Minnesota Wild vs Calgary Flames: Game Recap

by BReynolds on Dec 20, 2011 11:06 PM CST in Events

Minnesota Wild 1 - 2 Calgary Flames

For Calgary perspective and wonderful talk about Corsi and regression, visit Matchsticks and Gasoline

The talk has already begun, so be ready. "The regression is in full effect." "Exactly what we predicted." "Told you it was unsustainable."

Where were the predictions that it would take three top six forwards out with injuries and another just returning to cause a five game losing streak? If we go back and look, the talk was the goaltending and not a high enough Corsi. Those haven't changed. Only one thing did, and no one, not one person, predicted it. So take all the credit you want, but none of you predicted this. You're fooling yourselves if you think you did.

To the game.

The first period was back and forth, but the Wild seemed to control most of the play. Sure, Curtis Glencross started the scoring, and it was pretty. But the Wild played through it, and Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored a very Andrew Brunette type goal to tie it up. Leaving the first, the Wild had to feel good, save for the massive defensive breakdown on the Glencross goal.

The second was... well... very Todd Richards-esque. Wild were lost. No effort, no forecheck, no physical play. On the goal Jarome Iginla scored to eventually win the game, Marco Scandella and Jared Spurgeon both had a chance to make a play, and both went with weak poke checks. Not going to cut it in the NHL, boys, especially against the guy you were trying it against.

This was, without a doubt, one of the worst periods of hockey they have played all year. It is difficult to question the play with so many fill-in players in the line-up, but this was a period full of basic hockey mistakes. Missed assignments, bad passing, coasting, complete shut down of all physical play. Absolutely brutal. Iginla saw it, capitalized on it, and good on him for doing so.

The third was much better, but as everyone who was around last year knows it was too little, too late. A couple very good chances were stopped by a suddenly very good Miikka Kiprusoff, and far too many chances were passed on in favor of yet another pass. At one point, Marek Zidlicky took a shot, had it blocked, the shot came right back to him, and rather than shoot through the now open lane, he attempted to skate with it and lost it.

Typical.

Five losses in a row. Let the regressionist gloating begin.

Shuttlebus_medium

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

Jarome Iginla (1G, 1A, 8 SOG)
Josh Harding (28 saves)
Miikka Kiprusoff (29 saves)

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 athttp://bennettschopandrailhouse.com/.

Five Questions:

Can the non-threatening line up find a way to win? Nope.
Does Harding shed his rust and come up big? He was rock solid. Team failed him.
Will dressing seven D make any difference? Defense was terrible. No.
Can the Wild respond as they have in the past? Not a chance.
Any chance we escape the night without a lecture? The night is young. The lectures have begun on Twitter. Please, spare us.

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Midway through the season, dark times in the #ChurchOfYeo

One might call these the Middle Ages. Great men are replaced by endless hordes of fourth-line AHL barbarians. All systems of thought and gameplanning are lost. Things fall apart. The Enlightenment can’t come soon enough.

by mg7505 on Dec 20, 2011 11:25 PM CST reply actions

Regression should get a star.

"You don't understand anything, man. Leave your STUPID comments in your POCKET!"

Read my lame Minnesota Wild blog at lemairestrap.wordpress.com

by Georgie Fruit on Dec 20, 2011 11:45 PM CST reply actions

Its Corsi isn't high enough to deserve one

by mg7505 on Dec 20, 2011 11:56 PM CST up reply actions

Then we need to start doing shots.

by dlfedie on Dec 21, 2011 7:42 AM CST up reply actions

Observations

Watching the Wild’s JV the last two games is reminiscent of the pre-Yeo Wild. Punchless and overmatched. Can’t wait for the Varsity to get healthy.

Heater is not a player who can get his own shot. Start showing Butch and Heater video of the Rolston years.

Half the team is hurt and Gillies gets scratched. Those are warning bells young man.

Cullen’s fire/passion is the only thing that kept last nights team from imploding.

Would have liked to see Clutter step up a little more.

