Daily Links: Koivu #1 star, Bouchard concussion update, Tom Powers rips Wild

Tom Powers: Wild create 18,000 puzzled viewers - TwinCities.com
This has been a very messy start for the Wild and their team of 18,000, which is holding firm but looking rather shaky over the long haul. So far, the Wild have taken to Todd Richards' new system about as well as Russians take to tobacco rationing.

Wednesday's Three Stars: Koivu leads; Mitchell blasts Toews - Puck Daddy - NHL - Yahoo! Sports
The newly-minted captain scored his third of the season on the power play to tie the game against the red-hot Colorado Avalanche at 15:09 of the third, and then beat Craig Anderson in the shootout to lead Minnesota to a 3-2 victory. He also assisted on Brent Burns's first of the season and played an outstanding overall game, as Minnesota snapped its five-game winning streak.

Game 9 Recap: Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (SO) - Mile High Hockey
Instead, we have to settle for the loser point. After a scoreless OT, the Avalanche couldn't get anything past Niklas Backstrom in the shootout. Craig Anderson only allowed one, but that was too much. The Wild got the win. We got what we deserved.

Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (SH); Slight Bouchard update | StarTribune.com
Talked to Pierre-Marc Bouchard up here in the pressbox tonight. It's going to be awhile still, although he is feeling a little better. But still headaches and concussion-like symptoms. He doesn't think his concussion from last season ever fully healed, and when he was cross-checked in the chin during the first exhibition game in September, he thinks it put him into a relapse of sorts. Now he's got to get symptom free.