Minnesota Wild vs Calgary Flames: Game Re-cap
by BReynolds on Mar 21, 2010 7:52 PM CDT
3 comments
Minnesota Wild 4 - 3 Calgary Flames
For enemy reaction, please visit Matchsticks and Gasoline
Hello, Dr. Jekyll, it's been awhile. Mr. . Hyde was starting wear a little thin, so you were a welcome visitor for this fine Sunday.
Anyone who has watched or heard about the Wild this season can explain that comparison. After laying eggs againt the Blue Jackets and Predators, the Wild returned home to the safety and comfort of the X, and played another solid full sixty minutes. The Wild team we have seen for the better part of the season was back. You know the one. They forecheck, hit everything that moves, shoot the puck, and make plays.Then, something happens, something with the moon maybe, and Mr. Hyde comes back.
For now, we will enjoy the visit from the good doctor.
The Wild played an excellent game today, save for a handful of boneheaded plays, and the three goals against were all fairly good goals. The Flames certainly did not disappoint today, either. The saving grace for the Wild today may have been that Vesa Toskala showed the form he had with the Maple Leafs, and the Wild made him pay early.
After playing back and forth for the better half of the first period, Steve Staios, oh he of the scoring touch, had a shot deflected in front of Josh Harding, and the Flames took an early lead. However, the Wild would answer around thirty seconds later with Andrew Brunette scoring a typical Andrew Brunette, ugly type, sharp angle goal.
In the waning second of the period, and in the closing seconds of a horrendous Wild power play, Guillaume Latendresse showed us just why he will forever be known as the Best Trade Ever. He powered through the Flames defenders, made a cut to the net and stuffed a puck through Toskala's five hole. At this point, the Wild were in control, and the fans were having some fun.
Chuck Kobasew would add an early second period goal, and all seemed to be right and good in Saint Paul. At this point Vesa Toskla was yanked in favor of Mikka Kiprusoff, and fans had all kinds of reason to be happy.
A pall would be cast over the game, however, as on a fluke play (that yes, maybe interference could have been called on), Daymond Langkow fell forward just as teammate Ian White unloaded a bomb from the blue line. The puck seemed destined to hit Langkow, and did so directly above the nameplate, square in the back of the neck or upper back. Langkow did not move from his side, and was attended to by both teams doctors before eventually being taken off on a stretcher. Wild fans would give a bit of a lesson to Fighting Sioux fans who just the day before had cheered and shouted obscenities at an injured Bulldog player.
The fans gave a respectful cheer as the took Langkow off the ice with his teammates surrounding him. Reports would later come in that Langkow has full movement of all body parts, and full feeling as well. He is being held at a local hospital for observation over night, all of which is excellent news. The injury is actually believed to be caused by his head hitting on the ice, and not from being hit with the puck.
Shortly, and I mean shortly, after Langkow was safely off the ice, Ian White finished what he had started and scored a goal to pull the Flames back within one. The game was physical and there were some scrums in front of the night, but there would be no fights on this night. Instead, Kobasew added a second goal and the Wild were back on top by two.
In the third period, the Wild started to slip into their now standard role of dog ready to be kicked, but something must have pulled them out of it, because BTE (Latendresse) tried to put Mayers through the penalty box door, actually damaging the door to the point that the game had to be delayed.
The Flames added a goal in the early third, and pulled Kipper with 1:15 left, but the Wild help on for dear life and pulled out the win against a team they have traditionally struggled against and who is fighting for their playoff lives.
All-in-all it was a solid outing. I chalk it up to the fact that Nathan was busy watching the movie 2012, rather than the game. He seems to be bad luck.
Hockey Wilderness Three Stars:
1. Chuck Kobasew - (2G, +2, 3 SOG in 14:40 TOI)
2. Matt Stajan - (2A, +1, 21:44 TOI)
3. BTE (1G, physical play, 15:50 TOI)
Five Six Questions to Answer:
1. Jarome Iginla. The man, the myth, the legend. Can the Wild limit him to under ten points? Well, they help him under 10, yes, but not off the board. The Wild killer had an assist and 4 SOG.
2. Guillaume Latendresse is without a goal in the past three games, and pointless in the last two. Can he get back on the board? BTE was everywhere today. He indeed got the goal, and his physical play had the Flames rattled late in the game.