Please come back Kaptain. And bring your friends too.

by Pewterschmidt on Dec 21, 2011 8:21 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Agreed

Heatley certainly doesn’t have moves like Cullen or Bouchard and I see some Havlat-esque coasting from him. He should at least be putting those shots in the net.
I thought Peters and Palmer looked decent with their faceoffs, centering passes and effort.
There was good and bad Spurgeon and mostly bad Zidlicky.
We need Koivu back to up the intensity of these games and to get chemistry back to where is should be in those top lines.

by HonorableH on Dec 21, 2011 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

This problem is probably bigger than Koivu

Russo hit on it in his blog last night. This team currently has a second line, a checking line, and two AHL lines. I think it is completely unfair to rely on Palmer, Peters, Ortmeyer, etc. to carry this team. These guys are pretty much career AHLers or 4th liners and the depth at Houston is all 4th line material. Palmer is a nice player but he’s never really going to impact the score sheet and expecting him to is just stupid. The only depth player the Wild had at Houston was Wellman and of course he got injured and seems to be a little injury prone. The glaring issue with this team is that when Koivu goes down, the bulk of the team can’t step up. And the worst part is that Koivu is probably going to get hurt again, maybe not this year but probably the next. His style of play is going to get him hurt; he gives it his all, tries harder than anyone, checks, blocks shots, explodes his shoulder, etc. I never asking him to stop playing this way, but history says he will get hurt again, so will the team fold every time he gets hurt? Ridiculous. Last night was like taking a trip back in time to last year where no one had a clue what was going on. Did Clutter play at all last night? I know the discussion at HW is always whether or not he is a top six guy. Well I would say that Clutter has been better in the top six this year than in a checking role. He has been terrible on any type of checking line this year. I know he is forced to play with Cullen right now and I wanted it earlier in the year, but Heater can’t keep up with Bouchard and Cullen. He is always a step behind and can’t catch any passes cleanly. We never have any possession time in the offensive zone so he can never get himself open for any shots, just terrible. He has been better with Koivu since he is not a fast skater and both of them seemed to work well with Lats and Clutter. I was never a fan of the claim that our defense is terrible, but I will say that none of them can hold the offensive zone and shoot the puck. Spurgeon especially has been awful at this lately. I know they will win some games again but honestly I can’t see how right now. Koivu coming back probably isn’t going to make everything right, it will help but like I said, this is bigger than him.

My Christmas list:

1. A d-man who can hold the zone and shoot the damn puck, can you say Jaroslav Spacek?

2. A top six guy with playoff experience and a knack on the powerplay. Ray Whitney anyone?

Honestly, they won’t make any trades now and possibly ever. Spacek would be cheap, Whitney, probably not since the Coyotes are still in the hunt. Both would be an upgrade over what we have.

by cgp711 on Dec 21, 2011 8:40 AM CST reply actions

The Problem is bigger than Koivu

and at the same time is Koivu being gone. Spot on, at the moment we have no depth to replace him being gone, which is why the past two years we have collapsed with him out of the lineup.

But I don’t think it will be a huge problem in the future when the glut of our prospects are actually in the system. Next year maybe two prospects have a shot to make the team out of camp, Granlund probably will, Brodin may. But Larsson, Coyle, possibly Zucker/Phillips will be playing in the AHL to have some offensive depth that can actually score and not look completely out of place in a cup of coffee injury replacement role.

by ThatGuy22 on Dec 21, 2011 10:14 AM CST up reply actions

thoughts on spurgeon

I agree that lately he can’t keep the puck in the offensive zone to safe his life. However how many times has he been clutch positionally*sp this year? Seems like almost every game he saves a goal or two from going in.

by maschneid on Dec 21, 2011 10:32 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I'm a big Spurgeon fan,

but the goal he saved yesterday wouldn’t have been necessary if he had cleared the puck instead of turning it over.

by mg7505 on Dec 21, 2011 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

Spacek? He’s 37, injury prone, and basically the same as Zidlicky. He’s a PP specialist. 157 of 268 total points have been on the PP. Why trade for someone that’s already on the roster?
I agree that Phoenix wouldn’t trade Whitney. They’re 9th in the West, they’ve been to the playoffs the last few years, and Whitney is leading their team in points.

