Game #53: Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche, Wednesday February 9, 2011 at 7:00pm CST, Xcel Energy Center [GAME PREVIEW]

In a season where the Wild and their fans have faced a merry-go-round of emotions, filled with highs and lows, injuries, and numerous questions, the Wild will pause tonight and celebrate a milestone.

 While tonight is technically game number 1,003, the Wild will honor long-time forward, Andrew Brunette’s one-thousandth game in the NHL.  It’s not a mark that many players make, and I doubt few who watched Brunette in his rookie season thought they would see this day.  He lacks the speed that has become ever so important in the “new” NHL.  I know for myself, that I do get frustrated when I see his slowness create an offsides.  However what he lacks in swiftness of foot, he makes up for in other elements of his game.  First off, Brunette is one of those players that is simply difficult to get off the puck or his skates.  He’s not the biggest player out there, however there’s just something about his physical makeup that makes him the hockey version of a Weeble.  With that strength, his all important office on the ice is one of the more volatile areas of the ice.  Brunette’s trademark is his play behind the net.  Whether he sets up his teammates for the all-important goal or he’s able to find his way to the front of the net with the puck, it’s his hard work in the trapezoid that have made him a valuable player.

If ever there was a professional athlete that deserved tonight’s honor, it would be Brunette.  I don’t know about you, but I generally hate interviews with professional athletes.  All we generally get are overused cliches and generalities.  Perhaps it has something to do with his style of play, but an interview with Brunette is in-depth and professional and often done with a smile or a bit of humor.  The day after Brunette’s 1,000th game, he was one of the guests on NHL Network’s NHL Live.  He delivered the same kind of interview that Wild fans have come to expect.  He is humble and even better he is able to make fun of himself.  He knows he is not a fast player, and it willing to be the butt of jokes, often his own.  However, that sense of approachability has somehow translated into confidence and leadership.  I don’t know about you, but if there was a player who should have been our full-time captain, it should have been Brunette.

Tonight’s game is getting a bit of a late start due to the festivities.  The festivities include a video tribute as well as gifts from the team and the league.  My only hope is that those of us at home will be able to watch the tribute.  Tonight’s game is on Channel 45 instead of Fox Sports North due to the Minnesota Timberwolves game. Since the league is involved to a degree with this celebration, one can only hope that the local broadcasters get it in their heads that it needs to be televised.  Trust me, I’d much rather watch a video of a video than listen to the annoying commentary of Dan Terhaar and Mike Greenlay.  I’m also curious if there will be some sort of gift coming from tonight’s opponent, as Brunette spent time in Colorado between his tenures in Minnesota.

So congrats Bruno.  And here’s to a few more years with you.

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