Forty-five minutes to game time and the event staff is playing weird Al‘s “I Lost on Jeopardy”. Ironic the song choice to say the least. Listening to the chorus over and over, I wonder if the song is a warning to Coach Todd Richards who, regardless of the outcome of the Wild’s last North American preseason contest, will set a new Wild record: the coach with the worst preseason record for the expansion Wild in their short, 10-year history.

The best they can do is a meager 4 points out of a total of 12 (33%). Should they tie, it would be 3 points out of 12 points (25%). If they lose again, 2 out of 12 points (16.67%).
To put these numbers in perspective, keep in mind that the Wild got 8 out of 16 points in their first year as an expansion franchise in 2000-01. Thereafter:

* In 2001-02, they recorded 8 out of 12 points.
* In 2002-03, not only did the Wild capture 15 out of 16 points, going 7-0-1, they qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
* In 2003-04, they recorded 8 out of 18 points. As we all recall, the 2004-05 season did not happen due to the lockout.
* In 2005-06, they recorded 7 out of 14 points in the pre-season.
* In 2006-07 they recorded 6 out of 12 points and returned to the playoffs only to lose to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Anaheim Ducks, in the first round.
* In 2007-08, the Wild captured the Northwest Division banner after grabbing 10 out of 14 points in the preseason before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.
* They showed the same preseason record in the 2008-09 season, but no playoffs, while last season was the worst preseason ever for this team winning just under 43% (6 points out of 14).

The worst ever until this season. Last year was blamed on the players and not the coach or the system. This year, so far at least, may yield a close examination of the head coach and his system or style of play.

Yes, it is only the preseason. A solid showing to open the season in Finland and a competitive October and the natives will settle down. However, a weak showing in Europe against the Carolina Hurricanes followed by a poor October which features the Wild at home 6 out of 8 games after returning from Finland with games against Edmonton, twice, Columbus, Vancouver, twice, Los Angeles, Washington and Chicago could spell doom for Coach Todd Richards who is only in his second year as the bench boss of the Wild.

One wonders if the players will get the brunt of criticism like last year or if management looks to the coach and his system or style of play. No doubt, Wild fans will be walking on egg shells hoping and praying that their dreams of a return to the playoff dance or not dashed in October like they were last season.

Notwithstanding the dreadful preseason record thus far for the Minnesota Wild, the last pre-season game against the Blue Jackets of Columbus had to be played. For the Wild, a regular season line-up at the forwards: Brunette-Koivu-Miettinen; Kobasew-Cullen-Havlat; Clutterbuck-Madden-Nystrom; and Staubitz-Brodziak-Wellman. On defense: Burns-Schultz; Zanon-Falk; and Bagnall-Scandella. In net, Backstrom and Khudobin.

For the Blue Jackets, at forward: Nash-Vermette-Huselius; Moreau-Pahlsson-Dorsett; Umberger-Brassard-Voracek; and Blunden-Mackenzie-Clark. On defense: ClitsomeTyutin; Hejda-D. Savard; and Methot-Stralman. In goal, Steve Mason.

1st period

The first period was B-R-U-T-A-L. For much of the period, the Wild could neither break out of the defensive zone, making it often appear that they were killing a penalty and playing shorthanded when in reality it was 5-on-5. As abysmal as their effort on defense was, their offense was equally lacking in the first period as the Wild could not sustain much of a forecheck. The first period found the Blue Jackets tallying two goals on 9 shots.

The first goal was on the power play; a laser of a shot by Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin sending a shot over Backstrom’s left shoulder into the upper corner. The second Jackets goal came on even strength where he floated from behind the Wild goal out to between the face off circles, wide open and finding the back of the Wild goal on an uncontested shot. At the end of the first period, the Jackets held a commanding 2-0 lead, outshooting the Wild 9-4. What was really sad was the intermission on-ice entertainment got a huge roar, blowing away any reaction Wild fans gave to their team in the first period.