I know it sucks watching the Wild go winless in 5, but don’t hit the “Panic” button so quickly. I don’t see these bigger issues besides key injuries. You said it yourself, the Wild are composed of a 2nd line, a checking line, and 2 AHL lines. There really aren’t a whole lot of NHL teams that would be successful with that type of roster.

The glaring issue with this team is that when Koivu goes down, the bulk of the team can’t step up.

Maybe, but the team is also missing Setoguchi, Latendresse, and Wellman. There could be leadership issues, or it could be that the team is missing three very good players and their best injury call-up. There really aren’t a whole lot of NHL teams that could absorb hits like that and keep winning.

Heater can’t keep up with Bouchard and Cullen

Well, that could be, or it may be that they have no chemistry since they haven’t played together at all prior to the Islanders game. Heatley and Koivu just got used to how the other works, and now Dany has to switch again and anticipate how Cullen and PMB are going to play. It’s tough to switch both linemates on a guy and expect him to just keep on trucking.
Spurgeon, for the record, has the most shots and most points by a defensman on the team.

I know they will win some games again but honestly I can’t see how right now.

Pump the brakes. Yes, it seems dark and terrible now, but let’s get Koivu and Setoguchi back before we start writing this team off.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Wild have two 5-game winning streaks and a 7-game winning streak? Didn’t they win 7 in a row on the road? Weren’t they #1 in the NHL at the beginning of this month? These things didn’t happen by accident.
When the defense went down, the Wild were lucky enough that there were AHL guys that could plug holes. Well, losing top-6 forwards is totally different. Like I’ve said, most teams can’t absorb losses like that.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.

by JDesthubert on Dec 21, 2011 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

Setogutchi has not played well at all.

His best game was the first of the season against the Jackets, so was that him being good or the Jackets being terrible. I think there is plenty of hope that they will snap out of it but there is also reason to believe that they will not. This is a crossroads for the team, a real test to see if they can rise above the adversity. This isn’t about just winning games, this is about playing the game with pride and effort. The last few games have been anything but that. Like I said, I can handle a loss like the one to Chicago because they almost played a full game that night. But these past few games, the effort has not been there.

As for Spacek, first name that came to my mind and the Canes have no shot this year but I will concede he is very Zidlicky-like. How about MAB instead? Whitney is just wishful thinking, huge fan of his game.

by cgp711 on Dec 21, 2011 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

I disagree about Setoguchi. People expected him to come in and be a 60+ point player, but he’s only done that once. He’s more of a 40-point production guy, and that was on a loaded Sharks team.
Setoguchi, for his career, is a streaky scorer. He’s not a dominant forward who will take over games. He looks like he is who he is. Nothing in his history or style tells me that he’ll be anything else.
As for effort, you may be right. However, there are other possibilities than guys just giving up.
Per Russo:

But right now, so many guys look dead tired. Kyle Brodziak has had to take on an awful load since Koivu’s injury, and he at times can barely skate to the bench. He topped 22 minutes tonight. Cal Clutterbuck looked tired. Heatley’s not skating well during this stretch. The Brodziak line, with Nick Johnson, hasn’t been nearly as effective. Spurgeon and Scandella are being asked to play insane minutes for two young 20-somethings.

