Ever have that feeling of how something that occurred not that long ago, suddenly seems its been ages. People who have been ever involved in a personal, family, or occupational crisis know what I’m talking about. How a rough week can seem to take forever and then you realize later that it only started a few days ago. The tough times seem endless, but good times seem to be over and done with before you even had a chance to really relish them. Doesn’t that seem cruel? Time seems to slow down so you can endure the suffering a little longer, but when you’re having a blast, don’t look now because its just about over. Sure, life isn’t fair but why does it work that way. I am sure psychologists will tell us it has something to do with the biochemical processes of our brain, but it doesn’t provide relief for anyone having an awful week, month or year. An explanation from a neurologist won’t suddenly make that clock move a little faster so they can get through their rut more expediently. Sorry.
It seems like an eternity ago when the Wild were sitting atop the NHL standings. The Wild were resilient, stingy and seemed to produce a different hero for each game. Where in the heck did that go? Well it all started on December 13th in Winnipeg. The Wild made their first journey to play against the hometown Jets and they were met with a loud, raucous crowd, and a Jets team that was physical and intense. What is often forgotten, is the Wild almost clawed their way back in that game. The team had managed to make it a one-goal game and was in the last minute and a half that Zach Bogosian (who will miss tonight’s game) drove Pierre-Marc Bouchard (where many felt he got his concussion) head first into the boards. Bouchard’s subsequent setback to the injured reserve list seemed to be the catalyst for the team’s spiral out of the top of the standings to where it currently sits (just over two months later) in 12th in the Western Conference. Its been like a slow root canal for the last two months. The team has gone 5-16-5 over that span. Don’t expect the Jets who are in their own struggle to be a top 8 team in the East to feel much sympathy for the Wild and as Winnipeg Head Coach Claude Noel told Wild beat writer Michael Russo, “and you want me to cry (laughs)?” So will the Wild lose their 6th straight tonight or will they dig deep and a potentially hostile home crowd (with lots of Jets fans in attendance) and shoot down the Jets?
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1st Period Thoughts: Even before the puck was dropped, Dany Heatley was battling for position near the faceoff with Minnesotan Blake Wheeler. It would take just 25 seconds before Minnesota found itself in the penalty box as team captain Mikko Koivu was tagged for hooking Andrew Ladd. Minnesota’s penalty kill was aggressive, pressuring the puck carrier and they were able to clear the zone. The Jets tried to work the puck to the slot for Bryan Little but good active sticks disrupted the attempt and Minnesota was able to throw the puck the full length of the ice and the Wild got a big early kill. Minnesota tried to go on the attack right away as Mikko Koivu backhanded a shot wide of the mark and the Wild was able to work the puck down low where Devin Setoguchi fired a quick shot that floated over the Jets’ goal. Winnipeg tried to counter attack and good dump of the puck into the Wild zone nearly was cashed in for a goal as Kyle Wellwood tried to work a backhander that was knocked away by an alert Minnesota defenseman. The Jets continued to apply some offensive pressure as Evander Kane tried to dangle around Nick Schultz but his shot would be partially deflected by Schultz who hustled back well. The Wild got a little lucky as a drop pass by Heatley turned into a 3-on-1 for the Jets and it was Kane who was unable to get a good handle on the puck before he ran out of real estate and Niklas Backstrom was able to come up with a big save. A few moments after that, a turnover near the blueline by Alexander Burmistrov turned into disaster for the Jets as the Wild pounced on the loose puck for a 3-on-1 of their own. Koivu patiently waited for tiny Tobias Enstrom to drop to the ice and he threaded a perfect cross-ice pass to Setoguchi for an easy tap in goal, 1-0 Wild. The Jets tried to answer back, as Evander Kane carried the puck down low and as he centered it towards the Wild goal the puck slid through the crease where it found no one. Minnesota counter attacked with the top line and they nearly cashed in again as a long pass to Mikko Koivu turned into a big slapper from the captain that surprised Chris Mason who quickly dropped to the ice to cover up the biscuit for a whistle. The Wild got their first power play of the game as Chris Thorburn high sticked Jared Spurgeon. On the power play, the Wild were working for a deflection play from the slot which worked pretty well to put some early pressure on the Jets. Minnesota was not wasting a lot of time, moving the puck quickly and Spurgeon rifled a slap shot that that was steered aside by Mason where it was swept up by Heatley who wound up and unloaded a heavy slapper which was snagged out of the air by the glove