2nd period

As poorly as the first period was played by the Wild, the home team pleasantly surprised with a great forecheck and a goal. Never mind it was on a power play, the Wild looked good. Miettinen potted the goal after hitting the post on an earlier attempt. Credit Brent Burns who was deep in the offensive zone in the corner and floated up to mid ice, passing it over to Miettinen who was very high in the slot who found the back of the Jackets goal for the first time of the evening.

Following that goal, the Havlat-Cullen-Kobasew line had a great attempt, but failed to convert which was immediately followed by a brutal Columbus goal where the Columbus player basically shot it blind and with a sweeping motion with Wild players standing in front of him about mid-ice of the Wild’s defensive zone. Backstrom was sprawled out on the ice on the left post, leaving the whole right half of the net wide open and the puck slid in unobstructed. Columbus struck again with Greg Zanon got caught up high in the Wild’s defensive zone leaving Falk all alone with Voracek streaking in. Falk kept the middle of the ice, forcing Voracek to Backstrom’s left, but Voracek converted a short-side, backhand.

Columbus almost scored again, but the goal was waived off by the ref as the Jackets player had apparently kicked the puck in. Bagnall then got a little rough with the Jackets after plastering two Columbus players with two solid hits prior to the melee in front of the Wild goal.

The teams played 4-on-4 without either team converting and towards the end of that, the Jackets were called on another penalty giving the Wild a 4-on-3 for two seconds, but a full two minutes of power play opportunity. The Wild made the most of this opportunity by converting on an absolutely beautiful goal. Koivu passed to Brunette who was to Mason’s right. Bruno passed the puck diagonally to Cullen who was playing right defense on the power play and had floated in on Mason’s back door.

After closing the gap again to two goals, the Wild gave up yet another huge opportunity to Columbus. It seemed that every time the Wild did something positive, albeit few and far between, they let up and gave the Jackets an equally good scoring opportunity. At the end of two periods, it was 4-2 in favor of the Blue Jackets with Columbus outshooting Minnesota 22-15.

3rd period

The third period found Columbus laying back and protecting the lead. As such, the Wild managed to mount a comeback on shots (27-26 in favor of Columbus), but not with goals (4-2 favoring Columbus).

There was not much to write about as the third period progressed, except that the Wild pulled Backstrom with one minute to go in the game and managed to avoid giving up an open net goal on what was a very good scoring opportunity for the Jackets.

The Wild lose 4-2 to wrap up their worst pre-season ever in franchise history. The only thing worse would be losing to the Finnish team that they play next which apparently came in last place last year in the Finnish Elite League, according to media sources.

Final thoughts

One has to wonder what happens if the Wild come out of the gate lethargic this season? I can’t help but wonder what GM, Chuck Fletcher, will do if this team has no momentum following this awful preseason. It almost comes down to the players, the coach, or the system. With the hiring of Michel Therrien as “a scout”, one wonders if he’s not the coach in waiting should Richards be relieved of his duties. Other possibilities in that event include Ken Hitchcock and Craig McTavish. Some in the press box feel that McTavish would be the best fit as he knows the Northwest Division. However, this is purely speculation that Fletcher would move quickly on his guy, Richards.

Despite the disappointing loss and preseason, coach Richards was surprisingly candid in his post-game comments. He noted that this was an important game for the coaches, specifically, and it went terrible, was unacceptable and the team was, basically, not engaged. He noted that it seems like their waiting, but that he’s not sure what for. He commended Casey Wellman for looking hungry on the ice and noting that he needed more players like that.

As for going to Finland, Richards noted that a change would be good. Finally, Richards indicated that a push has to come from inside the locker room; from the players. Richards noted that while the bright spot for his team was the power play, he would like to still see them generate more chances. As players go, he noted that Scandella was re-assigned to Houston after the game. He also indicated that Burns tweaked his back, but should be o.k. Falk, Bagnall and Wellman are the remaining kids who have yet to be cut from the big club so they get rewarded with a trip to Finland.

The Wild end up winless this preseason and manage to scrape out only 2 points on two shootout losses. Not much to be excited about coming into the 10th season. However, in an attempt to end on a positive note, at least this horrific preseason is over. (Go Wild).

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