Minnesota Wild vs. Phoenix Coyotes: Game 59

by nathaneide on Feb 10, 2010 6:13 PM CST in Events

Phoenix Coyotes at Minnesota Wild, Feb 10, 2010 7:00 PM CST

Minnesotawild_medium

Minnesota Wild (29-25-4) @ Phoenix Coyotes (36-19-5)

Xcel Energy Center @ 7:00 CST

Television: FSN (HD)
Radio: 830 WCCO AM or online at Wild.com

For the Phoenix perspective, check out Five For Howling

Wild.com Game Preview

Minnesota Wild

Phoenix Coyotes

Forwards
Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen
Owen Nolan - Eric Belanger - Cal Clutterbuck
Guillaume Latendresse - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat
Derek Boogaard - Andrew Ebbett - Robbie Earl

Defense
Greg Zanon - Marek Zidlicky
Shane Hnidy - Brent Burns
Kim Johnsson - Nick Schultz

Goalies
Niklas Backstrom
Anton Khudobin

Forwards
Peter Mueller - Matthew Lombardi - Shane Doan
Radim Vrbata - Martin Hanzal - Petr Prucha
Taylor Pyatt - Robert Lang - Lauri Korpikoski
Paul Bissonnette - Vernon Fiddler - Daniel Winnik

Defense
Ed Jovanovski - Zbynek Michalek
Adrian Aucoin - James Vandermeer
Sami Lepisto - Keith Yandle

Goalies
Ilya Bryzgalov
Jason LaBarbera

Questions to Answer

How will Niklas Backstrom look in his first game back?
Owen Nolan has been fantastic for the past week, can he keep it up?
Can the Wild continue their excellent play at home?
Does the Guillaume Latendresse - Martin Havlat pairing continue to make other teams look slow and anemic?
Will the Wild power play drive the offense or be a momentum killer?

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Comments

Bold Prediction

Backstrom gets the shut out tonight.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 6:32 PM CST reply actions

5 questions

1. Phenomenal. Perfect.
2. Yes. He gets a goal tonight.
3. Yep. Final score 3-0.
4. Yes. Havlat and Lats each have a point tonight.
5. Will drive it. 2 PP goals tonight.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 6:33 PM CST reply actions

yotes have had the wilds number. hopefully they can change that tonight. Lets go Wild!

http://twitter.com/wildiowafan

by jerem77 on Feb 10, 2010 6:41 PM CST reply actions

Anyone else out there, lingering in the shadows?

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:08 PM CST reply actions

i’m still here Go Wild!

http://twitter.com/wildiowafan

by jerem77 on Feb 10, 2010 7:09 PM CST reply actions

Cheers!

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:10 PM CST reply actions

i’m double dipping on fiveforhowling though

http://twitter.com/wildiowafan

by jerem77 on Feb 10, 2010 7:12 PM CST reply actions

HA! Love it.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:13 PM CST up reply actions

Travis Hair is good people. But there is a hilarious picture of him out there….somewhere….

I’ve said too much.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:14 PM CST up reply actions

Boogey with the chance… poor big guy…

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:13 PM CST reply actions

Wild looking excellent thus far.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:13 PM CST reply actions

PPG!!!!

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:15 PM CST reply actions

Lats!

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

Lats!

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:15 PM CST reply actions

nice goal

http://twitter.com/wildiowafan

by jerem77 on Feb 10, 2010 7:17 PM CST reply actions

Official scoring

Lats from Zidlicky and Havlat.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:19 PM CST reply actions

Hmmm… I better update my prediction for question 4. ALready have their 1 pt each.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:22 PM CST reply actions

Havlat-Koivu-Bruno

Seeing some ice time together here… It doesn’t appear to be an accident, either. Hrm…

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:23 PM CST reply actions

Just noticed that. Rather interesting.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:25 PM CST up reply actions

Havlat back with Gui and Brodie. DId Mittens bust his stiches already or something?

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

They have double shifted Havlat a few times the past few games. Trying to get a matchup they like maybe?

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:28 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, that’s a good theory. I see Mittens is back, so that is good.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

That T-Pain Bud Light Commercial is Horrible

by TonyO on Feb 10, 2010 7:26 PM CST reply actions

fawk

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 7:29 PM CST reply actions

Dammit.

