent and the Wild were able to sweep it out of harm’s way. The Sharks had one last great chance as Burns fired it on goal that was stopped by Backstrom and he’d be helped by Brodziak who turned and cleared it out of danger as Minnesota rallied back to earn a huge 4-3 win.
Niklas Backstrom had a good game, making 25 saves in the victory. Backstrom had San Jose forwards in his grill all night, and on Burns’ goal he couldn’t see the puck at all between trying to look through Zanon or Clowe so you can’t blame him for that. After Ortmeyer’s goal, Backstrom delivered some huge saves on shots taken from close range to preserve the lead. Defensively I thought Marco Scandella was very good as was Jared Spurgeon who is looking very confident as he helps use his wheels to move the puck up the ice. Kurtis Foster was reasonable in his debut but still could stand to be a bit meaner near the crease.
Offensively the Wild really had its spark from its 2nd and 4th lines. The 2nd line of Cullen, Clutterbuck and Palmieri were causing San Jose to have problems most of the night. The most refreshing thing about Palmieri is his assertiveness and willingness to shoot the puck. Hopefully he continues to play that way because while he didn’t score this evening, he will by doing the right things like that. The 4th line of Ortmeyer, Peters and Veilleux was perhaps an even bigger surprise as they can always be counted upon for their hustle, but it was their ability to create some scoring chances. Stephane Veilleux was throwing his body around and he came close to cashing in a few times by just going to the net. The 1st line of Brodziak, Heatley and Setoguchi was surprisingly silent. They need to be more of a factor, especially with the other lines during their part to get things going offensively. The x-factor offensively was Minnesota’s defenseman being willing to shoot the puck. Schultz, Zanon, Spurgeon, and Scandella were all taking their chances to fire the biscuit and the payoff was 3 goals either scored directly by the defense or off deflections by forwards. Lucky? Certainly, but if you don’t direct shots towards the goal those kinds of strange deflections never occur in the first place.
This was a huge win for the Wild and a giant loss for the Sharks who are in the last game of a long 9-game road trip. The Sharks are now just 1 point ahead of the Dallas Stars who won today against the Vancouver Canucks. Minnesota won this game in regulation, depriving the Sharks of even a partial victory with the dreaded ‘3-point game’. The Wild must relish this feeling for a few hours and then be ready for another determined challenge on Tuesday against the Kings who are also in the hunt for a spot in the Western Conference playoff picture.
Wild Notes:
~ The Wild roster tonight was as follows: Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Matt Cullen, Kyle Brodziak, Nick Johnson, Darroll Powe, Cal Clutterbuck, Stephane Veilleux, Nick Palmieri, Warren Peters, Erik Christensen, Jed Ortmeyer, Jared Spurgeon, Kurtis Foster, Greg Zanon, Justin Falk, Marco Scandella and Nick Schultz. Josh Harding backed up Niklas Backstrom. Nate Prosser and Matt Kassian were the healthy scratches.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game as selected by the fans were: 1st Star Marco Scandella, 2nd Star Nick Palmieri, 3rd Star Jared Spurgeon
~ Attendance was 17,401 at Xcel Energy Center.
~ Nick Palmieri wore #17, Stephane Veilleux wore #19, and Kurtis Foster wore #20 for the Wild.
~ The Houston Aeros split a two-game weekend series with in-state rival Texas. Houston lost 3-2 Friday night with goals from Jon DiSalvatore and Kris Fredheim. Yet in Saturday’s game it was all Aeros as they peppered Texas’ Tyler Beskorwany with 37 shots as they rolled to a 5-2 victory. Jeff Taffe had two goals, and Chad Rau had a goal as well in a 3-point night for the Eden Prarie-native. Apple Valley’s Kyle Medvec scored his first goal as a professional and David McIntyre buried a penalty shot in the 3rd. Matt Hackett was solid, stopping 21 shots in the victory. The Aeros win ended a 4-game losing streak.
~ The State of Hockey News would like to congratulate Minnesota’s newest state girls hockey champions for 2012, in the Breck Mustangs (A) and Minnetonka Skippers (AA)!
Wild Prospect Report:
Ottawa 67’s Tyler Graovac
C – Tyler Graovac (Ottawa, OHL) ~ Normally I don’t say much about Tyler Graovac, because he doesn’t do a whole heckuva lot. It seems as though Graovac has gotten lost in the talented 67’s shuffle of forwards and his disappearance on the score sheet has been the result. Yet on Friday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Barrie Colts, Graovac scored his 6th goal of the season. Graovac has 6 goals and 20 points in 40 games this year.
D – Colton Jobke (Regina, WHL) ~ The overage defenseman from Delta, British Columbia continues to help lead the way for Regina as he contributed an assist and was a +4 during an 8-2 rout by the Pats over Moose Jaw Warriors Friday night. Jobke has 10 goals, 27 points and 77 penalty minutes in 61 games thus far.
LW – Jason Zucker (Denver, WCHA) ~ Denver is trying to stay near the top of the WCHA as the regular season is getting close to its conclusion. In a hard fought 4-3 loss to North Dakota, Zucker gave the Pioneers a little hope by cutting the lead to one with a power play tally late but it was too little too late. Denver would rally back with a 5-3 win on Saturday night and Zucker did his part with a goal and an assist. The Las Vegas-native is 2nd on the Pioneers in scoring with 19 goals and 40 points in 29 games.
C – Zack Phillips (Saint John, QMJHL) ~ The Sea Dogs peppered Moncton for 52 shots on goal, but would prevail 3-2 in a shootout. Phillips chipped in an assist in the effort, but he was horrible on the faceoffs, going 5-for-12 (41.6%). The Fredericton, New Brunswick-native is the Sea Dogs’ top scorer with 28 goals and 76 points in 53 games as he centers Saint John’s 2nd line.
C / RW – Charlie Coyle (Saint John, QMJHL) ~ Ever since he arrived in Saint John, Charlie Coyle has been a fairly consistent multi-point producer and Saturday night was no different as he chipped with two helpers in the Sea Dogs 3-2 shootout win. More recently, Coyle has been taking more shifts at center for the Sea Dogs’ top line and he had an ok night on his draws, going 9-for-19 (47.3%). Coyle has 11 goals, 23 points in 15 games.
LW – Brett Bulmer (Kelowna, WHL) ~ The Kelowna Rockets squandered an early lead to lose 4-3 in a shootout to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday night but you can’t say Bulmer let his team down. The Prince George, British Columbia-native had 2 goals, an assist and was a +2 in a losing effort. Bulmer is 2nd on the Rockets in scoring with 28 goals, 50 points and 81 penalty minutes in 44 games.
C – Erik Haula (Minnesota, WCHA) ~ The Golden Gophers earned a huge series sweep of the University of Nebraska-Omaha this weekend, and Haula factored in the outcome of Saturday night’s tilt as he contributed two helpers. Both of the assists came on the man advantage as he set up Kyle Rau for a two-goal night. The Pori, Finland-native is 2nd on the team in scoring with 14 goals and 37 points in 35 games.
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