It got to the point where Staubitz was being double-shifted. You and I both know that Yeo wouldn’t do that unless he had no other option. That is, quite literally, filling a hole with a body.
Cullen and Brodziak, in particular, have had to take on everything that Koivu does while trying to maintain what they do. Cullen has been a good 2nd-line center, where he’s not the focus of top defenders. Now he’s the focus of top checking lines and defensmen, and he’s not a #1 center. Brodziak, likewise, isn’t a #2 center.
Right now, I actually liken what’s happening to how the Wild used Antti Miettinen. Mittens was never going to be a top-line wing, and he never was successful in that role. Right now, the Wild have players in roles that they’re not suited for.
You may be right. There might be bigger problems with the team; however, I’m going to wait until the forwards are healthy enough before I make a huge assessment like that. I’m not willing to write off the Wild because the Aeros are playing in their place.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.

by JDesthubert on Dec 21, 2011 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

This

I said this as soon as we found out Koivu was injured after the blackhawks game. Koivu makes this team work, no one can replace him in our lineup. He simply does to much. Very few forwards can play 21 + physical minutes a night, against top defenders, while running the PP and being a top PKer. We don’t have another player equiped to replace that. And forcing players into that role is hurting their play and the rest of the teams.

by ThatGuy22 on Dec 21, 2011 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

Well I'm not giving up on the team

But I think they are at a crossroads and can choose to go one way or another right now, and hopefully they choose wisely.

by cgp711 on Dec 21, 2011 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

It sounds like you're writing them off

You keep preaching that the Wild have huge issues that make them non-competitive. You’re saying that Koivu and Co. returning won’t make a difference. You’ve said that you don’t see how they can win a game.

Honestly, if you didn’t give up on this team, why are you clamoring for a trade?

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.

by JDesthubert on Dec 21, 2011 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

That was my Christmas wish list.

I don’t see why wishing for a couple other players wouldn’t improve their chances. I think it is naive to think that getting few more players wouldn’t help them, not saying they would or should but if they did, the team would be better. My point about problems being bigger than Koivu is that every time he gets hurt, they fail miserably. That is a bigger problem to solve long-term. And after watching them the last few games, it is tough to see how they will win against Edmonton and Colorado. Not saying it can’t be done. They will eventually right the ship, but it is very frustrating right now.

by cgp711 on Dec 21, 2011 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

And I do apologize. If my previous post seemed snarky or mean, I didn’t mean it that way.

As for losing Koivu, it really should be expected. It’s not exactly like the Wild are bursting at the seams with talent. Once guys like Phillips, Granlund, Larsson, and Coyle enter the system, I doubt the Wild will have these issues. Phillips and Coyle are true leaders and captains. Granlund is just a flat-out stud. Larsson has been improving every single year.
I’m more inclined to believe that the Wild have depth issues, not character issues.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.

by JDesthubert on Dec 21, 2011 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

beat me to it...

by ThatGuy22 on Dec 21, 2011 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

No offense taken

I like the fact that we can have honest to goodness discussions here that do not resort to name calling or people unwilling to listen to another’s opinion.

by cgp711 on Dec 21, 2011 4:39 PM CST up reply actions

The Long-Term Solving is in Process

The reason we fail miserably is because we have one player in the AHL that can take up a top 6 spot in a pinch(who is hurt) and really no players at the NHL level that are suited for the roles. If it was JUST Koivu this year, I am betting we would be doing a lot a better. But its half the top 6. Last year we literally had Koivu on the first line that was a top 6 player, The Other two were guys that Koivu made it work with, so when Koivu went down we were pretty much in the same spot we are in this year. 3 top 6 forwards

The best way to solve the problem, is the way Fletcher is doing it by getting solid offensive prospects and a legitmate top 6 so that when Koivu goes down you still have most of your top 6. Half of them went down, and our talent thats coming isn’t here yet, and them’s the breaks. I don’t think this will be a long term problem, its not often you lose a full line of your offensive talented players and next year we will have people in the AHL that can fill in.

by ThatGuy22 on Dec 21, 2011 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

Zidlicky

I keep waiting for someone to mention the name Zidlicky. This guy plays all the key situations and yet seems to have no innate hockey sense. Playing him on the PP is a guarantee of a shot going into the netting or a blocked shot. It’s a big problem putting so much faith in a guy who was -6 last year, -16 the year before that, and -12 the year before that. C’mon Yeo. Watch the tape!

