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Minnesota Wild Blogger •
Kudos to the Vancouver Canucks and their fans! What a difference a year makes. Here's what Wikipedia says about their year last year:
This year is a complete about-face for the Canucks and their fans. Congratulations and good luck in the playoffs.
Tuesday night in St. Paul had a playoff-like atmosphere for the Wild's game against the visiting Canucks. From the opening pre-game video to the "wake up" music starting in the middle of the 2nd period to the 3rd period which was completely dominated by the Wild during which they gave up zero shots on net to the 4-on-3 opening to overtime to the sweet play from Daniel Sedin to Henrik Sedin resulting in a sweet game winning goal even if it was in favor of our hated rival.
Luongo was tested early and, as stated by the Canucks radio broadcasters during the game: "Bobby Lou is in the groove tonight!" And in the groove he was. Actually, both goalies played very well in this low scoring affair.
As the game continued, the Canucks resorted to the usual sort of play they usually bring to St. Paul. My notes contain phrases such as "bush league", "B.S." and "cheap, cheap, cheap". But, in the end, if it works, why not? The refs were calling most of it, resulting in powerplay opportunities for the Wild, but to no avail. The Wild simply could not convert on the powerplay, much less put together anything close to resembling an effective powerplay. Vancouver, on the other hand, converted on their only powerplay of the evening (which I might add was a very suspect call; no way was that hooking). During that opportunity for the Canucks, Pavol Demitra threw the puck out front from behind the net and found Wild defender, Kim Johnsson's skate which deflected the puck past a sharp as always Nicklas Backstrom.
With the Wild falling behind in the 2nd period, alot of the "playoff atmosphere" left the Xcel Energy Center. That is until Marian Gaborik woke the sleeping giant of 18,000 with a very nice goal during which he had Luongo moving from the goalies left post to right when, suddenly, he put it to the side of the net Luongo had just left.
The Wild then began to press the Canucks the entire 3rd period. Luongo continued to be tested and, as the 3rd period drew to a close, Salo inadvertently launched the puck over the glass from his defensive zone resulting in a delay of game penalty that would carry over into the extra frame.
Gaborik was on the ice when Salo was called. Lemaire wisely called a timeout to rest that top line so he could send them back out there again. However, after the one minute intermission between the 3rd period and overtime, Lemaire decided against putting Gaborik back on the ice. In his post game press conference, Lemaire explained that he had the guys out there that he had gone with all season because a 4-on-3 requires a lot of puck movement and he needed guys out there who knew what they were doing in that situation, subtly speaking to the lengthy absence Gaborik had this season due to injury. During this first shift of the overtime, during the Wild's ongoing powerplay, they had numerous good chances and were simply shut down by Luongo and the Vancouver penalty killers. One can't help but second guess Lemaire's decision and whether Gaborik's presence on the ice could have/would have been the difference maker between a win and a loss.
Again, Daniel Sedin's between the leg, drop pass to his brother, Henrik, was a thing of beauty, even if it resulted in a Canucks win. That sort of play, regardless of who makes it, is what makes hockey the greatest game on earth.
In talking with Henrik after the game, he talked about the fact that both he and his brother have felt good all year. He also credited Mats Sundin as the difference for the Canucks between this year and last. Vancouver coach, Alain Vigneault, credited "health" as the biggest difference between last year and this year for his club. Specifically, he pointed to the decimated defensive core he had last year, compared to the relatively healthy blue line he has this year. Relative given the time of the year. Willie Mitchell was spotted limping through the Vancouver dressing room after the game. Vigneault also talked about the Minnesota defense being very good at keeping the Canucks outside. Funny thing about him saying that is that I thought the exact same thing, except about the Canucks defense.
In the end, this game was very entertaining. However, in the end, it was the same old story for the Wild this season: not enough. Sadly, this will probably continue to be the fate of the Wild and this year, it will be the Wild on the outside looking in and the Canucks winning the Northwest in the final games of the season. Walking past GM Doug Risebrough's box in the press box said it best tonight. Risebrough, his assistant, and his lead scout were all just sitting there, obviously dejected by the result. The result, a product of not giving Lemaire enough to make it through the injuries that plague NHL teams some seasons and not others. A product of their own making to a certain extent and the product of things beyond their control to another extent. However, after seeing Gaborik back on the ice, I simply cannot see how they can not offer him a sizeable one year deal and try to work out a longer term deal after that, should he choose to remain a member of the Wild. If not, then it will be Wild fans bidding a fond farewell to the last original member of the Minnesota Wild, much the same as Vancouver did at the end of their season last year with Trevor Linden.
Again, congratulations to the Canucks on a fine season and absolutely owning the Wild this year. Good luck in the playoffs and we will see you for another round of pleasant exchanges next season.
