The Minnesota Wild lost to the Detroit Red Wings last night 2-3 in overtime.  The first two periods of hockey at the Xcel Energy Center was some of the best Wild hockey I had seen all year and the Wild led most of the game. It was in the third period that I saw the Wild go back on their heels and play too much defense. The Wild changed their game strategy and forgot what it was that got them into the lead in the first place...forechecking and staying on the puck.  Niklas Backstrom let in a soft goal and momentum totally shifted. At that moment, I knew the Wild were going to lose in overtime or a shootout because they were letting Detroit dictate the plays. The Red Wings are the best team in the NHL and you can not, at any time nor with any lead, let them have control of the plays.

Coach Jacques Lemaire had plenty of praises for his lead blowing team and there is no doubt in this MN Wild Freak mind that we will see the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL playoffs.