Tony Dean: MNWild: Ready for a Wild Road Trip? Just Providing my Take please give yours!

Mikko Koivu starting to heat up?

When's Harding going to slow down? I have Backstrom on my fantasy team and it's killing me just having him sit on the bench.

They're beating the teams they are supposed to beat. Now let's see how they do against one of the better teams in the league.
No stupid penalties tonight, or it could get ugly!

When's Harding going to slow down? I have Backstrom on my fantasy team and it's killing me just having him sit on the bench.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Hopefully never

Mikko Koivu starting to heat up?
- LeftCoaster

Koivu got dropped to third line for a bit and Parise has been alluding to being matched up with Coyle as his center. All motivating factors for Kaptain Koivu.

When's Harding going to slow down? I have Backstrom on my fantasy team and it's killing me just having him sit on the bench.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Never, I've got Harding on my fantasy team and he's putting up better numbers than Rask

Tony, thanks for the heads up that you are out of town. I will definitely attempt to step up as post-game coverage is concerned. I know Gump, won't be good enough for you. I get it. Carla, are you actually MnGump? KIDDING!

They're beating the teams they are supposed to beat. Now let's see how they do against one of the better teams in the league.
No stupid penalties tonight, or it could get ugly!
- SotaPopinski

Sorry Sota, but how do you figure Washington as one of the better teams in the league? Caps are 17th in the NHL and just above .500. Wild are 8th. Caps are 15 games in. Wild have 16 games under their belt. Both are on 3 game win streaks. Caps strength is special teams being 1st in both PP and PK, but hardly one of the better teams in the league at this point. That said, a Wild loss would not surprise me. Especially if Alexander the Gr8 shows up in force.

Mikko Koivu starting to heat up?
- LeftCoaster

How did that one song go: "You're as cold as ice". For me, that describes Koivu despite him starting to score recently. Great defensively and on face offs, but not the scoring threat that he once was. I think he wants to be more like Granlund and less like Pominville.

When's Harding going to slow down? I have Backstrom on my fantasy team and it's killing me just having him sit on the bench.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Backstrom is, at least for now, Harding's back up. However, Harding can't go forever, especially with his M.S. Add to that, Harding is prone to injury at the exact moment he is poised to take over as the clear cut #1 for the Wild. I say Backstrom gets in sooner than we think. Here's to hoping that I'm wrong as a fan of this team.

Sorry Sota, but how do you figure Washington as one of the better teams in the league? Caps are 17th in the NHL and just above .500. Wild are 8th. Caps are 15 games in. Wild have 16 games under their belt. Both are on 3 game win streaks. Caps strength is special teams being 1st in both PP and PK, but hardly one of the better teams in the league at this point. That said, a Wild loss would not surprise me. Especially if Alexander the Gr8 shows up in force.
- Brad Ratgen

You're right. I was thinking more along the lines of recently, they've been one of the better teams in the East. Didn't even look to see where they were sitting this year.

How did that one song go: "You're as cold as ice". For me, that describes Koivu despite him starting to score recently. Great defensively and on face offs, but not the scoring threat that he once was. I think he wants to be more like Granlund and less like Pominville.
- Brad Ratgen

He's a 20 goal scorer, with an average shot and average to slightly below average skating ability. Never understood how people expected him to be more of a "threat".

How did that one song go: "You're as cold as ice". For me, that describes Koivu despite him starting to score recently. Great defensively and on face offs, but not the scoring threat that he once was. I think he wants to be more like Granlund and less like Pominville.
- Brad Ratgen

This is actually a fallacy. FSN showed Koivus point stats for the last several years to this point in the season and he was only slightly below his average point totals. I think fans come to the conclusion that Mikko used to score a lot more, when in all actuality, he was one of the few that were able to score on this team. I'd say things have changed a bit since then, and not on Koivus end as much as some would like to think.... As Sota pointed out, he's been an average offensive player his whole career.

Tony, thanks for the heads up that you are out of town. I will definitely attempt to step up as post-game coverage is concerned. I know Gump, won't be good enough for you. I get it. Carla, are you actually MnGump? KIDDING!
- Brad Ratgen

Hey Mr. Busy Gargantuan shoes, You sure you can manage another blog this month???

Hey Mr. Busy Gargantuan shoes, You sure you can manage another blog this month???
- MnGump

You bet asshat!

You bet asshat!
- Brad Ratgen

A svincter says what?

This is the first game in a while the Wild reverted back to the "play not to lose" style of play. That's what allowed the Caps to tie it.

3 shoot outs on the season, Wild still have zero goals and zero saves...

This is the first game in a while the Wild reverted back to the "play not to lose" style of play. That's what allowed the Caps to tie it.
- MnGump

Yup. Was hoping they had put that behind them

Hope Parise is okay...that had to hurt

This is the first game in a while the Wild reverted back to the "play not to lose" style of play. That's WHAT allowed the Caps to tie it.
- MnGump

Ha ha ha ha ha. You said it 1st!!!!!!

A svincter says what?
- MnGump

Ha ha ha ha ha. You said it 1st!!!!!!
- Brad Ratgen

Glad to see your so busy Mr. Size 16 wing tips... Really enjoyed that follow up blog by the way!!! Nice effort! Right on par with some of your best work!