Boston Bruins @ Minnesota Wild GameThread, Oct 11, 2008 7:30 PM CDT

Minnesota Wild vs. Boston Bruins: Game 1

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 2:00 PM CDT in Events Comment 68 comments

Boston Bruins @ Minnesota Wild

27_medium Minnesotawild_medium

Boston Bruins (1-0-0) @ Minnesota Wild (0-0-0)

Xcel Energy Center @ 7:30 CDT

Television: FSN-N (HD)
Listen live on WCCO.com, or locally at 830 AM

For the Boston perspective, check out Bruins Blog

Tonight's lines:

Minnesota Wild

Boston Bruins

Brunette - Koivu - Gaborik
Nolan - Pouliot - Bouchard
Veilleux - Sheppard - Miettinen
Gillies - Belanger - Weller

Schultz - Burns
Johnsson - Skoula
Bergeron - Reitz

Backstrom
Brust

P.J. Axelsson - Marc Savard - Michael Ryder
Marco Sturm - Patrice Bergeron - Phil Kessel
Blake Wheeler - David Krejci - Chuck Kobasew
Milan Lucic - Stephane Yelle - Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara - Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart - Aaron Ward
Andrew Alberts - Andrew Ference

Manny Fernandez
Tim Thomas

Notes:

Tonight begins the defense of the Northwest Division championship. Minnesota is 6-1-0 all-time against Boston, with the only loss a 3-2 home defeat Dec. 15, 2005, in the Bruins' last visit to the Xcel Energy Center.

From Wild.com

The Wild won five of their seven preseason games, but will be taking the ice Saturday for the first time since beating Montreal 3-0 a week ago.

"It's both good and bad," Backstrom said. "We have time to rest, but we've played seven games in 11 nights so I think we got into a good rhythm. We have to be sharp to keep up that pace and be ready for next Saturday."

The Bruins got their season-opening four-game road trip off to a good start Thursday night, beating Colorado 5-4 on David Krejci's goal with 2:36 remaining. Tim Thomas made 35 saves and Blake Wheeler scored in his NHL debut, but the best news for Boston may have been the successful return of Patrice Bergeron.

The promising center, who missed all but 10 games last season after suffering a serious concussion, had two assists, five shots on goal and won 12 faceoffs.

"When you step on the ice you want to contribute," he said. "I don't care if it's offensively or defensively. I thought I did that the whole game."

Here are the opening night festivities, released by the Wild PR department.

MINNESOTA WILD ANNOUNCES OPENING NIGHT FESTIVITIES

WILD TO RAISE NORTHWEST DIVISION CHAMPIONS BANNER IN PRE-GAME CEREMONY

    SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota today announced the schedule of events for its sold-out 2008-09 home opener against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on FSN North and WCCO Radio.

    The team will also host a pre-game party starting at 4:00 p.m. on the top floor of the RiverCentre Parking Ramp. Activities will include live music, food and beverages and interactive hockey games. The pre-game party is free and open to the public.

    The Wild will raise its 2007-08 Northwest Division champions banner in a special pre-game ceremony beginning at 7:15 p.m. on the Xcel Energy Center ice. Players from the following Minnesota Hockey State Championship teams will help raise the banner: Bloomington Jefferson Jr. Gold A, Edina White U16, Edina White U19 and the Lakeville Jr. Gold B.

    “Let’s Play Hockey” will be announced by players from each of the 2008 Minnesota State High School Hockey Championship teams: Alexandria (Class A girls), Eden Prairie (Class AA girls), Hill-Murray (Class AA boys) and St. Thomas Academy (Class A boys).

    All fans attending Saturday’s game will receive a Minnesota Wild calendar and a replica Northwest Division champions banner.

Okay everyone, say it with me.

Lets! Play! Hockey!!!!!

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Comments

A must-win.

Well, okay, not really. But still, it’d be nice to get off on the right foot, with all of the uncertainty surrounding this team.

by Jon Marthaler on Oct 11, 2008 3:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Manny Fernandez Gets the Start in Nets for Boston

Lets Light that Lamp tonight Boys.

by Tony_O on Oct 11, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Annnnnnnnd

We’re underway!

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't like the graphic

The scoreboard graphic is WAY too big.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

First penalty

Burns for high sticking. Double minor at 16:64

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Durr

at 3:06

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent Kill

6 shots, 0 goals. Nicely done.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Boston Goal 1-0

Phil Kessel on a weak showing by Backstrom.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Official Scoring

8:03, Phil Kessel 2 (Patrice Bergeron, Marco Sturm)

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

doh

doh!

