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Minnesota Wild Blogger •
The Canucks visit Minnesota for the first time this year in Game 2 between these two rivals. The story for both teams starts in the goal. Niklas Backstrom has been absolutely stellar this season for the Wild and has carried them through a rough stretch in October where the Wild, thankfully, salvaged the last 2 games of the month by beating the Rangers at home and then going to Pittsburgh the next night and hung on to score this first road win of the year in 10 tries. Meanwhile, Vancouver limps into Minnesota after a convincing victory, also over the Rangers, but without the services of all-world goaltender, Roberto Luongo. His back-up, Andrew Raycroft, however, has been equal to the task in stepping in for him and giving his team confidence that even without their captain, they are still in good shape, mostly due to their defensive style of play similar to the Wild of year’s past. But make no mistake about it, the Canucks can also score. Thankfully, the ‘Nucks are on the road where they have had struggles also this year, winning only twice so far this year and losing 5. The Wild may have the upper hand by virtue of playing at home where they are an impressive 4-1.
Backstrom against Vancouver (all-time) is 8-6-4 with a 2.23 GAA and a .924 Sv%. Raycroft is 2-1-0 all-time against the Wild with a 2.68 GAA and a .897 Sv%.
Minnesota is 22-18-12, all-time, against the Canucks, but they are 0-2-1 in the last 3 games against them. Should the Wild lose, they would tie their longest winless streak against Vancouver at 0-3-1. The Wild are also 0-2-1 in their last 3 home games against the Canucks. So much for the home ice advantage. And, if the Wild lose, they will have a new record for losses against Vancouver at home.
The last 3 games at Xcel and the last 5 out of 6 games regardless of venue have been decided by 1 goal.
The Wild have the best penalty kill in the NHL so far this season, but have allowed 3 short-handed goals, tied for the most in the NHL this season.
On the power-play, the Wild have registered 13 of their 30 goals so far this year (43.3%) which puts them 2nd in the NHL on this stat. The Canucks are 3rd with 18 of their 44 total goals this year coming on the PP.
Mercifully, October is over for the Wild. They have finally won on the road and they have defeated the best team in the NHL so far this season in Pittsburgh, last year’s Stanley Cup Champion.
Is the monkey of their back? This game against the Canucks will be a good test of that question.
The always feisty Canucks usually have a chip on their shoulder when they come to town, at least in recent years. It probably has little to do with the Wild beating them in the Western Conference Semi-Finals a few years back in 7 games and more to do with the types of players they have stocked their line-up with. You know the kind, the agitator. Most teams have 1. Vancouver seems to have many. Hopefully the presence of Boogaard, Scott and Clutterbuck can counter-act that dimension of their game. I tend to think, however, that it will escalate that dimension of the game.
In order to increase their hopes of winning against the Canucks, the Wild’s stats seem to suggest that they have to score first, be leading or tied after the 1st period, and lead after 2 periods.
It will be interesting should this game go to overtime. Both teams are perfect this year with Minnesota being 3-0 with one shoot-out victory while Vancouver is 2-0 with both victories coming in the shoot-out.
The bottom line for the Wild, however, is that they MUST play better 5-on-5. They are currently last in the NHL. They are not good enough on their power-play to live on those chances alone (they are 13th in the NHL at 21.3%, but it feels a lot worse than that).
I will not be at tonight’s game as we are celebrating my daughter’s 2nd birthday where she will be getting her very own pink Wild jersey, a green and red Wild cheerleading outfit and a pink Wild overall set. We will be feasting on her Elmo birthday cake and watching the kids consume massive amounts of cake, sugar, candy and ice cream to the point that they all act like the agitators on the Canucks and hopefully don’t draw game misconducts such that they have to sit out future events ala O’Brien (nice move pal!) But what do you expect. Typical for Canucks players, eh? And yes, my Vancouver friends, I already know what you’ll say: worst blogger ever. J
Go Wild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (anyone but the Canucks this year……errrr…….every year).
Backstrom against Vancouver (all-time) is 8-6-4 with a 2.23 GAA and a .924 Sv%. Raycroft is 2-1-0 all-time against the Wild with a 2.68 GAA and a .897 Sv%.
Minnesota is 22-18-12, all-time, against the Canucks, but they are 0-2-1 in the last 3 games against them. Should the Wild lose, they would tie their longest winless streak against Vancouver at 0-3-1. The Wild are also 0-2-1 in their last 3 home games against the Canucks. So much for the home ice advantage. And, if the Wild lose, they will have a new record for losses against Vancouver at home.
The last 3 games at Xcel and the last 5 out of 6 games regardless of venue have been decided by 1 goal.
The Wild have the best penalty kill in the NHL so far this season, but have allowed 3 short-handed goals, tied for the most in the NHL this season.
On the power-play, the Wild have registered 13 of their 30 goals so far this year (43.3%) which puts them 2nd in the NHL on this stat. The Canucks are 3rd with 18 of their 44 total goals this year coming on the PP.
Mercifully, October is over for the Wild. They have finally won on the road and they have defeated the best team in the NHL so far this season in Pittsburgh, last year’s Stanley Cup Champion.
Is the monkey of their back? This game against the Canucks will be a good test of that question.
The always feisty Canucks usually have a chip on their shoulder when they come to town, at least in recent years. It probably has little to do with the Wild beating them in the Western Conference Semi-Finals a few years back in 7 games and more to do with the types of players they have stocked their line-up with. You know the kind, the agitator. Most teams have 1. Vancouver seems to have many. Hopefully the presence of Boogaard, Scott and Clutterbuck can counter-act that dimension of their game. I tend to think, however, that it will escalate that dimension of the game.
In order to increase their hopes of winning against the Canucks, the Wild’s stats seem to suggest that they have to score first, be leading or tied after the 1st period, and lead after 2 periods.
It will be interesting should this game go to overtime. Both teams are perfect this year with Minnesota being 3-0 with one shoot-out victory while Vancouver is 2-0 with both victories coming in the shoot-out.
The bottom line for the Wild, however, is that they MUST play better 5-on-5. They are currently last in the NHL. They are not good enough on their power-play to live on those chances alone (they are 13th in the NHL at 21.3%, but it feels a lot worse than that).
I will not be at tonight’s game as we are celebrating my daughter’s 2nd birthday where she will be getting her very own pink Wild jersey, a green and red Wild cheerleading outfit and a pink Wild overall set. We will be feasting on her Elmo birthday cake and watching the kids consume massive amounts of cake, sugar, candy and ice cream to the point that they all act like the agitators on the Canucks and hopefully don’t draw game misconducts such that they have to sit out future events ala O’Brien (nice move pal!) But what do you expect. Typical for Canucks players, eh? And yes, my Vancouver friends, I already know what you’ll say: worst blogger ever. J
Go Wild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (anyone but the Canucks this year……errrr…….every year).
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