Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks: Game Recap

by nathaneide on Oct 27, 2011 9:41 PM CDT in Events

Minnesota Wild 2-3 Anaheim Ducks

For Anaheim perspective, please visit Anaheim Calling

Sure, the Wild outshot the Ducks tonight, but it really didn't matter. The Ducks took advantage of their opportunities and scored. The Wild didn't have nearly the number of quality chances that Anaheim created, and couldn't capitalize when they did.

Marek Zidlicky was awful. Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley were essentially a non-factor They each notched an assist on Cullen's power play goal, but at full strength were not clicking. Jared Spurgeon had a nice power play goal on a huge rebound from Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Devin Setoguchi. Yeo seemed to play Yahtzee with the lines tonight. Cal Clutterbuck was up with Heatley and Koivu, then Guillaume Latendresse spent time there, then Setoguchi ended up there at the end tonight. Coach seems to be reaching for anything that works, because honestly, right now nothing is.

The Wild power play was a mess. Sure, they scored twice, but it didn't matter. They kept getting stood up at the blue line, then passively tried to take the zone, but kept being forced to regroup in their own end. The fact that they scored twice will mask the fact that the power play was not good tonight.

Marco Scandella and Justin Falk looked good tonight. Again, solid in their own end, played the puck with confidence at the point and led the "break". The fourth line of Nick Johnson, Darroll Powe and Colton Gillies provided energy buy just don't have the talent to really push the pace of play.

The Ducks didn't pepper Niklas Backstrom with a ton of shots, mainly because they didn't need to. Teemu Selanne, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf picked up where they left off last year, working the puck down low and burying it. Those three put on a masterclass in the offensive zone tonight.

Honestly, tonight the Wild were just out of sync. Nothing seemed to flow. It's not like they were really making horrible decisions or playing badly, but they were uninspired and had no consistent effort. It wasn't a Sorry Tom kind of game in St. Paul.

Oh, and the announced crowd was only 15,723, but I'd be shocked if there were 12,000 in attendance.

Bryan's Take: So... contribute to the gamer, huh? Well, let's see... there was the um... and then the... and then it was pretty cool when... well... the derp derp song was fun.

This is a game to forget. The Wild played unwell in every aspect of the game. The hitting was soft by anyone not named Brett Bulmer or Cal Clutterbuck, the passing was not sharp at all, the fore check was nearly non existent (due mostly to a complete unwillingness to throw a hit), and the penalty kill was more passive than a Norwegian birthday party. By the end of the game the fancy new lines were scrapped, Clayton Stoner was hurt, the D-pairings were jacked up, and all seventeen fans at the X left disappointed. I would chastise the fans for not being here, but the people who weren't here were probably the smart ones tonight.

There were a few glimmers of hope, with two power play goals, but beyond that, it was pretty ugly tonight. I'm sure someone out there in the Wilderness will tell me I am being pessimistic, but I really don't know what to tell you for a positive note. I really don't. If you have one, please share it.

Shuttlebus_medium

The Bennett's Chop & Railhouse Stars of the Game:

Teemu Selanne (3 A)
Ryan Getzlaf (1 G, 1 A)
Corey Perry (1 G, 1 A)

Remember, when you begin and end your night at Bennett's, you're the star! Easy parking, drink and food specials and a free shuttle to and from the Xcel Energy Center. Check them out at http://bennettschopandrailhouse.com/.

Will Cal Clutterbuck have an Alex Burrows type effect on the Wild's top line and get them going? He tried. Took the body over and over, drilled the crossbar, tried to make an impact, but ultimately it didn't matter.
Can Bouchard and Cullen get the puck to Setoguchi? No. That line was limited all night.
Will the anemic power play find life with the changes? Well, they got a goal, but it was still pretty bad tonight.
With Staubitz and Kassian scratched, does George Parros fight Clayton Stoner? Stoner went out early in the second, so no chance.
The search continues for Marek Zidlicky. Is he in the building tonight? He was, and he was terrible.

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Comments

When will the Front office

realize that Zid is actually hurting the team? He isnt prolific enough on the PP to off set the horrible d play. Every body questioned the age of our D, How young everyone is, the problem I see is with our Aging Dmen.

TRADE ZID for christ sake!

by wild32384 on Oct 27, 2011 9:57 PM CDT reply actions

I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say trade Zid, but I definitely agree the team needs to find some way to get him off the ice until he can get his head on straight.

Zid was all about high risk / high reward last year. Now it’s all just high risk.

by SpaethCo on Oct 28, 2011 3:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Enough with the "Trade Zidlicky"

Let me start off by saying this isn’t a shot at just wild32384, but rather everyone who’s clamoring for Zids to be traded. Here’s why:
1) He has a No-Trade Clause. That means he gets the option of declining any trade the Wild want to do. That really limits the teams to contenders; however, it’s so early in the season that the “contenders” include Edmonton, Colorado, and Dallas. In addition, contenders aren’t looking to add pieces 9 games into the season. Real contenders wait until the deadline, assess a larger portion of a season, and make their moves then. Adding a monster contract (which I will address) right now limits the options a team has at the deadline.
2) Apparently everyone wants Zids gone because he’s a defensive liability and a non-factor offensively. Between his play this year and his injuries last year, how many teams are actually going to bite on this trade offer? In addition, how would the Wild get anything close to value by trading Zids? Is a 6th round pick really that good of value for a guy that does have the offensive abilities of Zidlicky?
3) Price matters. How many contending teams (so Zids would waive the NTC) want to take on a $4 million cap hit right now? Here’s a list of teams that could make this deal work comfortably:
St. Louis, Florida, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Phoenix, Carolina, Nashville, Colorado, NY Islanders, Dallas. None of those teams are really that attractive as “win-now” teams. Teams that have a legitimate shot where Zids would waive the NTC don’t have the cap room.

Everyone needs to settle down a little bit with the Trade Zids movement. You can ask for a trade, but you should realize it probably won’t happen.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation

by JDesthubert on Oct 28, 2011 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Puking kid at home

Puking hockey team at the X. I was damned no matter what I chose tonight (the kid, obviously).

Being from Minnesota, it would be rude to put something clever here.

by redheadzeb on Oct 27, 2011 10:25 PM CDT reply actions

I don't think it is a bad idea to bench Zidlicky for a game to send a message.

Of course, that will be difficult if Stoner is hurt now, but I think it needs to be done. How long is it going to be before Yeo tries Seto and Heater with Cullen? And what does it mean for Koivu if they suddenly click? Another couple wingers who can’t play with Koivu or he can’t play with them. I seriously think it is worth a shot to give Cullen a try with the two best offensive weapons on the team, he’s looked the best so far this season and Koivu and Bouchard looked good together at the end of last season. Give it a whirl!

by cgp711 on Oct 27, 2011 10:26 PM CDT reply actions

groan

another one goal loss…

Come see all your favorite EPIC fails @ www.minnesotatwins.com!

by caluofmn on Oct 27, 2011 10:32 PM CDT reply actions

new new lines

I’ve only watched a couple games cause I now live in Colorado so everything I’m saying is based off what I’ve read.

Is it time to bump Lats and Cullen up to the first line? Lats would be a great net front presence, as well as a physical one, while Cullen can pass to Heatley to shoot. Everything I’ve seen says Lats and Cullen are the best players the Wild have now. In my opinion, it wouldn’t hurt to try a Lats-Cullen-Heatley first line with a Bouchard-Koivu-Seto second line. Koivu and Bouchard clicked at the end of last season and hopefully could put it together again this year and work some magic. I like Clutterbuck, but he belongs on the 3rd line with Brodziak and either Bulmer or Gillies. Just some thoughts from a cut off Wild fan in Colorado.

by Joel Bertelsen on Oct 27, 2011 10:59 PM CDT reply actions

Koivu – Heately or bust. You might see Heater move to the second line, but you can bet Setoguchi would then move back up. If Cullen becomes a first line center, the team is in real trouble.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

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by BReynolds on Oct 28, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

.....

So when is Granlund coming over again?

Mikael Granlund: The Great Hope

by NorthernStar on Oct 28, 2011 1:05 AM CDT reply actions

Koivus absurd contract makes it difficult for coach to move him to the second line. I’d be surprised if it happens.

Pair Heatley with Cullen before Cullen comes back down to earth.

by Pewterschmidt on Oct 28, 2011 6:57 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Not trying to pick a fight here...

But why is the contract absurd? Because nine games in, Koivu isn’t leading the league in scoring? He was terrible last night, and he admitted as much. Like any other human being, he is struggling at work and over compensating because of it, making it even worse.

I think everyone around here knows I no apologist for this team, and even I am not ready to jump ship on Koivu. Talk to the guy once, you would change your mind in a second. While the offensive struggles are there, he has been the best defensive player on the team (except last night) and you can tell from the players he is still in control of the team.

I’m not sure where the attitude came from about Koivu, but at this point, it is still very much out of place. If I had to guess, the attitude comes from something you read recently, which is fair, but keep in mind, things change quickly. If you’re of the wagon, don’t jump back on when he starts lighting it up.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Please consider donating to my Movember campaign. Together, we can change the face of men's health.

by BReynolds on Oct 28, 2011 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions

This

Around these boards, the only one i have seen talk about Koivu’s contract being absurd is Pewterschmidt a couple of times. You dont think Koivu would have got 6.75 Million on the open market as a UFA if he hadn’t resigned? It would have been damn close, because the only other high impact forward available last year was Brad Richards(his cap hit is about equal to Koivu’s, but thats because the last 3 years are 1 million salaries. Over the first 6 he is making 9.5 million a year). Hell Tim Connolly and Ville Leino got 5 million a year.

by ThatGuy22 on Oct 28, 2011 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions