Wild!!!

[Musky Buck]

Heatley has been in decline since his two 50 goal seasons in Ottawa, gone down each year, without Joe Thornton setting up Seto down he goes, you may be but I've never been a huge Clutterbuck fan, great name, hard worker, finishes checks, but NHL skills are very sketchy, I think we've already seen his best play, he's not going to get better than he is, he should've been shipped with the James Sheppards and Colton Gillies crew.

[Bear55]

I think we hit a perfect storm if there is such a thing in hockey. High expectations cramped into a shortened lockout season with no training camp. Plenty of new players and rookies who just haven't found a way to mesh yet. Inexperienced head coach, pretty below average goaltending so far, and to top of off every single player who was the heart of our depth seems to have started off the season in a major slump.

I'll give them time to figure it out, I still love our future but the rest of the NHL might run us over this year and we might have to take some lumps.

If we do turn it around (eventually this will happen) everyone not named Parise, Koivu, Brodin and Gilbert need to step it up. I'll cut Granlund, Coyle and any other rookies some slack, they are getting their first taste of the NHL.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Same old story, same old song and dance with this bunch so far. Goaltending has been adequate, not outstanding. 1 out of every 5 games backstrom is terrible giving up juicy rebounds left and right, and the other 4 games he give you a chance to win. Harding is a solid #2. Should be enough to get you to the playoffs.

Its the offense that ALWAYS been the problem with the wild franchise. They just cant put the puck in the net. its like a chinese fire drill out there watching this team try to score. I cant say it enough, it gets SOOOOOOOO OLD WATCHING! Someone figure out how to put the puck in the DAM NET!!!!!!!!! GOOD LORD!

[knoppers]

great game by backs tonight, he is the reason they won. offense still not producing, even with many great scoring chances.

[TomWehler]

Funny>>>> A ham sandwich!

[TomWehler]

Steogooch is a good player but not same as when he played with big Joe an Lil Joe for SHARKS!

sometimes looks like YOE has him over thinking his game postion wise. He has to be able to run around an feed the big guns an let them feed him.

I hear this short season junk an no training camp dump...all players were playing an are pros an make big money so they better show up.

Don;t hear this junk from other teams in the hunt or grinding it out.

Skate, Hit, shoot, score...repeat. HIT SOMEBODY!!!

When teams figure out Backstrom an Harding can be beat often going east n west losses will come in bunches.

Hard to beat them head on...dam fine boys.

But screen them an combime passes an they bit every time...

Last night Preds missed THREE almost open nets.

KABLAM.

Yoe knows goalie weakness...so has players trying to spread coming lines out an shut down passes an limit teams to only one on one shooots.

Easy to see past two season.

Sutter can skate an is very savy...Hard shot...I don;t get his fiddling around.

He should taje chare an step up.

Cluuterbutt is a good player but since got contract an some $$$ i skating round like he is Sid?

LOL

Hit somebody an open things up a bit butterbutt.

LOL

Just having fun peeps.......

NO WHINING!

GO LEAFS!!!!

[10,000 Casts]

Nice to see Setoguchi bury that one timer in OT.

[schmitty3]

They played pretty good last night. Controlled the game and easily could have had 3 or 4 goals.

[BartmanMN]

The hand pass penalty was ridiculous. I loved it. Hopefully that gets the boys going.

[Bear55]

I hear this short season junk an no training camp dump...all players were playing an are pros an make big money so they better show up.

It's more about chemistry and being familiar with your teammates and the system you play than just showing up. Give it time, they will come around.

[10,000 Casts]

ya that hand pass penalty was talk, especially in OT. I bet if the Wild wouldn't have spent almost 1/2 the 3rd on the penalty kill, they wouldn't have gotten that call but who knows..

I still have faith in this team making the playoffs and thats good enough for me.

[yakfisher]

So we have no problem winning the shoot out, but we can't score enough goals when it counts in regulation?

[mr_jman]

Tonight was our fifth straight game scoring only one goal in regulation. That equates to a pretty bad average on the season. Backstrom started slow this season, but right now he is carrying this team and keeping them in games! We need to find an offensive identity or we will sink against teams with a few goal scorers.

[RK]

Last night's game was...blech. Just an ugly game to watch by both teams. But 2 points is two points, and as an old coach of mine used to say, if you['re interested in style points, join the dance team.

I do think this is another case though where if that game had been last season or the season before, we lose the game 2-1.

Couple bright spots, Suter and Brodin were both stellar. Really settling in as a good top pair. Suter is finally looking comfortable and Brodin... I know I keep raving about him, but wow. Sky is the limit for that kid. Coyle looks like he's secured his spot on the top line too. Strong on the puck and makes smart plays. Only a matter of time before he starts to find the back of the net I think. Looks like Yeo's message to Set and Granlund stuck too. Both are noticeably better.

PMB and Heatly on the other hand... I was relieved when they finally took PMB's spot at the PP point away from him. Guy was a breakaway the other direction waiting to happen, and he hasn't done much 5 on 5 either. Heately - I think he turned the puck over every time he touched it last night. Stoner had another tough nite too I thought after being very good against the Preds. Like the guy, but man he's up and down from game to game...

Anyhow, hope they clean up their act tonight against (as my 7 year old son calls them) The Most Hated Canucks.

[Bear55]

Agreed RK, ugly but two points. Liking the play of our rookies as well, I think its just a matter of time before they start producing. Parise hasn't looked as good lately but I guess he's been fighting the flu.

[bbfenatic]

Nice win last night. My guess is tonight they will "lock down" with a tight neutral zone trap to try and slow down Canucks speed then try to capitalize on a turnover. I don't expect much offense either way and it will be a 1-0, 2-1 game. It will be a good test for us to see how "defensive" we can play against a very good team.....if we just can't execute the trap very well...then Vancouver will run away with it again.

[OnAFly]

We'll get blown out tonight. Travel, timezone change, played extra time last night, the fact that we are terrible in BC, this is all adding up to an ugly game for us.

Are we out of the NW Conference yet?

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

We'll get blown out tonight. Travel, timezone change, played extra time last night, the fact that we are terrible in BC, this is all adding up to an ugly game for us.

Want a bet? I'll take a W for the Wild. I think Yeo will have this team ready and if they can get a couple goals early, they can hold on for a win.

[RK]

Darcy Kuemper called up from Houston and will get the start tonight against the 'Nucks. Apparently Harding has been feeling 'off' for a few days and understandably don't want to start Backstrom the day after an OT/SO road game.

Kuemper has been stellar (1.79 GAA and .938 SP) in the AHL.

Might actually be a boost having him start. Scandella also sent down to Houston to make room for Spurgeon. Scandella the only D that didn't require waivers, and any NHL quality D on waivers would get snapped up on a heartbeat right now.

Just hope Harding isn't having an MS episode. All the guy's been through already, hate to see something like that happen...

[OnAFly]

Alright 10K, what's the bet?

I wonder what's up with Harding? Have we seen the last of him?

[BartmanMN]

The loser needs to use either one of these pictures as their avatar for 1 day and you need to respond to the Wild thread at least once to confirm.

You don't really need to. Friendly bet is fine.

[10,000 Casts]

ha, I opened my mouth before I knew we are starting a 3rd string goalie. But ok, I'll take the bet, I feel a big win coming tonight!

[10,000 Casts]

I should be getting some odds here but I'll take it straight up. Parise and Kuemper better have one heck of a game tonight.

[OnAFly]

I just hope you pick the right avatar picture from the above options. There is a right answer

I would yave been fin with a friendly bet too.

[10,000 Casts]

Kassian was put on waivers today, what a bunch of talk!