Minnesota Wild vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Game Recap

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Minnesota Wild 2-0 Columbus Blue Jackets

The Minnesota Wild opened the 2009-2010 home preseason with a 2-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both Wild goals were scored by fan favorite Cal Clutterbuck.

"Tonight I was the guy to do it for us. This year, it’s going to have to be scoring by committee," Clutterbuck said. "I mean, I’m not going to score two goals every night. Someone else is going to have to step up."

In a typical preseason matchup with many lulls in the action, the play of Clutterbuck and the on-ice return of defenseman Brent Burns, who missed the end of last season with a concussion, were the only major highlights in an otherwise unimpressive showing.

"Everybody always talks about his skating," said Wild coach Todd Richards, who won his home debut. "But what impressed me was him going into the corners in the defensive zone. He used his size and strength very well."

While many of the Wild's hopefuls tonight will be headed back to their junior teams or to the AHL's Houston Aeros, the play of newly acquired forward Kyle Brodziak gives the Wild fanbase something to which they can look forward. In addition to Brodziak's assist on Clutterbuck's first goal, he was impressive in the faceoff circle, something the Wild centermen had been sorely lacking over the past few seasons.

The game was stopped with six minutes remaining in the second period as Blue Jacket forward Jason Chimera was checked from behind by Minnesota center Eric Belanger. The scary situation was handled by the quick action of the training staff and rinkside EMT crew. Chimera was down for about five minutes before being wheeled off on a stretcher and gave two thumbs up on his way off the ice.

Belanger received a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct for the hit from behind, though you can be sure that the Blue Jackets, with whom the Wild open the season on October 3, will not soon forget the hit.

"From my view, it looked like he just had no chance to protect himself," Columbus forward Rick Nash said. "Obviously, (Belanger) doesn’t have a history of (playing dirty) and he seems to be a pretty fair player. But I don’t know, I need to see the replay and judge from that."

Belanger did not see the play as dirty and left Chimera a message after the game.

"I didn’t leave my feet, I didn’t hit his head," Belanger said. "It’s just bad luck."

Hockey Wilderness Three Stars

Cal Clutterbuck (2 G)
Kyle Brodziak (1 A)
Brent Burns (1 A)

Questions to Answer

Will Brent Burns be tentative tonight, with his first game action since post-concussion symptoms? It certainly didn't look that way. Todd Richards was impressed, and Burns said it felt good to be back out there.
Will Andy Hilbert be feeling the Petr Sykora pressure? Well, with 16:59 TOI and 1 SOG, Hilbert certainly can't say he's not getting an opportunity. Now he needs to make the best of it. That being said, I see him on a plane to Houston within the next few days. We'll see if he is on the ice Sunday.
Why on earth do you not put Martin Havlat in the first home action of the season? I suppose Richards knows Havlat's going to be on the team and wants to give some of the bubble guys their shot. Maybe Havlat makes his first start against his old team on Sunday when the Chicago Blackhawks come to town.
Will Erik Belanger be playing for a job with another team? After tonight's one assist, 15 PIM performance, he certainly showed that he can factor in the scoring and be physical, though I don't know how many teams want a guy who hits from behind.
How full will the X be tonight? According to the Wild, tonight was the 366th consecutive sellout, though there was a lot of green in the stands.