The 2007-2008 season did not begin well, with key injuries beginning from training camp. Defencemen Sami Salo and Lukas Krajicek were both injured in October, while Kevin Bieksa was severely cut by the skate blade of Vernon Fiddler of the Nashville Predators on November 1. Left-winger Matt Cooke was traded to the Washington Capitals for left-winger Matt Pettinger at the trade deadline. During the last nine games of the season the Canucks were also without Ohlund, who had suffered bone chips in his knee; as well, they lost promising rookie forward Mason Raymond to an MCL sprain and Morrison, again, to an ACL tear. The Canucks lost seven of their final nine games and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years, coming up three points short. The final game of the season, played on home ice, saw the retiring Trevor Linden awarded the first star of the game (despite not being the best player in the game) and given a standing ovation after a 7-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.
This year is a complete about-face for the Canucks and their fans. Congratulations and good luck in the playoffs.
Tuesday night in St. Paul had a playoff-like atmosphere for the Wild's game against the visiting Canucks. From the opening pre-game video to the "wake up" music starting in the middle of the 2nd period to the 3rd period which was completely dominated by the Wild during which they gave up zero shots on net to the 4-on-3 opening to overtime to the sweet play from Daniel Sedin to Henrik Sedin resulting in a sweet game winning goal even if it was in favor of our hated rival.
Luongo was tested early and, as stated by the Canucks radio broadcasters during the game: "Bobby Lou is in the groove tonight!" And in the groove he was. Actually, both goalies played very well in this low scoring affair.
As the game continued, the Canucks resorted to the usual sort of play they usually bring to St. Paul. My notes contain phrases such as "bush league", "B.S." and "cheap, cheap, cheap". But, in the end, if it works, why not? The refs were calling most of it, resulting in powerplay opportunities for the Wild, but to no avail. The Wild simply could not convert on the powerplay, much less put together anything close to resembling an effective powerplay. Vancouver, on the other hand, converted on their only powerplay of the evening (which I might add was a very suspect call; no way was that hooking). During that opportunity for the Canucks, Pavol Demitra threw the puck out front from behind the net and found Wild defender, Kim Johnsson's skate which deflected the puck past a sharp as always Nicklas Backstrom.
With the Wild falling behind in the 2nd period, alot of the "playoff atmosphere" left the Xcel Energy Center. That is until Marian Gaborik woke the sleeping giant of 18,000 with a very nice goal during which he had Luongo moving from the goalies left post to right when, suddenly, he put it to the side of the net Luongo had just left.
The Wild then began to press the Canucks the entire 3rd period. Luongo continued to be tested and, as the 3rd period drew to a close, Salo inadvertently launched the puck over the glass from his defensive zone resulting in a delay of game penalty that would carry over into the extra frame.
Gaborik was on the ice when Salo was called. Lemaire wisely called a timeout to rest that top line so he could send them back out there again. However, after the one minute intermission between the 3rd period and overtime, Lemaire decided against putting Gaborik back on the ice. In his post game press conference, Lemaire explained that he had the guys out there that he had gone with all season because a 4-on-3 requires a lot of puck movement and he needed guys out there who knew what they were doing in that situation, subtly speaking to the lengthy absence Gaborik had this season due to injury. During this first shift of the overtime, during the Wild's ongoing powerplay, they had numerous good chances and were simply shut down by Luongo and the Vancouver penalty killers. One can't help but second guess Lemaire's decision and whether Gaborik's presence on the ice could have/would have been the difference maker between a win and a loss.
Again, Daniel Sedin's between the leg, drop pass to his brother, Henrik, was a thing of beauty, even if it resulted in a Canucks win. That sort of play, regardless of who makes it, is what makes hockey the greatest game on earth.
In talking with Henrik after the game, he talked about the fact that both he and his brother have felt good all year. He also credited Mats Sundin as the difference for the Canucks between this year and last. Vancouver coach, Alain Vigneault, credited "health" as the biggest difference between last year and this year for his club. Specifically, he pointed to the decimated defensive core he had last year, compared to the relatively healthy blue line he has this year. Relative given the time of the year. Willie Mitchell was spotted limping through the Vancouver dressing room after the game. Vigneault also talked about the Minnesota defense being very good at keeping the Canucks outside. Funny thing about him saying that is that I thought the exact same thing, except about the Canucks defense.
In the end, this game was very entertaining. However, in the end, it was the same old story for the Wild this season: not enough. Sadly, this will probably continue to be the fate of the Wild and this year, it will be the Wild on the outside looking in and the Canucks winning the Northwest in the final games of the season. Walking past GM Doug Risebrough's box in the press box said it best tonight. Risebrough, his assistant, and his lead scout were all just sitting there, obviously dejected by the result. The result, a product of not giving Lemaire enough to make it through the injuries that plague NHL teams some seasons and not others. A product of their own making to a certain extent and the product of things beyond their control to another extent. However, after seeing Gaborik back on the ice, I simply cannot see how they can not offer him a sizeable one year deal and try to work out a longer term deal after that, should he choose to remain a member of the Wild. If not, then it will be Wild fans bidding a fond farewell to the last original member of the Minnesota Wild, much the same as Vancouver did at the end of their season last year with Trevor Linden.
Again, congratulations to the Canucks on a fine season and absolutely owning the Wild this year. Good luck in the playoffs and we will see you for another round of pleasant exchanges next season.
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