of Mason. The Jets seemed to catch the Wild flat footed defensively as a turnover in the neutral zone turned into a quick outlet pass for Andrew Ladd who was behind the Wild defense but he was stonewalled by a nice save by Niklas Backstrom. Minnesota’s 4th line would create a little havoc, as some great work along the wall by Warren Peters to simply will the puck deep into the Jets’ zone, he’d slide a pass back to Matt Kassian who swung a shot on goal that went into the feet of Mason, but the puck was sitting loose near the side of the goal and a flurry of skates and sticks tried to jam at the puck but to no avail. Tension was starting to become more visible as pushing and shoving after the whistle were more prevalent. After a few minutes of grind it out hockey, the Jets would strike late in the period, as Blake Wheeler motored down the right side, sweeping from behind the net and delivering a perfect pass back to Kane who buried an easy tap in goal to tie the game at 1-1. It was a familar start for the Wild. Minnesota strikes first, but they couldn’t get another despite some good opportunities and the opposing team ties the game. The Wild were out shot 8-6 by the Jets. The Jets fans are fairly loud for a road crowd, and its not often you hear the home goalie openly heckled by the road team’s fans.
2nd Period Thoughts: Minnesota had good puck control to start the 2nd period as Koivu, Heatley, Setoguchi worked the puck effectively along the wall with some good help from Jared Spurgeon. Unfortunately, all of their effort did not yield a shot on goal but they’d backcheck well and it was Heatley leveling Wheeler with a nice open ice hit and he’d turn and race in on a 4-on-2 for Minnesota. Minnesota would fail to connect on the 4-on-2, and when you miss an opportunity as we’ve learned it comes back to haunt you and this failed chance was no different. A minute after the failed 4-on-2, Evander Kane would hustle his way around Spurgeon and he chipped a puck into the Wild zone where Niklas Backstrom tried to skate out to it but he wasn’t quite fast enough as Kane lifted a puck over the Minnesota goalie and in to give Winnipeg a 2-1 lead. An unwise decision by Backstrom. The Jets were content to just chip pucks deep and let the Wild chase as Winnipeg tried to take full advantage of its superior team speed. Winnipeg had another quality chance as Antti Miettinen slapped a bouncing puck that drew a quality save by Backstrom. Minnesota’s top line was again able to create some sustained play in the offensive zone by working the puck down low below the goal line but when Heatley finally set up Setoguchi for what looked like an open shot he hesitated and the opportunity was lost to the consternation of the home crowd. The Wild would get its 2nd power play of the game after a nice hustle by Darroll Powe gave him the time and space to get a shot off but it was blocked by Ron Hainsey but a trailing Nate Prosser picked up the puck and fired a wrister of his own that was blocked away by Mason. As the Prosser shot unfolded, Matt Kassian was high sticked by Pat Stapleton. Minnesota’s power play was predictably terrible, looking far too relaxed considering the fact the team’s circumstances. The Wild were unable to get much of anything going offensively through the first minute of the power play as the Jets were using good active sticks to deny shooting and passing lanes. Yet Minnesota’s patient approach would be rewarded as some good puck movement at the points finally gave Setoguchi a little space and he fired a slapper that utilized a screen by Erik Christensen and snuck through 5-hole on Mason on a horrible goal (for the Jets) to tie at 2-2. The Jets tried to answer back, and after a long range shot by Dustin Byfuglien was stopped by Backstrom and Byfuglien rocked Peters with a shoulder hit. That started a fracas as Peters went after Byfuglien and both players were given minors for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct respectively. Neither club did much with the open ice of 4-on-4 hockey. The Jets would take a “too many men” penalty to give Minnesota its 3rd power play of the game. After a short bout of 4-on-3 hockey, the coincidental minors would expire making it 5-on-4. Minnesota had a good chance early as Setoguchi set up Matt Cullen for a one-timer that he hammered on goal that was snared by the glove of Mason. The Wild would get way too fancy with the puck as they hoped to set up the perfect shot and the hot hand of Setoguchi who passed up on an opportunity to shoot and instead he pushed the puck down to Koivu and Minnesota eventually worked it to Heatley who lasered a wrist shot that was deflected by Johnny Oduya and the puck fluttered just wide of the mark. Minnesota would come up empty on the man advantage, but the Wild continued to attack. The Jets had one last good opportunity in the closing 2nd as Byfuglien stepped into a slapper that was steered aside by the leg pad of Backstrom and Minnesota had to feel a little better after tying the game up at 2-2. The Wild were out shot 10-3 in the period registering just 9 shots for the game at this point. Its not good, but at this point its anyone’s game.