3. Casey Wellman has yet to experience a division rivalry. Does he get in the game, and does he show off his skills again? He seemed unphased by the match-up. He played well again, and looked completely comfortable on the ice. 11:18 TOI and two very nice SOG.
4. Greg Zanon has a broken right ankle. Broken, people, as in, busted. He said "We'll see how it is on Sunday." Does superman heal miraculously and play today, or does the medical staff tell him he can't go? He played! Unbelievable. Broken ankle and all.
5. Looks like Backstrom in net after missing a handful of games. Does he play well, or will he be rusty? Backs was the back-up today, so this one is mute.
Bonus Buddha Question:
6. Does my distaste for the Wings outweigh my allegiance to the Wild? In other words, do I really want the Flames to lose today, thus helping the Wings make the playoffs? I cheered for the Wild. I figured that even if the Wings make it in, they are going to face the Sharks, and hopefully they can be embarrassed on national TV.
3 comments | 0 recs |
Minnesota Wild vs Calgary Flames
by BReynolds on Mar 21, 2010 1:30 PM CDT
134 comments
According to Four Square on Twitter, Nathan is at Babies R Us right now, so I will throw a quick game thread together. Always good to have a twitter feed to keep track of that guy, he's elusive.
vs 
For enemy perspective, drive to Calgary. I kid, I kid. Visit Matchsticks and Gasoline
As for this game, I'm not sure how many fans care if the Wild win or lose at this point. It seems to be more about getting the young guys some TOI, and trying to re-learn the system. Hopefully the Wild can keep from embarrassing themselves too bad.
Five Questions to Answer:
1. Jarome Iginla. The man, the myth, the legend. Can the Wild limit him to under ten points?
2. Guillaume Latendresse is without a goal in the past three games, and pointless in the last two. Can he get back on the board?
3. Casey Wellman has yet to experience a division rivalry. Does he get in the game, and does he show off his skills again?
4. Greg Zanon has a broken right ankle. Broken, people, as in, busted. He said "We'll see how it is on Sunday." Does superman heal miraculously and play today, or does the medical staff tell him he can't go?
5. Looks like Backstrom in net after missing a handful of games. Does he play well, or will he be rusty?
Bonus Buddha Question:
6. Does my distaste for the Wings outweigh my allegiance to the Wild? In other words, do I really want the Flames to lose today, thus helping the Wings make the playoffs?
Enjoy the game. Hopefully Nathan got something pretty at the store. ;-)
134 comments | 0 recs |
Wilderness Walk for 3-20-2010
by BReynolds on Mar 21, 2010 9:28 AM CDT
0 comments
Seems that with each passing day, the amount of news about the Wild gets smaller and smaller. Probably because they are out of the playoffs, and writers get to focus on something else, huh?
Game day. Flames. Ugh, that's all I've got to say.
Random Wild Picture of the Day:
Wild News:
Wild's walking wounded might skate vs. Flames | StarTribune.com - The real questions is, does any of it matter?
Wild's investments in Sheppard, other youngsters showing signs of payoff - TwinCities.com - Sometimes, a beat writer buys in a little too much into what they are being told. This is one of those times. Sheppard is paying dividends? Please, Bruce, no more stock tips, OK?
KiPA's Korner:
Hitting The Post: NHL Recap 3-20-10: Who let the Thrashers back in?; Coyotes comeback stuns Chicago - Couple pretty sweet games last night. I didn't watch either of them. Could have. Didn't. I'm a bad hockey fan, and I apologize.
Game Day Enemy Perspective:
Calgary Sports - Calgary Herald. A team in the playoff race... one that I would prefer to see make it over the alternative. (sigh)
Matchsticks and Gasoline - Calgary SBN blog. Just went through a management change, so if you go to visit, be nice. ;-)
Barring any unforeseen mishaps, I should be around for the game today. Later all.
-Buddha
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Minnesota Wild @ Columbus Blue Jackets: Game Recap
by nathaneide on Mar 19, 2010 10:11 PM CDT
in Events
2 comments
Minnesota Wild 2-4 Columbus Blue Jackets
Ok Wilderness, it's clearly time to pack it in. Two games in a row where it looked like the effort was simply not there for 60 minutes, as has been the biggest problem all season. I can't hold Richards or Fletcher accountable. It's not their fault. They are trying to fix what was broken, and frankly have done a very solid job in turning this thing around, but it's a multi-season job.
Sure, we can say that this team doesn't have a go to scorer, we can say that they are in a "transition" year, and we can say that they are only a few points out of the playoffs, but honestly, there is no reason (aside from Doug Risebrough's inept management) that this franchise is not a top four franchise in the West. The revenue is there, the fan support is there, but the on-ice performance and farm system is not there, and it's because DR did such a horrible job in building a team. Fletcher is trying to build for the future, and guys like Martin Havlat, Guillaume Latendresse, Casey Wellman, Cal Clutterbuck, Cam Barker and this years draftees should be part of that.
Look at New Jersey, you can see there that it was never Lemaire's fault. To quote Bud Adams, "He can take his'n and beat your'n and take your'n and beat his'n."
Anyway, onto tonight's game. The Wild got up early from Mikko Koivu and a nice play from Casey Wellman, in his NHL debut, to feed Chuck Kobasew for the goal. However, from that point on it was all Columbus. And when I say all Columbus, I mean Rick Nash took over. I cannot say enough good things about Nash. He is far and away my favorite non-Wild player in the NHL, and that includes my man-crush on Alex Ovechkin. Nash does so many things well, and can put a bad team on his shoulders, that watching him mire in Columbus is painful.
Nash is everything you want in an NHL player. Big, strong on his skates, brutally tough with the puck, can score in traffic, can create his own shot, skates well, plays physically, doesn't talk himself up, makes people around him better and is as good in the clutch as anyone in the league. Most importantly, he isn't a primadonna. You never hear him in controversy, he's never on the Wheel of Justice and he's the kind of guy who harkens back to a time gone by.
Ahh, if only.
Feel free to read the winning recap at The Cannon
Hockey Wilderness Three Stars:
- Rick Nash (2 G)
- Kristian Huselius (1 G, 1 A)
- Kris Russell (1 G)
Five Questions to Answer:
- Another day, another game we can't watch. Does anyone care? Clearly not.
- How will Casey Wellman look in his NHL debut? 1 assist, a +1 and 2 shots in 10:09. Nicely done kid.
- How about Justin Falk? 1 shot and an even in 5:36. Too small a sample to tell.
- Can we get a rebound from a horrible performance last night? Up early, then outplayed after the second goal.
- Is Josh Harding going to try to clean something off the ice again and give up another goal? Well, I haven't heard anything to that extent, and apparently the defense didn't help at all.
2 comments | 0 recs |
SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a charity of this community's choice
by SB Nation Survey on Mar 19, 2010 7:47 PM CDT
2 comments
>> Take SB Nation Survey
Hello sports fans! We're always striving to provide you with the best experience possible and it's been quite some time since we checked in with you.
So we're rolling out this survey to learn more about you and your sports world. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete.
We really appreciate your time and this is also going to help make a donation to a good cause.
By next Thursday (3/25) at 11:59pm PST the site that has the highest percentage of their community filling out the attached survey about their sports interests and consumption will win $500 to donate to a charity of their choice. We will leave it up to the discretion of the community manager(s) of the winning blog to decide how to choose the particular charity.
You can take the survey HERE
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WYR2WQT
Thanks for your support!
2 comments | 3 recs
Minnesota Wild @ Columbus Blue Jackets: Game 71
by nathaneide on Mar 19, 2010 4:00 PM CDT
in Events
12 comments
Minnesota Wild (34-30-6) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (28-31-11)
Nationwide Arena @ 6:00 CDT
Television: None
Radio: 830 AM WCCO, or online at Wild.com
For the Nashville perspective, check out On the Forecheck
|
Minnesota Wild |
Columbus Blue Jackets |
|
Forwards Defense Goalies |
Forwards Defense Goalies |
Questions to Answer
- Another day, another game we can't watch. Does anyone care?
- How will Casey Wellman look in his NHL debut?
- How about Justin Falk?
- Can we get a rebound from a horrible performance last night?
- Is Josh Harding going to try to clean something off the ice again and give up another goal?
12 comments | 0 recs |
Flood Prep Plans for Wild Fans
by BReynolds on Mar 19, 2010 2:04 PM CDT
0 comments
From Wild.com, some information that Wild fans, and those planning to attend NCAA events at the X in the coming weeks:
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Due to the prediction of a 19.8-foot flood level by early next week, the City of Saint Paul is closing Shepard and Warner Road between Eagle Street and Hwy. 61 beginning on Saturday morning. Jackson and Sibley Streets between Kellogg and Shepard will also be closed and Kellogg Boulevard, from Wall Street to Broadway Street, will be restricted to one lane of traffic in each direction due to flood protection work.
Beginning Saturday, affected fans planning to attend events at Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre in downtown Saint Paul should allow extra time and use alternate routes. It is possible the road closures will affect the following events:Sat. March 20 2010 Red Baron WCHA Final Five 2 & 7 pmThe best points of entry for downtown will be from I-35E and from I-94. MnDOT will display messages on existing variable message signs, information regarding the closures on the northbound lanes of I-35E south of the river and, if needed on the westbound lanes along I-94 beginning Saturday morning.
Sun. March 21 Minnesota Wild vs. Calgary Flames 2 pm
Sun. March 21 Alice In Chains 7:30 pm
Mon. March 22 Black Eyed Peas 7:30 pm
Tue. March 23 Minnesota Wild v. San Jose Sharks 7 pm
Wed. March 24 Celtic Woman 7:30 pm
Fri. Sat., March 26-27 NCAA Men’s Hockey West Regional Varies
Sat. Sun., March 27-28 Donnie Smith Bike Show Varies
Visit www.stpaul.gov/floodprep for current information on the flood preparation and information from the National Weather Service. For up-to-date information on road closures go to www.stpaul.gov/roadclosures.
Xcel Energy Center and the adjacent Saint Paul RiverCentre are located at the intersection of Kellogg Boulevard and West 7th Street in downtown Saint Paul. The buildings are serviced by two parking ramps (RiverCentre and Kellogg) directly connected to the complex. Both ramps will still be accessible at every entrance point. Additionally, there are more than 50 parking ramps and lots within a brief walk of the facilities.
For more information on parking in downtown Saint Paul, patrons should refer to http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/GettingHere/Parking.jsp or http://www.rivercentre.org/parking/ to find Park Smart! Maps, designed to offer routes to the most convenient parking locations for events in Saint Paul.
So, Russo, plan to leave early for the Black Eyed Peas concert. For the rest of you, adjust accordingly.
-Buddha
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Bauer Expands Recall of Kid's Hockey Sticks
by BReynolds on Mar 19, 2010 12:32 PM CDT
2 comments
A bit ago, we posted a quick story about high levels of lead in children's hockey sticks made by Nike / Bauer. Today, Bauer announced that recall, and it includes upwards of 100,000 sticks sold. Here is the information you will need:
Recalled sticks, from Bauer.com:
Bauer Junior & Youth Stick Stop Sell Affected Models – North America
Nike Bauer Supreme One90 Youth and Junior Stick (sticks, shafts, and replacement
blades)
Nike Bauer Supreme One50 Junior Stick (sticks, shafts and replacement blades)
Nike Bauer Supreme One40 Junior Stick
Nike Bauer Supreme One70 Junior Stick
Nike Bauer/Bauer Supreme One75 Junior Stick (player and goalie sticks)
Nike Bauer/Bauer Vapor XX Junior Stick (player and goalie sticks)
Nike Bauer Supreme LTX Junior Stick
Nike Bauer Apollo Junior Stick
Nike Quest Apollo Junior Blade
Nike Bauer Supreme Force Junior Stick
Nike Bauer Vapor XVI Junior Stick
Nike Bauer Vapor XXX Lite "Woody" Junior Stick
Nike Bauer Supreme Accel Junior Stick
Here the link to the pdf
And some video:
Check your kid's gear, pass this info on to anyone you know with kids in the game. It sounds like all of the sticks were sold pre-2008, but there would still be a ton of them out there. If anyone you know has one of these sticks, we would love to hear from them, please ask them to contact myself or Nathan through the email links at the bottom.
-Buddha
2 comments | 0 recs |
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