There goes my shut out.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:29 PM CST reply actions

awwwww Shit

by TonyO on Feb 10, 2010 7:29 PM CST reply actions

Damnit.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:29 PM CST reply actions

http://twitter.com/wildiowafan

by jerem77 on Feb 10, 2010 7:30 PM CST reply actions

Hanzel from Lepisto and Vrbata

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:31 PM CST reply actions

Team looks like they gave up a bit after that goal. Need to find a way to let these things go and get going again.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:34 PM CST reply actions

Russo says he had to study the Swimsuit edition all day for his article tomorrow.

Poor guy.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:36 PM CST reply actions

What I mean by poor guy...

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:37 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, and Vonn is in there too. That was what he had to look at. ;-)

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:38 PM CST up reply actions

Poor guy indeed…

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:38 PM CST up reply actions

hmm minnesota gets vonn

our olympic star is 15

http://twitter.com/wildiowafan

by jerem77 on Feb 10, 2010 7:40 PM CST up reply actions

Hee hee. Jealousy suits you.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:40 PM CST up reply actions

i’ll be a minnesotan again soon. more my home than Iowa is now. Can;t wait to get out of this state.

http://twitter.com/wildiowafan

by jerem77 on Feb 10, 2010 7:43 PM CST up reply actions

ive got a year left in Iowa...

Then I get my piece of paper.

by Yabbs on Feb 10, 2010 8:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Need a kill here

Dumb penality going the other way; Mikko playing D for Shultz as he pinched in the middle for a shot…

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:39 PM CST reply actions

I love when the guys try to set up Boogie for a goal.

And I really hate Russo right now.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 7:39 PM CST reply actions

Any word on Kobasew’s return?

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 7:45 PM CST reply actions

He is skating with the team, but I have not heard if he is game ready yet.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 7:52 PM CST up reply actions

TO BOSTON?

Oh. Nevermind.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:15 PM CST up reply actions

HA! Not so much, no.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

Damn. At least he’s playing for a good (as in good guys. Like Justice League or Super Friends or Allies or whatever) team.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

See also: Metropolit, Glen. Played for Flyers, plays for Habs. Damn him.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

The Wild need back that 1st period energy. They also don’t need to have their “usual” 2nd period.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 7:59 PM CST reply actions

Having some good chances. Need to keep it up.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:01 PM CST up reply actions

Dammit

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:01 PM CST reply actions

Or not.

Dammit.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:01 PM CST reply actions

Damnit Backstrom

by TonyO on Feb 10, 2010 8:02 PM CST reply actions

We want Borat, we want Borat!

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:02 PM CST reply actions

Team Defense = continuous problem.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:02 PM CST reply actions

This.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:03 PM CST up reply actions

Ugh..

That was a good shot.

However, Backs needs to get those from now on…

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:02 PM CST reply actions

Mother of God was that close.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:04 PM CST reply actions

We need that Backstrom. All the time.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:05 PM CST up reply actions

THERE WE GO!

Desparate save there, Backs! Keep the momentum and tie this up, boys

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:05 PM CST reply actions

SHOOT IT, LATS!

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:05 PM CST reply actions

SHOOOOOOTT THE PUUUUCK

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:05 PM CST reply actions

It looked like he had a lot of net to work with, too.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:06 PM CST up reply actions

Ugh. Three feet out. Goalie pinned back. Needs to shoot.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:07 PM CST up reply actions

Story of the season.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:06 PM CST up reply actions

Of the past 10 years. ;-)

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:07 PM CST up reply actions

There’s that momentum killing PP.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:10 PM CST reply actions

This is more familiar…

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:10 PM CST reply actions

3 ‘Yotes at the blueline (with only one left behind) and the Wild can’t get the puck deep.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:12 PM CST reply actions

Holy crap guys, Habs are up 5-2 on Washington in the second.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:20 PM CST reply actions

I saw that and then thought about Sunday. Of course, this game isn’t in DC, but Ovie is still that good.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:21 PM CST up reply actions

I’m hoping for Ovechkaps at Target field next year on new year’s day.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:26 PM CST up reply actions

Caps score just 16 seconds into the 3rd (off the first face off of a PP) to make it 5-3.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

Most excellent. Now let’s get a goal in the WIld game.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

What the F? Burns/Hnidy stare at the puck and let the ‘Yote take a shot. This is getting to look like Bemidji State vs. Bemidji Squirt C’s.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:20 PM CST reply actions

Hnidy

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:25 PM CST up reply actions

And Superzan just took another bullet.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:22 PM CST reply actions

Just another bruise for the collection.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:23 PM CST up reply actions

If we can get the name “Superzan” to stick I want credit for it.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:24 PM CST up reply actions

Wow

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:24 PM CST reply actions

Backstrom saves them again. (Pardon the pun.)

