Minnesota Wild vs. Nashville Predators: Game Recap
by JDesthubert on Dec 28, 2011 9:56 PM CST
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Minnesota Wild 1 - 2 Nashville Predators (Shootout)
For the Nashville perspective, please visit On the Forecheck.
A few interesting notes for the game tonight, as both the Wild and the Predators have gotten away from their game. The Wild aren't relentless on their forecheck, and the Predators haven't been sharp in their zone.
Jon DiSalvatore suited up and played tonight, making him the 35th member of the Minnesota Wild to don a jersey and skate in a game. That's tops in the league, folks. You can talk about regression all you want, but having to play 35 different players through 38 games isn't usually the method for success.
Both Jared Spurgeon and Shea Weber missed this game. Spurgeon has a lower-body injury on a dirty play, and Weber was dealt a concussion on a cheap hit. I guess even elite stars in small markets can't get justice.
To the game:
The first period had both teams grinding each other out. Neither squad was looking to make a mistake early on. The Predators have given up at least three 1st period goals in 2 of their last 3 games, which is usually not a recipe for success (unless you're playing the Blue Jackets). Both sides had a few chances, but for the most part, both squads played their zone coverages well, forcing a lot of perimeter and low-quality shots that end up as one shot and going the other way.
Nashville had the early jump in the 2nd. Their forwards came out and pressured the Wild, forcing an early hooking penalty on Nate Prosser. The Wild, in a rare moment these last few games, elevated their play when necessary against the #2 powerplay in the NHL. 0 shots allowed, and all of a sudden the Wild had some momentum going back the other way. A good shift by the Koivu line put pressure on the Preds. Staubitz even created enough of a forecheck to draw a penalty (that's right, don't adjust your monitor); however, the undisciplined play killed the PP as the Wild took a bench minor for too many men on the ice. Easily avoidable penalty for good teams. Another good kill gave the Wild some momentum, as they ended the 2nd period with a lead in shots, 22-15 but still no score.
The Wild came out in the 3rd and continued where they left off in the 2nd, getting pucks in deep and forcing turnovers. Brodziak rang one off the pipe, and anything else directed towards the twine was blocked by Rinne. Jonathan Blum put the Predators up 1-0 on a wrist shot from the blueline that Harding never saw. To their credit, the Wild did not get down on themselves. They sucked it up and kept coming at Rinne and the Predators defense. The Wild stuck to the forecheck, and finally got paid off when Heatley snuck a wraparound in to tie it up, 1-1. A late powerplay for Nashville couldn't get it done in regulation, so both teams readied themselves for overtime.
The Wild chose to unleash in the overtime. They had the better chances in the OT, but this guy named Rinne kept getting in the way. Might as well give the fans extra "hockey" with a shootout.
Shootout Results:
Matt Cullen (Wild) - Missed when he lost control of the puck
Colin Wilson (Preds) - Scored on a backhand shelf
Mikko Koivu (Wild) - Missed on a save
Craig Smith (Preds) - Missed on a hit post
Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Wild) - Missed on the spin-o-rama
Wild lose this one in a shootout, but there's some signs of life. The Wild got a point, a fanbase did not boo Dany Heatley all night, and no one was hit from behind and left on a stretcher. Progress, I suppose.
The Bennett's Chop & Railhouse Stars of the Game:
- Pekka Rinne (34 saves on 35 shots, big saves early in OT)
- Dany Heatley (1G, gets the Wild one point)
- Ryan Suter (29:46 played, kept the Koivu line in check most of the night)
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/.
Five Questions:
- What does it take to actually win? Full effort tonight. Had the 2nd point stolen by Rinne.
- Will anyone, anyone at all step up for the Wild? Better play up and down, but Heatley buried the late goal to get at least one point.
- Can the second line rediscover its game? Coming back to life. Cullen was good down low, but still not enough.
- Is the third line in need of change? Not yet. 3rd and 4th lines got pucks in deep and created turnovers.
- Is this Palmer's breakout game? Healthy scratch, so no.
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frustrating.
Very odd team, The Wild. Give up the first goal and get horribly out shot but win. Out shoot and out grind the other team but lose. Call me a fool but I have a feeling that The Wild are getting their mojo back. Seems that they put in a very good effort to get the W but Rinne just had a great game. I’m happy with the point. better than a goose egg. They’ll get it together soon.