3rd Period Thoughts: Minnesota was all over the Jets to start the 3rd period, as the top line again was creating all kinds of problems for the Sharks and a nice pass by Jared Spurgeon down to the top of the crease to Koivu who shoveled a shot that was stopped by Mason but the captain buried the rebound to give the Wild a 3-2 lead. The goal seemed to light a little fire underneath the Wild and Devin Setoguchi took a good run at Enstrom that sent him flying. However the Jets’ top unit kept it simple and worked the puck near the Wild crease and some poor coverage in their own zone where the feet stopped turned into the equalizer for Winnipeg as Burmistrov lifted a puck over a sprawling Backstrom, 3-3. Winnipeg continued to cause havoc with some god hustle as Minnesota’s 3rd line struggled to do just about anything positive as Kyle Wellwood nearly gave his club a go ahead goal. The game would get a little sloppy after a failed rush turned into a Jets’ counter attack as Wheeler out legged Scandella for a puck and he swept a pass to Ladd who couldn’t get the puck to settle to take advantage of an out of position Backstrom. The Jets would earn their 2nd power play of the game as Mike Lundin steps in front of Tanner Glass for an interference infraction. Minnesota’s penalty killers got off to a good start thanks to a nice play by Greg Zanon to strip Little of the puck and then dump it down to the Winnipeg end. Minnesota’s penalty killers were again aggressive and their pressure caused the Jets to cough up the puck and they got the big kill. At the end of the power play there were some more fireworks as Cal Clutterbuck got into a shoving match with Tanner Glass and Jim Slater. Slater and Clutterbuck would facewash one another and they’d get escorted to the box with minors (Clutterbuck got an extra minor giving the Jets a power play) but as they did so Powe and Glass would square off. Powe was struggling with his jersey, as he tried to avoid grappling right away as he tried to free up his arm. Yet it didn’t matter as Powe aggressively started to fire right handed jabs as Glass was under siege early. Glass tried to rally back but Powe would move around a bit and start pounding away as he started to pull the jersey over the Winnipeg fighter’s head to the roar of the home crowd. Powe continued his barrage of quick punches as they tumbled to the ice, a clear win for the feisty Wild forward. In the end the Jets ended up with a power play, but Minnesota’s penalty kill again put on a clinic, pressuring Winnipeg effectively and never allowing the Jets to build up any sort of momentum. In fact, the Wild would create a turnover in their own zone as Warren Peters and Matt Cullen raced down the ice in a 2-on-1 against Enstrom. Enstrom would put his stick on the ice to try to deny the cross-ice pass and Cullen attempted to saucer a pass over to Peters that failed to click. The Wild got another big penalty kill and Minnesota went back on the attack. The modified line of Brodziak, Heatley and Setoguchi caused all kinds of chaos as Minnesota was taking every opportunity to fire it on goal as Spurgeon and Scandella was turning the Jets’ zone into a shooting gallery. Moments later, the Wild kept up the offensive pressure as Nick Johnson nearly capitalized on a tic-tac-toe play after a pretty pass by Kyle Brodziak but Mason was up to the task. The game would calm down slightly as both clubs were wary of making a major mistake in the closing minutes of the game. The battles along the wall were intense, and every shot seemed to be magnified in importance with a little (gasp) from the crowd every time someone fired one on goal. One player who was playing with a ton of fire was Powe who just wouldn’t be denied as he battled for a puck in open ice in the neutral zone as he came away with it as he raced into the Winnipeg zone before unleashing a wrist shot that was deflected up into the netting behind the Jets’ goal. Both clubs would try to create one last rush but the backchecking was tenacious and no one could get free of the respective defenders and the game would go to overtime.