by toque10 on Dec 21, 2011 8:54 AM CST reply actions

Agree, but

Z and Yeo have been at odds already this season, so I doubt Yeo is blind to it. My guess is that since Z is a temperamental, multi-million dollar man whose NTC is up after this year, you can’t just sit him and watch him depreciate. Yeo/Fletch may just be buying their time until he can be moved.

by FinnfortheWin on Dec 21, 2011 10:14 AM CST up reply actions

his value depreciates everytime he touches the puck

by Burnsie4mvp on Dec 21, 2011 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

+/- is such a relative stat

The entire team was god awful the last thee years.
Last season (2010-2011 season), only Koivu and Stoner were regular players (at least 41 games) who ended up on the + side of things.
The 2009-2010 season saw only Kim Johnsson and Guillaume Latendresse remain above the 0.
The year before that (2008-2009) had four total players (Marc-Andre Bergeron, Owen Nolan, Derek Boogaard, Mikko Koivu) that ended up as plus players.

In addition, Zidlicky is a powerplay specialist, so he doesn’t get any + markers for his PP production. Just about half of his points are PP points.

Finally, Zids doesn’t play “all the key situations”. He plays 5-on-5 and on the PP. He’s not on a PK, especially when the Wild dress 7 defensmen.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.

by JDesthubert on Dec 21, 2011 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

I don't care if it's mainly the Aeros roster

that was an absolutely pitiful performance. I was actually kind of glad I had to leave for work before the end.

"Believe in the system. For it shall bring light when there is dark, food when there is hunger, and shots when there are passes. This is the divine process." Yeo 4:18

by NorthernStar on Dec 21, 2011 12:29 PM CST reply actions

Because our injuries and lack of familiarity with eachother

Has nothing to do with why we are losing

Don't know what I'm fighting for, but I know what I'm fighting against

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Dec 21, 2011 3:33 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Whiny Minnesota sports fans

Go whine about the vikings. This was a rebuild year. We are still first in the northwest. Still near the top in the western conference. Our team is decimated with injuries and in hockey practice with your linemates and chemistry matter.
To the Heatley haters. He’s lost a step and can’t really create his own shot. But he’s never been a shake and bake player. He fires lazers. Count how many shots on goal he had last night. Probably led the team. Plus he was involved in just about every scoring opportunity we had last night. Not to mention he drew two penalties just himself. But as Minnesota sports fans look at it, he should already have 30 goals this season right? You want to talk coasting, did anyone see palmer after he made a bad play during the 2nd to last penalty, and watch him hustle to the other end of the ice to pick up the puck. It took 7 seconds. And he was butt hurt shaking his head the whole time. And by the way, where the hell was clutterbuck last night?

This is undoubtedly the hardest part of our schedule, due to travel,road games and tough opponents. On top of that we are decimated injury wise. This was bound to happen. When we pick back up and all of Minnesota starts jumping back on the wagon, I will be sitting there laughing and pointing.

Don't know what I'm fighting for, but I know what I'm fighting against

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Dec 21, 2011 2:33 PM CST via mobile reply actions

He is Gaborik, minus the speed. Gaborik never had moves, either.

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

Master of unsustainable passive regression.

by BReynolds on Dec 21, 2011 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

This is true

I’m not a Heatley hater at all, I was just pointing out that he is not a good fit with Cullen and Bouchard and unfortunately is being force to play there. He can’t create his own shot and right now they can’t sustain enough pressure in the zone for him to get open for a shot. Still and upgrade over Havlat no matter what his points end up being as far as I am concerned. But I don’t think we should confuse “rebuild year” with poor effort.

by cgp711 on Dec 21, 2011 3:34 PM CST up reply actions

did i watch the same game as some of you?

i thought the Wild pretty much carried the play until early in the 2nd period when Stoner went thuggish on Glenncross. Ignalia stepped in and the Flames started to play as a prideful team defending their home ground. they carried the play throughout the 2nd period and then the Wild came back in the 3rd to go toe to toe with them in the 3rd. hey, we’re missing 3 of our top 6 forwards. i have no problem with the way we played last night.

by zgooba on Dec 21, 2011 4:10 PM CST reply actions