Hey everyone, long-time no-see!
I got to go to the game tonight, and I gotta say, it wasn’t the most exciting game ever (ha!), but it was fun to watch, especially since I’ve been keeping up with the Wild a little but. Anyway, to be quite honest, I sorta feel like the Preds pulled that win out of their asses… the Wild put up a hell of a fight against us all night. Harding was really good. Also, as glad as I am that the Preds won, I was pretty happy to see you guys get a point – it was definitely well-deserved. I hope the Wild can get their shit together soon – it’d be fantastic to see them back on top!
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
the third line played well tonight…they usually do. the fourth line was fine too. the second line with cullen centering looked best this year with clutterbuck on it. seems like clutter meshed well with cullen and PMB. their hard-skating along with their speed makes for a suprisingly effective forecheck…considering their size. until seto or lats come back, taffe looked the best of all comers with koivu and heatley. i’m pretty sure if you looked at their wins this year, a good deal of them happened with with a johnson/brodziak/powe 3rd line and PMB/cullen/clutter 2nd line.
K Bro was a beast
He turning into a top 6 forward right before our eyes. He’s turning his lunch pail game into an offensive juggernaut.
Heater was also buzzing last night. Some players just know how to score and he’s one of em.
by Pewterschmidt on Dec 29, 2011 10:11 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Played pretty well tonight, just can't score
I’ll take the charity point though. It would be nice to get Seto or Wellman back soon because the second line is rather punchless without one of them. Palmer, DiSalvatore, I’m sure Rau will be the next to get a shot in that spot, but none of them are top six NHLers. Still, it is what we have right now, so someone needs to step up. Although it is not a popular opinion, I like Clutter with Heatley and Koivu. They seem to gel together, especially Clutter and Koivu. It shouldn’t be considered long-term, but I’m fine with him playing there the rest of the unless Lats comes back in good form. Some good signs tonight, but until the team gets healthy, I don’t think they score much more than they are right now.
Oh and as much as I dislike the Terhar and Greenlay, I think they made a good point tonight regarding suspensions. It’s the middle of the season now, teams need their players so now all the hits that were deemed illegal at the beginning of the year are getting a free pass. We traded one kangaroo court with Campbell for another in Shanahan.
i agree…koivu and clutter play well together…especially on the penalty kill. but i think clutter/cullen/PMB provide a unique ‘buzz’ line. (especially at home when they can get an optimal line match-up)
i’m very impressed with yeo’s coaching. but i do see him as going a little too far out of his way to make heatley happy. heatley’s a unique forward. it seems like he’s kinda loose-limbed and doesn’t have the quickness to match the slimmed down clutter. he’s 6’ 4" but not a bull strong 6’ 4". he certainly has unique talents. i just think clutter’s style fits better with cullen and PMB and that line combo would be better overall for the team.
Not sure I agree that Yeo has to go out of his way to make Heatley happy. In fact, I’m not sure how you’re coming to his conclusion.
Explain, please?
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.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
the thought about yeo going a little too far in trying to please heatley first came to me during their second overtime game of the season. in their 1rst overtime game, yeo threw out koivu/heatley as his forward combination. i thought heatley didn’t have the speed/quickness to optimize the more open ice situation of overtime. then when yeo came back with that same combo in the second overtime game, instead of say setoguchi, i thought that yeo was just trying to keep up heatley’s confidence.
i’m someone who thinks clutterbuck is one of the heart and soul guys of this team…with only koivu possibly having a little more of that quality. i think yeo sees him that way, too. (when yeo tried to shake up gilles before xmas he told him to channel his inner clutterbuck) like i said, i just think the team is better off with a clutter/cullen/PMB 2nd line. i’m just trying to figure out why yeo doesn’t see it that way.
So are you advocating that Yeo shouldn’t use Heatley in the OT?
As for Clutterbuck, the top line needs a net presence guy. Clutter fills that role pretty well. Heatley is a pure shooter and should be freed up to shoot. Koivu loves working from the wall and behind the net. Clutter is willing to drive the net and fits well. Lats is a better fit there, but Clutter does well.
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.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
well…yes, i wouldn’t play heatley in a 5 minute overtime, excepting a power play. i’d go: koivu/clutterbuck, then either broziak/powe or cullen/PMB depending on the situation.
as to having ‘net presence’, clutter can dart in their at times but he really can’t sit there like a holmgron or even lats. and heatley maybe be a pure shooter, but his last 2 goals have come through close- in muckery.
JD…our difference of opinion probably centers around where clutterbuck should play if lats and setoguchi don’t come back to form this year. we both seem to have some passion for the wild and an 8 game winless skein can cause fans to start bickering with one another. all the best to you and the Wild in the new year.
If Setoguchi and Latendresse are on the ice, Clutterbuck needs to be third line. Case closed.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
case closed !!?
why yes…of course!! thx for your convincing argument.
No problem. Why waste the time with an argument? Clutterbuck is not a top line player. If Letndresse is back, he is the top line net presence you want. That moves Clutterbuck to the second line. If Setoguchi then comes back, you going to put him on the third line? What the hell does that accomplish?
The reason you didn’t get a long argument is because it should be fairly simple to put it together.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
*Latendresse
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
Heatley has a knack for scoring important goals
And plays very well in all ends of the ice… Why not use him on the OT?
I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.
Twitter: BubbleWild48
i just like the speed factor in the more open ice situation of overtime. seems like quicker skaters can take advantage of more open ice. i’m thinking of a combo like gaborik/demitra becoming super effective in OT as compared to their 5 on 5 play.
Of course Gaborik/Demitra was a good combo, because they had speed AND offensive pop. Brodziak/Powe? Not so much. I know Brodziak has a lot of goals, but they’re more grind-it-out goals, which don’t show up as much in OT. What Heatley lacks in speed, he makes up in clutch, power and hands.
Bottom line, you HAVE to put your best offensive weapons on the ice in OT, because you have to try to score before the SO comes. Besides, you can bet anything that if you put Brodziak/Powe against the other teams, who will inevitably put their best offensive weapons, the Wild will be struggling to keep the puck out of their own zone, and that’s not a knock on Brodziak/Powe.
I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.
Twitter: BubbleWild48
I didn’t think we were bickering. I was just curious as to where you would use Heatley.
If you’re going to pose an argument, I do have to right to come up with a retort if I see fit. If that bothers you, then I suggest that you avoid posting anything on the internet, as you’re going to get people who disagree with you, no matter what topic you choose and what position you take. Opinions are never 100% correct, and you will find someone that is going to disagree with the stance you take.
Ok, here’s my retort:
I don’t understand how you can honestly bench a two time 50-goal scorer and instead believe that Darroll Powe is going to be a better player in an OT period. In 243 career games, Darroll Powe has 25 goals. Heatley scores more in one season than Powe does in a career. You can say you have passion for the Wild, but saying Powe is a better offensive play than Heatley makes you sound like you’ve never seen a game. Dany Heatley is an elite, goal-scoring superstar for a reason. Darroll Powe is not for a reason.
Second, I think you’re overrating speed. That doesn’t equate to chances. That doesn’t equate to finishing ability. In the last OT game against Nashville, Heatley led a rush up ice and put a perfect pass on Zids stick that Rinne absolutely robbed. He didn’t look slow or out of place at all. Heatley creates offensive chances, and that’s what you need in OT.
Now, I’m glad that when I say net presence you automatically jump to comparisons of “holmgron”. I’m assuming you meant Tomas Holmstrom. Obviously, no one in the NHL is as good at being in front of the net as Holmstrom. That’s an unfair comparison no matter who you’re going to use. That’s basically like saying, “Well, Mikko isn’t really a playmaker because he’s not as good as Sidney Crosby”.
Furthermore, you can’t compare Clutterbuck to anyone else in the NHL. They’re not on the roster. The only good comparison you can use is Clutter vs. anyone on the Wild roster that can play. No one else on the team is as good at being a net presence right now than Clutterbuck. If/when Latendresse comes back, that’s his job to take back. Until then, there aren’t a lot of suitable options for the team.
i just think the team is better off with a clutter/cullen/PMB 2nd line. i’m just trying to figure out why yeo doesn’t see it that way.
Clutterbuck is the best player for the top-line job. No two ways around it. There’s no one else on the roster that can do what he does better on that line right now.
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.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
by JDesthubert on Dec 30, 2011 10:43 AM CST up reply actions
“You say you have a passion for the Wild, but saying Powe is a better offensive ‘play’ than Heatley makes you sound like you’ve never seen a game.”
whoa!!! you asked me what i’d do with Heatley in OT. i responded that i think the 5 minute overtime is a unique situation favoring players with quickness and speed and you somehow turn that into me saying that Powe is a better offensive player than Heatley! now, i may be right or wrong about playing heatley in OT…i just wish in rebutting me that you don’t twist what i said.