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Oct 11, 2008 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wild on the power play

2:00 high sticking – Mark Stuart.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 7:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad power play

No pressure on that one.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch

That 1 on 3 was just sad. You can’t let that guy get that far up the ice and get the shot off.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Wild are being outshot 13-5 so far.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lines?

Why on earth does Lemaire put Gaborik with Sheppard and Veilleux? Is it some kind of punishment? Put Gaborik with Koivu and let them loose.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pressure

Koivu, Brunette and Nolan are getting excellent pressure here. Would love to see Gaborik in Nolan’s spot there.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wild on Power Play

Excellent drive by Burns there, drawing the hook on Mark Stuart at 17:01.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Atta boy Shep!

Don’t let them push you around in there.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Horrible

Really bad decision by Bergeron. Waited too long to try the return pass.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

WILD GOAL!!!

Erik Belanger scores on the power play!

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Assists

Colton Gillies and Andrew Brunette

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Update

Gillies and Johnsson.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

WOOOOO

lights the lamp

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Oct 11, 2008 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

End of First Period: 1-1

Shots:
Bruins – 14
Wild – 9

Power Play
Bruins – 0/1
Wild – 1/2

Scoring Summary:
Boston: 8:03, Phil Kessel 2 (Patrice Bergeron, Marco Sturm)
Minnesota: 18:32, Eric Belanger 1 (power play) (Colton Gillies, Kim Johnsson)

Penalty Summary:
Minnesota: high sticking – 2 min – 3:06, B. Burns
Boston: high sticking – 2 min – 9:22, M. Stuart
Boston: holding – 2 min – 17:01, M. Stuart

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Live at the Game

on my Blackberry. This Place is Rockin.

by Tony_O on Oct 11, 2008 8:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice!

Give us a recap when you get home!

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Period 2 is underway

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Im

Im following on the web tonight :(
stupid work getting in the way

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Oct 11, 2008 8:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope we can help! If you’re on Twitter, follow us at @hockeywildernes

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I

I have no idea what Twitter is. lol
I should probably get one of those someday. But for tonight, I got Yahoo! Sports game cast thingy

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Oct 11, 2008 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wild power play

2:00 high stick on Krecji

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

2-1 Wild!

WILD GOAL! Marc-Andre Bergeron on the power play! 2-1 Wild.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

gotta

gotta love the 67% power play conversions!
(small sample size)

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Oct 11, 2008 8:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ARGH!

Colton, you need to pass that earlier! Trust Boogaard!

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Really building pressure here. Ference takes a run at Brunette.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Knock on Wood

Skoula’s looking awfully good so far

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice stop by Backstrom

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

BEAUTIFUL GOAL!!!

Antti Miettinen from Koivu and Brunette

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

3-1 Wild

That was just a lovely breakout.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

its

its an offensive explosion!

by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Oct 11, 2008 8:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

WILD GOAL!!!! 4-1

Erik Belanger off to another hot start. Assist to PMB.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And Owen Nolan

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

3 goal lead

Let’s hope the Wild keep up the pressure. They had trouble with 3 goal leads in the preseason.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is Nuts to be at

This Place is Going Insane, i cant even hear myself think right now, Now i know why we are the STATE OF HOCKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Tony_O on Oct 11, 2008 8:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

According to Fiona Quick, live tweeting the game

Gaborik & Veilleux appear to be benched. Have missed a couple shifts

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 8:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It Looks like that Live Too.

Maybe Lemaire is Benching Them because Gabby Wont Resign and Veilleux Held out So Long LOL

by Tony_O on Oct 11, 2008 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wild penalty

James Sheppard in the box.

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 9:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wild killed it off

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 9:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

End of Second Period. 4-1 Wild

Shots
Boston: 14-10
Minnesota: 9-12

Power Play
Boston: 0/2
Minnesota: 2/3

Scoring Summary
Minnesota: 4:01, Marc-Andre Bergeron 1 (power play) (Mikko Koivu, Pierre-Marc Bouchard)
Minnesota: 10:19, Antti Miettinen 1 (Andrew Brunette, Mikko Koivu)
Minnesota: 12:28, Eric Belanger 2 (Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Owen Nolan)

Penalty Summary
Boston high sticking – 2 min 2:08, D. Krejci
Minnesota holding – 2 min 15:17, J. Sheppard

by nathaneide on Oct 11, 2008 9:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs