It has been one long off-season and while the pre-season offers people a taste of hockey it just isn’t the same. The rosters are different, the lines are jumbled and the same is true for the opposition. I must admit, the arrival of Electronic Arts’ NHL ’11 for the Playstation 3 was very timely as it was a chance for me to get that hockey fix. It has been a lot of fun playing as Canadian Major Junior teams as I’ve started seasons with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League as well as the obligatory season with the Minnesota Wild. I’ve always enjoyed EA’s hockey video games going all the way back to NHL ’94 for the Super Nintendo. And before I sound too much like a paid advertisement, it really is just an unsolicited recommendation from a guy who hasn’t met too many hockey video games he hasn’t liked and just in case you’re curious my hockey video game experience goes all the way back to the old Coleco days when they offered “Ice Hockey” along with “Pong.” Yet like pre-season those games played on the Super Nintendo or Playstation 3 aren’t real and while I wish Mikko Koivu would be near the league leaders in points at the end of the season I’d be fooling myself to think that’d actually happen (Sorry, Mikko). The Wild have been in Finland nearly a week and after going just 1-4-2 in pre-season if you count its exhibition game against Sm-Liiga’s Ilves Tampere the team has given its fanbase far more to be nervous about than to be hopeful about. It has made the pre-season feel more than a little long for the Wild, and while getting a chance for some team bonding in Finland as they enjoy the heat of a sauna cabin its time for the team to get down to business and focus on getting off to a good start to the 2010-11 season.
So the season starts with a level of anxiety already in place as the team has struggled in its previous games and that comes with the knowledge that the team is just $45,000 under the salary cap. That means that there is virtually no room to make changes and the team’s lineup will likely stay more or less the same as it is. The Wild start their season far far away from the State of Hockey but for their faithful fans they will be watching closely to see if this team is developing chemistry and poised for at least a decent start out of the gate. So will the Wild see a performance that calms those nerves or will they facepalm and wonder just how bad its going to get?
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The game had a somewhat cautious pace to start the game as both teams seemed to have an element of initial hesitation to their game. The Hurricanes would get the first shot on goal as Eric Staal would rip a wrist shot that Niklas Backstrom would struggle with. Both teams were a bit cautious and retreating quickly upon turnovers. Minnesota would strike first as Mikko Koivu would take a nice little pass from Kyle Brodziak along the boards and he would skate it into the Hurricanes’ zone where he moved down beneath the goal where the Wild captain would dish it back to the slot to a waiting Guillaume Latendresse who one timed a shot that beat Cam Ward 5-hole to put the State of Hockey up 1-0. The Hurricanes would tried to answer back with some offensive pressure of their own as Anton Babchuk would bomb a slap shot from the point that was gloved and held onto by Backstrom. The Wild was doing its best to take the body and the grinding line of John Madden, Eric Nystrom and Chuck Kobasew were causing some havoc on the forecheck. After about 5 minutes of defensive hockey where neither team was able to create much of anything offensively the Hurricanes would get the first power play of the game as Greg Zanon tripped up ‘Canes rookie Jeff Skinner. Minnesota’s penalty kill was aggressive, challenging the puck carrier up through the neutral zone and this pressure would draw a few offsides calls. An error with the clock caused a mini-intermission just over halfway through the first period, but this would leave the Hurricanes with about a minute left of power play time. Minnesota’s penalty killers would suffocate the remaining power play time with ease, but Carolina would finally create some offensive pressure in the moments just after the man advantage expired as Joe Corvo flung a wrist shot that was redirected by former Wild draft pick Patrick O’Sullivan that was blocked aside by Backstrom. Minnesota’s forecheck was sort of hit or miss as they hoped to create a turnover, but their persistence would pay off as Kobasew would tap a pass over to Cal Clutterbuck who fired a shot that was snagged by a nice glove save by Ward. The Hurricanes seemed to have good speed but sloppiness with the puck would prevent them from creating quality scoring chances. Towards the end of the period, the Wild would set up a great one-time chance as Martin Havlat and Matt Cullen worked some magic along the boards with quick passes as they set up Clutterbuck for a blast that was blocked away by Ward. The Hurricanes would try to counter attack and as they worked the puck deep, as Cam Barker would hold up Patrick Dwyer for an easy interference call. The late-period call would prove costly. Carolina would get set up on the power play, and it was a nice play by Jamie McBain making a nice diagonal pass to a waiting Brandon Sutter at the top of the goal crease for an easy tap in goal to tie the game 1-1. With the team’s knotted at a goal apiece the Wild had to feel a bit disappointed at the finish of a period where they carried most of the play.