Overtime Thoughts: Overtime would start out with a stutter as Cullen and Setoguchi tried to get something going off the rush only to be whistled offsides. Minnesota had a little better luck with its pair of Koivu and Heatley who got set up in the zone and it was Prosser setting up Heatley for a quick shot that was deflected up and out of play. The Wild continued to carry the play in overtime, as Nick Schultz nearly was able to tap a shot home off the rush but he was stopped by Mason. Seconds after that, Marco Scandella would show some pretty moves with the puck as he tried to set up Cal Clutterbuck near the top of the crease but the puck would skitter across the blue paint. The Jets finally got something going offensively late in OT as Winnipeg took advantage of tired legs as Little sped by Spurgeon for a little backhander that was knocked down and covered up by Backstrom. Winnipeg would try one last push but couldn’t get a shot on goal and the game would go to a shootout.
Shootout Summary: The Wild would elect to shoot first, as Matt Cullen was Minnesota’s 1st selection. Cullen would move slightly to the right where he bared down on Mason before firing a wrister that was directed aside by the Jets’ goalie. Blake Wheeler would move in and make a simple forehand to backhand deke and he lifted a puck over Backstrom who got a piece of it but not enough to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. Mikko Koivu would try to dust off his patented forehand to backhand deke but Mason was ready to glove it out of the air, still 1-0 Winnipeg. The Jets next shooter was Kyle Wellwood who tried to use a little deke and work a shot 5-hole but Backstrom was able to make the save. Minnesota’s next shooter was Erik Christensen and he calmly raced down the ice where he ripped it by Mason who slid into the back of his net, tying the shootout at 1-1. Bryan Little was next for the Jets and he’d skate in and he’d fire a wrist shot that was knocked down by Backstrom. Minnesota’s next shooter was Dany Heatley and he’d skated in and then slow down to a crawl and then try to fling a wrist shot that was dismissed with ease by Mason. The Jets’ fans were already celebrating a victory as a hat flew onto the ice as Evander Kane was their next shooter. Kane moved in with good speed and he promptly beat Backstrom with a wicked wrist shot to give Winnipeg a 4-3 victory.
Niklas Backstrom was pretty good in a losing effort but the shootout continues to haunt him. Backstrom is one of the worst goaltenders in league history in the glorified skills competition, with save percentage just above .500. Backstrom’s gaffe to try to leave his crease to play the puck really was a momentum changer for the Wild. Defensively I thought the Wild had a few lapses, where they stopped moving their feet and that’s when the Jets lit the lamp. The Wild certainly should be able to elminate such mistakes but it just goes to show you how small the margin of error here is in Minnesota. The smallest let down and the puck is in the back of your net. I liked how Minnesota’s defenseman were supporting the play in the offensive zone, Spurgeon and Scandella were pretty solid in this capasity.
Offensively the Wild created more opportunities, and the power play also looked much improved but they still need to put more shots on goal. 25 shots was ok, but at times they were a little too selective with their shots. While the 1st line carried the majority of the play offensively the team was able to create quality scoring opportunities with its 2nd line of Brodziak, Johnson and Cullen who were as pesky as they have been over the last few games. Setoguchi had a huge, 3-point night but unfortunately the team wasn’t able to capitalize on it.
The shootout loss is the Wild’s 6th straight. The ‘mercy’ point is nearly irrelevant as 3-point games are so common this time of year as everyone is scrapping for every point they can get right now. Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo told reporters after the game, “Unfortunately we didn’t get 2 points, I give our guys a lot of credit, we’re going through a tough time and I have to give our guys credit for how they’ve handled it.” Yeo also stated that the team needs their 3rd and 4th lines to contribute offensively, but felt their effort was very good this evening. I feel the Wild played with a lot of heart and intensity but its another moral victory, not a real one. It was good to see the fire in this club but I think most fans feel its too little, too late.
Wild Notes:
~ The roster tonight is as follows: Mikko Koivu, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Matt Cullen, Cal Clutterbuck, Erik Christensen, Kyle Brodziak, Nick Johnson, Cody Almond, Warren Peters, Matt Kassian, Darroll Powe, Greg Zanon, Nick Schultz, Mike Lundin, Jared Spurgeon, Nate Prosser and Marco Scandella. Josh Harding backed up Niklas Backstrom. Justin Falk, Marek Zidlicky and Jeff Taffe were the healthy scratches.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game as selected by the fans were: 1st Star Evander Kane, 2nd Star Devin Setoguchi, 3rd Star Jared Spurgeon
~ Attendance was 19,060 at Xcel Energy Center.
Where are they now?
LW – Stephane Veilleux (Albany, AHL) ~ A player I kind of miss having on the Wild is Stephane Veilleux, who I think may have fit in more with the style of play preferred by Mike Yeo than Jacques Lemaire. While fans loved to criticize Veilleux’s inability to finish his on his scoring chances, one thing you could always count on was his effort each and every shift. Veilleux is a player who gives it all that he has, and is willing to do whatever is needed to help his team win, even if that means dropping the gloves in situations where he was hopelessly over matched. Since the Wild departed ways with the Beauceville, Quebec-native he went to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning where injuries robbed him of an opportunity to prove himself. In fact, it was his injuries he sustained with the Lightning and the team’s decision to try to weasel out of paying for his medical bills even though he hurt himself playing for the team that sort of left him out of the league. The Wild actually heard Veilleux’s odd tale of poor treatment and let him get the medical attention he needed (apparently at little or no cost), but those were the days when the dysfunctional ownership of movie maker Oren Koules and land speculator / developer / former NHL’er Len Barrie were at the helm of an organization that was going nowhere fast. After healing his wounds, Veilleux could not find a suitor in North America so he left for Europe where he bounced around in 2010-11 playing in Switzerland and Finland with the Espoo Blues. In the fall of 2011-12 Veilleux returned to North America where he earned a tryout with the New Jersey Devils. While he didn’t win a job with the NHL club he made the organization feel he could help their youngsters develop so he tried to provide veteran leadership with their AHL affiliate in Albany. Veilleux not only provided the leadership, but a little offensive punch as well as he chipped in 11 goals and 22 points and 53 penalty minutes in 40 games. His hard work even earned on the farm earned him a one-game call up, his first NHL action since 2009-10 with the Lightning. Here is an interview done today with Wild.com’s Kevin Falness. Veilleux has always had a good sense of humor, from being a good sport and participating after being put on Kiss Cam at an opposing arena to enjoying the mantle as perhaps the best ping pong player in franchise history. Besides, who could forget this gem?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeu6CEdm574&w=425&h=350]Wild Prospect Report:
HIFK’s Dennis Endras
C – Mikael Granlund (HIFK Helsinki, Sm-Liiga) ~ Mikael Granlund continues to be a go-to element for HIFK Helsinki, as he chipped in an assist in a 4-1 victory over Ilves Tampere. The creative playmaking forward is 2nd in the Sm-Liiga in scoring with 19 goals and 48 points in 41 games.
G – Dennis Endras (HIFK Helsinki, Sm-Liiga) ~ Since arriving in Finland after not finding enough time in the crease for the Aeros, Endras has been something sort of a revelation for HIFK. He has been lights out, with a stingy 2.04 goals against average and a stellar .929% save percentage that is amongst the best in the league. While Granlund’s offensive prowess may lead the way on the scoreboard, its Endras’ solid play that really has taken HIFK to the next level and is a big reason they sit in 4th place in the league’s standings after a slow start.
C / RW – Charlie Coyle (Saint John, QMJHL) ~ The Sea Dogs are starting their big push through the homestretch of the regular season where they hope to defend their QMJHL title and Memorial Cup Championship. After last night’s 10-1 demolition of the P.E.I Rocket I think you have to believe this team has what it takes to repeat, and Charlie Coyle figures to be a key component in that goal. The Weymouth, Massachusetts-native had a goal and two helpers in the rout.
D – Bjorn Krüpp (Kölner Haie, DEL) ~ After playing out his junior days with a horrible Belleville Bulls team where Krupp had the dubious distinction of holding his club’s worse +/- (-42 in 2009-10 and -35 in 2010-11) in consecutive years he has shown some improvement playing in the DEL. The stay at home defenseman will never be a big scorer, but he’s chipped in 7 assists in 42 games to go along with 66 PIM’s, and a more normal -7 over that time.
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