Game #34: Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks, Monday December 19, 2011 at 9:00pm (CST), Rogers Arena [GAME PREVIEW]

 
This season so far, has been a season of firsts for the Minnesota Wild.  Thankfully, many of those “firsts” have been positives as opposed to negatives.  They’re the kind of firsts that have given confidence again to players and fans alike.  With the tough past few seasons, they are very much welcome in Minnesota.

First off, there is rookie NHL head coach, Mike Yeo.  Currently, he is the youngest head coach in the NHL.  That hasn’t seem to deter him and in fact, it seems to push him to continually do better than he has in past, whether that be year or day or even hour.  His success with the Wild’s farm team, the Houston Aeros, last season seem to have put him on the right path for success.  It probably also gave him a boost on paper when General Manager, Chuck Fletcher, was looking for a new coach.  I’ll admit, the team had a bit of a bumpy start to the season, and people were wondering if Fletcher had made the right decision.  However, as in any job, there is always that transitional period when you get a new boss, and sports are no exception.  We’re pretty lucky that the transitional period was relatively short, as we never got out of the transitional period with former head coach, Todd Richards.  If things continue has they have for the Wild this season, the Wild’s new coach, in his first season, could easily be a shoe-in for the Jack Adams Award for best coach.  That’s a first I can easily live with.

This has also been a season of firsts for many of the team’s prospects.  Due to all the injuries, we have seen call-up after call-up after call-up.  It’s become a question of not IF we called someone up, but WHO.  Not only have those players played well, but in many cases they have surpassed expectations.  The most recent call-ups are Chad Rau and Jed Ortmeyer.  Now this is not the first stint for Ortmeyer with the Wild, but it is for this season.  Ortmeyer is tied for first place on the Aeros for his plus/minus numbers, a healthy +11.  One can hope that only helps the Wild in this divisional roadtrip.  Rau had a good season with the Aeros last season, and his 40 points he tallied are much needed now.  I think what has worked the best for all these call-ups, is that the team has kept them fresh.  They’re called up, play a few games, and are sent down for different players.  I don’t think their reassignment says anything bad about their play.  It simply keeps everyone hungry for more.  Play well in Houston, and you’re bound to see another trip to St. Paul.

This next set of firsts demonstrate both the good and the bad.  Until Chicago pulled ahead in the standings last night after their win against Calgary, this has been the latest (and longest time) that the Wild were in first place in the league.  It’s been exciting for players, coaches, and fans.  I know I’ve enjoyed the ride.  With that success, has come consequences.  As in any case where a team is at the top, all the teams below it are aiming to take that team down.  That has been the case with Minnesota as well.  I’m sure our recent opponents have been looking at us saying, “how the heck do they do it?”  With the extreme number of injuries, we’ve become an easy target.  As an easy target, it’s been much easier for opponents to beat what is essentially the Houston Aeros in Minnesota Wild clothing.  The Wild are now in their first three-game losing streak of the season.  It is a first I’m hoping will end tonight in Vancouver.  The realistic part of me is hoping that Minnesota can earn at least one point tonight as we’re waiting to get Mikko Koivu, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Devin Setoguchi and Guillaume Latendresse back from their various injuries.  That will be much more difficult against the Canucks than it was against the New York Islanders.  Hopefully they realize what is at stake, and will play much better in Vancouver.

At this point, the only first I want is first place.  Being first in the Northwest Division is nice.  It would be nice at the very least to take back first place in the Western Conference.  Sure, first place in the league is ncie, but it also is a conspicuous place to be.  And there are times, where it is nicer to be under the radar. 

Injury Report:

Minnesota:      Devin Setoguchi (leg), Mikko Koivu (lower body), Guillaume Latendresse (concussion), Justin Falk (lower body), Pierre-Marc Bouchard (broken nose), Casey Wellman (wrist) 

Vancouver:  Byron Bitz (groin surgery), Steve Pinnizotto (shoulder surgery), Andrew Ebbett (foot), Aaron Volpatti (leg), Brian Rolston (shoulder), David Booth (knee)

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