In what looked like a fairly empty Hartwall Arena, the Hurricanes looked hungry and aggressive to start the period. Minnesota would earne some relief as Jay Harrison would trip up Chuck Kobasew giving the Wild its first power play. The Wild struggled to establish themselves in the offensive zone, and when they finally did they were able to set up a shot for Antti Miettinen in the slot who got off a soft shot that was absorbed by Ward. About 30 seconds later the Wild were able to work the puck down low to Andrew Brunette who’d cycle it back to Mikko Koivu and he dished it to Miettinen for a quick shot that Ward was able to deflect out of harm’s way. The Wild would come up empty on the man advantage but it was good to see them establish some offensive pressure. Minnesota would create some offense off the forecheck as a nice steal by Kobasew who pushed the puck to John Madden who showed his veteran presence by calmly turning and distributing it back to a charging Eric Nystrom who stepped into a slapper that was blocked to the corner by Ward. Making his 2010-11 debut, Justin Falk wound up and ripped a shot that was deflected up into the stands after striking his former Spokane Chiefs teammate in the Hurricanes’ Drayson Bowman. The Hurricanes would go on the attack and some hard work by Patrick Dwyer and Brandon Sutter nearly turned into a goal as pass by Corvo to Sutter who fired a shot that was just blocked wide by Backstrom. Carolina continued to apply pressure and some sloppy play in the defensive zone by the Wild would pay the price. An in advertent bad shot by Joe Corvo turned into something nice as it would reach a pinching Anton Babchuk who lifted a backhander over a sprawling Backstrom to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead. Minnesota’s 2nd line of Matt Cullen, Martin Havlat and Cal Clutterbuck would try to respond with some offense, and after some decent puck possession they were unable to find enough space for a quality shot on goal as Clutterbuck started to throw his body around. The Wild followed that up with a shift for its top line and after cycling down low the Wild were able to set up a sharp angle shot by Miettinen that missed wide, but they would get back to work where Andrew Brunette drew a cross-checking penalty on Carolina’s Tim Gleason. On the power play the Wild would go to work with its 2nd power play unit of Clutterbuck, Cullen and Havlat and some outstanding hustle by Clutterbuck would be rewarded with a goal as he’d tap a puck to Havlat who would find some space and he’d turn and rifle a wrist shot on goal that Ward kicked out which was pounced upon by a roving Matt Cullen who buried it by the Hurricanes goalie to tie the game at 2-2. Shortly after the Wild’s power play tally, Minnesota would take an untimely holding penalty as Cam Barker headed to the sin bin for a 2nd time this evening. Minnesota’s challenge would get more extreme as careless slash by Matt Cullen would knock the stick out of Brandon Sutter’s hand for an obvious penalty giving Carolina a long 5-on-3 power play. That would have significant consequences as the Hurricanes would re-take the lead just about 30 seconds in the 2-man advantage they would light the lamp on a quick shot by Jussi Jokinen that would be re-directed by Backstrom by Eric Staal for a 3-2 lead. Carolina would continue to pour it on as their top line would try to add to their lead and it was Staal being hauled down by Greg Zanon as he tried to stuff a shot by the leg pad of Backstrom. Zanon would head to the box giving Carolina yet another power play. The Wild had some good penalty killing at the start as Justin Falk won a good physical battle along the boards before clearing the zone. Minnesota would kill off the man-advantage, and attempt to go on the attack and it was the top line of the Wild leading the way. Andrew Brunette would put on a clinic behind the Carolina goal using his strength and big behind to create some space, but unfortunately none of his passes would connect to create a prime scoring chance. The Hurricanes would answer back with a nice shift of its own from its 3rd line as Erik Cole set up Chad LaRose in the slot but his weak wrister was blocked aside by Backstrom. Carolina continued to swarm in the Minnesota zone, as Jeff Skinner and the Hurricanes were working their way near the top of the Wild crease. The Wild would get caught being a little too aggressive and Brandon Sutter would lead the rush and Patrick Dwyer would wrist a shot that was kicked out by Backstrom but Sutter’s forward momentum caused his skate to strike the puck and it’d trickle into lift the Hurricanes to a 4-2 lead. Minnesota would start to take some chances by activating its defense, yet give Carolina credit it was able to counter that pressure and Anton Babchuk would hammer a slapper that nearly trickled by Backstrom. The Wild looked tired and was chasing the Hurricanes aimlessly all over the ice and Minnesota could not have been feeling too good with the way it played in the 2nd, trailing by two going into the 3rd period.
The Wild got a good scoring chance right off the initial faceoff as Martin Havlat raced up the ice as he unloaded a wrist shot that was knocked down and covered by Ward. Eric Staal would trip up Mikko Koivu and would earn a 2-minute trip to the sin bin. Right off the faceoff Matt Cullen ripped a shot that was blocked way by Ward who had to work to see the puck through a Brunette screen, but the Wild would gather up the rebound where they’d work the perimeter. Minnesota would try to work a back door play to Brent Burns who got off a one-timer that was directed to the corner by an agile Cam Ward. Minnesota would come up empty on the power play. The Hurricanes were doing a fine job of forcing Minnesota to retreat back to its own zone and then have to advance the full length of the ice. At times this led to scoring chances for Carolina as Erik Cole skated into the Wild zone where he unloaded a slap shot that skittered just wide and out of the reach of a roving Staal. The 1-2-2 of the Hurricanes was making life difficult for Minnesota as they struggled to move through the neutral zone. Minnesota’s modified line of Madden, Kobasew and Latendresse would finally make their way into the Carolina zone where Latendresse set up Kobasew for a quick shot that he pounded just wide. The Wild was trying to get back into the game by pressing its defense closer to the opposing blueline. The aggressive stance would leave the Wild open and Carolina nearly added to their lead when Jeff Skinner showed some great hands as he tapped a puck out of mid-air that just missed wide of the Minnesota goal. Minnesota continued to be under seige as they were caught chasing around their own end and Niklas Backstrom came up with some sprawling stops to keep the Wild from falling any further behind. The Wild would try to strike back and a small little play in the neutral zone turned into a near breakaway for Antti Miettinen and he was shut down by a dramatic stacking of the pads by Cam Ward. Moments later the Wild would draw a power play as Cal Clutterbuck managed to get to get behind the Carolina defense to draw a hooking call on Babchuk. You could see the urgency in Minnesota’s power play as they stormed the crease but Mikko Koivu wasn’t able to swat a bouncing puck by Ward and Carolina would be able to clear the zone. Matt Cullen would start a rush as he tapped a puck forward to Latendresse who raced into the Wild zone where he tried to connect on a diagonal pass towards the Carolina crease that just failed to click with Clutterbuck who went careening into the Hurricanes’ goal. Minnesota would again come up short on the man advantage but the 2nd line would swarm around the Carolina crease, and Latendresse would be stonewalled by Ward and the frustration began to show as the Wild winger swung his stick a bit in anger which drew the ire of Tim Gleason as they exchanged a shove or two as some unpleasant words. Former Wisconsin Badger Jamie McBain would give the Wild a bit of a reprieve as he was sent to the box for holding giving Minnesota another power play. The Wild would take a much less frantic approach on the power play but after a few nice passes they’d free some open ice for Brent Burns who stepped into the slot and he ripped a wrister that would sneak its way through a Brunette screen and behind Ward to cut the Carolina lead to one, 4-3 with around 3 minutes left. As the Wild attempted to press for the equalizer, the team was placing Matt Cullen at defense to man the point. Minnesota’s puck pressure would yield a great opportunity for Cam Barker who blistered a slap shot that went right into the crest on Ward’s sweater. Minnesota would take its timeout at 1:29 as Assistant Coach Dave Barr would discuss strategy in the final moments of the game. Off the faceoff win for the Hurricanes the Wild nearly got help from Tim Gleason who gave a hard pass towards the goal that nearly was uncomfortably close to the leg pad of Ward but it would hit the side of the goal. Minnesota would ice the puck with 33 seconds which would cost them some valuable seconds and this also forced Minnesota to put Backstrom back into the game. The final seconds would evaporate uneventfully and Minnesota loses its season opener 4-3.
Niklas Backstrom was ok, giving up 4 goals on 31 shots but the goals he gave up were due to a lack of defensive support which was an all too familiar theme from last year. Not a good sign, and Minnesota was again fairly weak on the penalty kill as they gave up 2 goals on the man advantage. The Wild’s defense was caught flat footed on multiple occasions and that led to the weak 4th goal the team gave off the rush. Clayton Stoner especially seemed to struggle to reach loose pucks.
Offensively Minnesota was fragmented and the team got almost nothing from its 3rd and 4th lines. Brad Staubitz does not appear to be any upgrade over Derek Boogaard in speed or offensive ability and overall it looked a lot like last year which is precisely what Wild management, coaches and fans don’t want to see either. Hopefully its better tomorrow.
Wild Notes:
~ The Wild roster this late morning was the following: Mikko Koivu, Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettinen, Martin Havlat, Matt Cullen, Guillaume Latendresse, Chuck Kobasew, Kyle Brodziak, Brad Staubitz, John Madden, Eric Nystrom, Nick Schultz, Justin Falk, Clayton Stoner, Greg Zanon, Cam Barker and Brent Burns. Anton Khudobin backed up Niklas Backstrom between the pipes for the Wild. Casey Wellman and Marek Zidlicky were the healthy scratches while Pierre-Marc Bouchard is close to returning to the lineup.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1st Star Brandon Sutter, 2nd Star Jussi Jokinen, 3rd Star Joni Pitkanen
~ Attendance was 12,355 at Hartwall Areena where there were nearly 250 Wild fans. One of them is a friend of mine from the wild.com message boards “Pebbles” who made the trip to Finland and I am sure no matter how well the next game ends up that she’ll have lasting memories. Great to see her on the Versus feed!
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