Pre/Post Game Minnesota Wild Banter

[JimBuck]

Yeah those PP's in the first that we didn't convert on was pretty frustrating. Good to see them get a few in the end but as usual, too little too late.

Bouchard looked pretty good last night. Good to see Richards moving him from 4th to 2nd line. He seemed to click decently with Havlat & Brodziak.

[JimBuck]

Good game last night. Glad to see us finally pull of a win against the yotes. They sure needed it. Bouchard's been looking pretty good with Havlat.

[Bear55]

Caught part of the game, Butch did look good out there.

[solbes]

I saw about the first half of the game. They looked pretty good out there. Certainly makes up for that tough loss at home to Phoenix.

I had really low expections of PMB for the first 10 games or so. I thought it would take him longer to get back into game shape and to knock the rust off. It doesn't appear to be the case so far, so that's a big win for the Wild.

[Bear55]

I had really low expections of PMB for the first 10 games or so. I thought it would take him longer to get back into game shape and to knock the rust off. It doesn't appear to be the case so far, so that's a big win for the Wild.

I was thinking the same thing, a nice surprise for sure.

[OnAFly]

That too many men penalty was a death sentence. Never really came back after it. This team's got no backbone. One bad thing happens and it collapses.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Yeah it's a really tough year to be a Wild fan, yet again. Like you said, this team has no backbone. Nobody is consistent enough to contribute goals. Havlat shows flashes of brilliance but is not very consistent and has not scored many goals for us. We have too many playmakers and grinders and no goal scorers. Koivu has been a huge disappointment and seems to be lacking his leadership role.

Oh well, I will continue to watch because I love hockey.

[OnAFly]

Yeah, you and me both.

Time to get off the couch and onto the rinks I guess.

[LundProAngler]

Oh well, I will continue to watch because I love hockey.

Me too!

HaHa Koivu had a great game last night...lets hope for a few more of them soon!

[spearchucker]

They need to leave Kobasew on the top line with Koivu. Everytime he plays there he and Koivu have a good game and then they put Mittens back on it. Kobasew scored lastnight and had a hat trick on that line in a previous game.

At least give it more than 1 game.

[OnAFly]

Yeah, I don't know why they insist on having Miettinnen play on the top line. He's not a top line player.

[spearchucker]

More good news... Schultz out with a concussion.

Great news... Barker finally a healthy scratch tonight. He sucks. To show what a bad decision it was to get this guy, he is making 3 million sitting in the press box.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

They played great tonight, but I really hope people don't have their hopes up for this season. We are all but mathematically eliminated at this point unless something absolutely incredible happened.

I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the games for what they are.

[OnAFly]

The best headline I've seen: "Barker scratched in lieu of 3 rookies."

That says it all. How about Havlat as of late? Looking like a million bucks, or 5. We're only what, 5 points back....and behind 6 teams for a playoff spot. Yeah, we're done.

[spearchucker]

Quote:

The best headline I've seen: "Barker scratched in lieu of 3 rookies."

Amen to that. I wonder if they were trying to trade him or something (don't know who would want him for 3.1M?), but they haven't said a thing about his play until now. He has been terrible since he came here and this is the first time he has been scratched that I can remember.

Hopefully Scandella keeps it up too. He and Spurgeon look like they belong on the team. Barker needs to sit a while, but I don't know if that will happen since they are paying him 3.1M. Scandella had a point last night and Barker had 1 in the last 20 games or something. It was nice to see someone handle the puck at the blueline and not fumble it and lose the zone like Barker was good for.

Havlat has been the best player on the team for the past month. The top line is Brodziak, Havlat, and Butch. Those guy look awesome together. Brodziak is looking great with those 2.

[OnAFly]

So, Butch, Burnsie, Meittinnen have had concussions, Shultz has one as does Mikael Granlund (top pick, 2010). A few more guys last year had them that are no longer playing for us.

Is what's the deal? Are we cursed? Are teaching our guys to watch their passes?

[spearchucker]

They never used to diagnose them in the past, so that is why you hear more about them now.

[OnAFly]

I guess I don't hear about other teams with 7/8 guys a year getting concussed.

[knoppers]

4 wins in a row, looks like theadore is the hot hand in the nets. we just need to win home games. we have a much better road record than home record.

[spearchucker]

Theo as been good but the whole team is playing better in front of him. He is pretty much our only hand right now with Backstrom out.

[OnAFly]

It's amazing what Richards has done for this team as far as road play goes. Last year the road killed us. This year, with better home play and continued success on the road, we could actually make the playoffs. Currently we are 7th in the west.

[solbes]

They are certainly riding a high right now. Fun team to watch!

[spearchucker]

And then they lay an egg at home...

I didn't think they played as bad as the score showed though. Barker was back to his same old stuff again after playing a few good games. We need more from a 3.1 million player.

[OnAFly]

Yeah, we do. Who's idea was it to pay him that much? A big sigh came from the Chicago head office when he was traded.

In his defense, wasn't he just coming on from a change and kind of got screwed on that one. Still, he needs to (successfully) take the body an that play.

[spearchucker]

He was on the ice for 3 goals scored last night. The one I saw he just got skated around like he was standing still (I think it was the 3rd goal). Another one when Scandella got fried he had his back to the puck and it went in right behind him.