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:24 PM CST reply actions

Doing everything he can to keep this a 1 goal game…

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:27 PM CST up reply actions

Own the punnage. Own it. Save us all, Niklas!

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:27 PM CST up reply actions

* Sigh*

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:31 PM CST reply actions

SOG:
PHO:13 (22 Total)
WILD:10 (18 total)

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:33 PM CST reply actions

Phoenix without gretzky = real deal hockey team

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

Kinda sad, though, isn’t it? Poor Gretz.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:45 PM CST up reply actions

Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.

Gretzky did.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:47 PM CST up reply actions

Good point.

Don’t forget the last part of that. Those who can teach, go into management.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:49 PM CST up reply actions

And those who can’t manage get commentator gigs.

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:49 PM CST up reply actions

.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 8:55 PM CST up reply actions

Well, Brodziak wants to win. Anyone care to help him?

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:50 PM CST reply actions

DAMMIT

by TylerDurdenUMD on Feb 10, 2010 8:56 PM CST reply actions

Ugh. Yeah. As if they need the bounces too.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:57 PM CST reply actions

The 'Yotes era of dominance has begun

Payback is a bitch.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 8:57 PM CST reply actions

Brutal.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 8:59 PM CST up reply actions

Seriously, what happened to that great start tonight? It wasn’t even as if it gradually went away. A few odd chances, and Backstrom tried to keep ’em in it in the 2nd, but all of a sudden there was just nothing.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 9:00 PM CST reply actions

Phoenix is a top-4 team in the west right now? Can’t tell you other than that.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

Absolutely. I didn’t mean to take anything away from Phoenix, I’ve been watching their games on Center Ice and they are a very good team.

It was just that the Wild can control aspects of their own play—and they were right out of the gate—but it just dissappeared.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 9:04 PM CST up reply actions

ids got away with a hook there.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:02 PM CST reply actions

The ’Yotes have any fighters? A good IGOW beat down or a visit from the Boogey man could swing some momentum.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:06 PM CST reply actions

no idea, asking over at FFH.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:08 PM CST up reply actions

Biz Nasty (Bissonette) but he is scratched, they say.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:11 PM CST up reply actions

Jovanovski, maybe?

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:08 PM CST up reply actions

Bissonette 100PIMs. Not playing tonight.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:10 PM CST up reply actions

Upshall. On IR.

No fights likely. Dammit.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:11 PM CST up reply actions

Caps/Habs going down to the wire. 5-4 now; Caps on the PP with an empty net. Less than 1:00 to play.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 9:12 PM CST reply actions

KNUBLE TIES IT UP!!! The Caps streak has hope :-O

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 9:13 PM CST up reply actions

Unreal.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:14 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, very much so.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:15 PM CST up reply actions

MASSACHUSETTS BABY

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:14 PM CST up reply actions

What’s the deal with no Mass. players on team USA? Has Burkie not seen Miracle?

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:16 PM CST up reply actions

Hal Gill didn’t make the cut.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:18 PM CST up reply actions

Check that: it was Brooks Laich that scored it. Knuble was right there, too, though.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 9:16 PM CST up reply actions

Damn you. That moves the goal from me to my nephew. ;-)

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:17 PM CST up reply actions

Ugh.

Put. One. In.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:12 PM CST reply actions

Burns pinching at the complete wrong time again.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:19 PM CST reply actions

GOAL!!!! MARTY!!!!!!!!

by TonyO on Feb 10, 2010 9:21 PM CST reply actions

GOAL!!!! MARTY!!!!!!!!

by TonyO on Feb 10, 2010 9:21 PM CST reply actions

WOW!

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:21 PM CST reply actions

Habs win with 7.5 left in OT

Plekanic(sp) with the GWG

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 9:22 PM CST reply actions

Ridiculous.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:24 PM CST up reply actions

That goal was just irresponsibly good. Love it.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:24 PM CST reply actions

UGH

by TonyO on Feb 10, 2010 9:26 PM CST reply actions

Dammit.

Hockey Wilderness

by BReynolds on Feb 10, 2010 9:26 PM CST reply actions

Switched over to Habs/Caps game…Wild game went from 2-1 to 3-2 since I last saw it.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Feb 10, 2010 9:26 PM CST reply actions

Damn.

Bryzgalov has been a big difference for this ‘Yotes team, too. Especially when they play the Wild—it seems to me he really likes the Xcel Energy Center. I’m not sure his record there; I’ll have to look that up, but every time I watch him play here, he wins.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Feb 10, 2010 9:27 PM CST reply actions