WILD HOCKEY!

[OnAFly]

Yep, better last night.

Kassian was called up. I wonder if this is a statement to other teams that if you bully us we will bully you back. It's needed.

[JimBuck]

I thought the game was pretty good last night. We had our chances but just couldn't put it away. Harding played quite solid. Having Koivu back makes a huge difference. That shoulder he threw while shielding the puck in the offensive zone is becoming his thing.

Something needs to happen with the Wild being bullied around without any consequences. I'm blown away by Shanny's decision not to suspend after the hit(s) on Spurgeon. Colin Campbell seemed more consistent, and that's not saying much.

[10,000 Casts]

From the Wilds HSOforum.

Quote:

The Minnesota Wild has made more calls down to the farm system than any team in the National Hockey League, but today’s call up of LW Matt Kassian feels a bit different. The team recalled Kassian from Houston this morning while reassigning RW Jon DiSavlatore to the Aeros. You’d have to assume Kassian isn’t coming to Minnesota to produce offense tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. He’s coming to protect the Wild’s skill players who have seen one too many endboards up close and have been left injured. With opponents, including Edmonton’s Lennart Petrell delivering vicious hits from behind and going unpunished by the League, Kassian now gives those agitators something else to think about. And he doesn’t wear a suit and sit at a desk at the League office.

Last night, the Wild snapped a stretch of four games without a point with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. Down a goal late, Dany Heatley scored on a wraparound with 3:59 remaining. Josh Harding stopped 24 of 25 shots and gave up just one goal in the shootout, but that was enough to send the Predators to victory.

The Oilers have dropped five of their last six, with their only victory in that stretch coming against the Wild on December 22. On Monday, the Oil fell to the Vancouver Canucks, 5-3. Jordan Eberle and Ryan Smyth notched power play goals and Corey Potter added another, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the streaking Canucks. Nikolai Khabibulin took the loss in a 21-save effort.

IT's ABOUT TIME!!!!! Lets see if Hordichuk runs around like he did teh last couple games.. Great move, it will send a message to the conference.

[10,000 Casts]

The wild look like a different team and the X is rocking tonight, in the 2nd game of a back to back too. I hope Kassian stays up for a while, if anything send Staubitz down.

[OnAFly]

FINALLY!!!

What was that interference call? That ref must be related to Hall or something. Also, what was Ryan Smyths deal at the end of the game. He just goes after Backstrom. I'm sorry buddy, but if you sit in the crease, expect to get knocked around. Good to see some fight out of the guys anyway I guess.

Oh yeah, keep Kassian up here just to keep the other teams honest. It worked tonight with Hordichuck. Are all guys named Darcy total d bags?

[scsavre]

It was awesome having Kassian up last night. Its about time.

Good game. lets keep it rolling.

[LundProAngler]

Good game tonight, but we couldn't muster up the win.

Wild put on very good pressure in the last 5 minutes, but Phoenix made some unreal saves.

Hope we can kick some tail in Vancouver on Wednesday!

[scsavre]

Seto is back tonight. I think this is really going to help depending where they put him. He could really help the team by being on the second line. Cullen and PMB need some help and Seto could be it. He would help the top line too, but then I think Clutterbuck hurts the second line if he goes there. I dotn think it matters too much who plays with Heater and Kiouvu, they are gonna get chances. Heater is about to explode with the chances hes been getting.

Id like to see Clutter get moved to the 3rd line where he belongs. I think it would help the team more. Not sure who gets the nod on the Kiouvu line then though.

[OnAFly]

You mean tomorrow night?

It will help a lot since it gives us another scoring line. Having that second line with scoring ability makes matching lines much harder for our opponents. Now if we could get that fist pass out of our zone figured out, we will be back in business.

Oh yeah, these are our last two 9:00PM start times of the year...thank god.

[scsavre]

Oh yah, dang it is tomorrow.

[solbes]

Ughh. It's getting REALLY hard to watch this team. Plus I hate the grease monkey in Blue.

[scsavre]

Talk about a lost looking team.

[OnAFly]

God, our forecheck is miserable. Can we get two tape-to-tape passes in a row? I don't think we did last night.

[Bear55]

I knew we would have some down times this season but wow this has been a losing streak of epic proportions. I still like our new coach but it's time for everyone to step up and get back in the game.

[archerystud]

On the plus side, I'm starting to see why the Wild liked Brodin, he does look like a very smooth skater.

[scsavre]

I hope this team building excercise in Bampf works.

I knew we would have a bad streak. I kept saying a 6 game skid, this is crazy.

[knoppers]

the wild need to sign heshootsy scores, seems he has done good for other teams.

[Bear55]

[OnAFly]

Bouchard is out with a concussion, as are Palmer and Lats still. I think the lack of enforcers in the game is turning it into a goon show. Slew foot, flying elbows, jumping before checks, hits from behind, it's all become the norm and it's erratically enforced by the NHL. Guys now figure it they let a guy know they are trying to end his career just be fore they do it, it's OK.

[scsavre]

It isn't looking real good. Our next opponents. Sharks, hawks, blues, flyers, leafs. This skid might just keep skidding.

I had a feeling pmb was gonna go down with the symptons again.

This is terrible.

Sounds like fletcher is looking to aquire but will not move prospect talent.

[schmitty3]

Wild finally pick up a W. Against a hot Shark team to beat, and with PMB out, and Seto a healthy scratch due to disciplinary reasons.. They looked pretty good tonight, generated some good chances and scored 4 goals in regulation and also hit 2 posts. Cullen was all over the place in his 1000th game, scoring 1 and putting one in on the shooutout. Hopefully they can take this win as a stepping stone, and stay in a playoff position.

[archerystud]

They did look pretty good except for the last San Jose goal.

You CAN'T give up a 3-2 with a 1 goal lead and 3 minutes left in the game!!! It was nice to finally see them score a few.

I watched a couple of games in that losing streak where I thought they had good effort, they just couldn't finish.

Gotta wonder in PMB's days are numbered. I love his offensive ability, especially when they put him on the point during the PP. But his size and battling concussions again doesn't make this look too good.

[OnAFly]

I only caught the third. I need to get a portable radio so I can at least listen while I'm fishing.

Logan Coulture's goal was a little fluky. Falk kicked it in accidentally it looked like. It seemed the throw the team off for a minute, in that minute SJ scored again. I think Yeo should have called a TO at after SJ's 3rd goal, but hindsight is 20/20 I guess.

Koivu with yet another super smooth SO goal.

[Bear55]

Gotta wonder in PMB's days are numbered.

I've been wondering about this myself, he has just had too many of these and you have to wonder if he or the dr's might say enough is enough.

[Bear55]

Not sure if anyone even noticed but the wild waived Colten Gillies and Columbus picked him up. He is just another in a long list of 1st rounders who never panned out under the old management. To give them some credit they Wild started out drafting pretty good picking up Gaborik, Koivu, PMB, Burns but then had a terrible run for like 5 years, save for Clutterbuck and potentially Scandella.