You're really losing me
So you don’t think Powe is a better offensive play? I’m really lost here.
I’m not sure, but it almost sounds like you’re playing not to lose instead of playing to win. I really could use some clarification.
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.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
by JDesthubert on Dec 30, 2011 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
oh,,,i see you did chose to mean offensive play instead of offensive player. throwing heatley onto the ice in OT is a more dangerous offensive play than throwing powe onto the ice. i just think that in a four man situation, heatley’s lack of start-up quickness (ie, his ability to build up speed from a relatively standing position) leaves the Wild very vulnerable when it comes to offensive zone turnovers. yeah, heatley is a better offensive play in OT…i’m of the opinion that a brodziak/powe is a better overall hockey play.
So take the guy who has the ability to score off the ice, and replace him with a checking line? I’m lost as to the point.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
throwing heatley onto the ice in OT is a more dangerous offensive play than throwing powe onto the ice.
I’m honestly not trying to put words in your mouth, so please correct me if I’m wrong, but all I’m seeing is that you would put Powe out to not lose the game.
In a 4-on-4 overtime, teams play man-on-man, so Dany Heatley really only has to be responsible for the opposing defensman joining the rush, and he’s faster than most defensmen. I’m not seeing the risk of having him out there, and the reward of having him play is way higher than having Powe on the ice.
Plus, Mikko Koivu ain’t the fastest cat on the team either. By your logic of speed instead of skill, Gillies and Almond make better OT plays than Koviu because they’re faster.
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.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
So take away the chemistry from lines they play on all game, and change it up for OT? Yeah. That’ll work.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
yeo threw out koivu/heatley as his forward combination.
Indeed. Two best forwards on the team. Best plan is to go with the best.
instead of say setoguchi
Koivu and Setoguchi have shown little chemistry
i’m someone who thinks clutterbuck is one of the heart and soul guys of this team
i’m someone who thinks clutterbuck is one of the heart and soul guys of this team
with only koivu possibly having a little more of that quality.
A little? Have you seen the record of this team without Koivu? Have you seen the record without Clutterbuck? Big fan of Clutterbuck’s, but this isn’t even a close contest.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
“Koivu and Setoguchi have shone little chemistry.” true…but koivu and heatley haven’t exactly torn it up in OT. koivu and clutter are quite the dynamic duo on the PK…perhaps that could translate into OT effectiveness.
“with only koivu having possibly a little more of that quality.” ok…maybe i shouldn’t have used the word possibly. koivu is the key player on this team. when i see the commercial that airs with clutter in his ciivy clothes, i’m amazed that a player of his size can unleash such power in his (sometimes border-line) checks. i guess i consider him just a little behind koivu in the ‘heart and soul’ category because he seems to play bigger and more powerfully than his size would indicate.
If you think Clutterbuck is more heart and soul of the team than Koivu, we are a long way from having a conversation that means anything. I, again, am a huge fan of Clutterbuck. On most teams in the NHL, he is a fourth line players. On this team, he is a third line player, that can work with the first two lines if need be. He is absolutely not the solution to an OT situation, he is not a better option than Dany Heatley, and he is no where close to the heart and soul of this team.
Koivu and Heatley have shown plenty of chemistry in OT. You know that sometimes, the opposing checking lines and goaltender get to make the decision if the puck goes in or not, right? Heatley is the best option with Koivu. 4 points in three games that Koivu has been back. Solid chemistry when skating together… seems about right to me.
Love that you are grouping Koivu and Clutterbuck in with the “speed” element. Not two guys I would exactly call the fastest in the NHL.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
well, i guess my stay at hockeywilderness will be short-lived
if the editor of hockeywilderness considers clutterbuck a fourth line player on most NHL teams, i guess we aren’t going to have a conversation that means anything
If you can't take off the homer glasses
Not really our problem. Clutterbuck is great, don’t get us wrong, but just like Miettinen had no business being a 1st liner on the Wild, Clutter shouldn’t be a 1st-2nd liner either. 3rd-4th line is more realistic when talking about Clutterbuck.
I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.
Twitter: BubbleWild48
Nice meeting you.
Guess I’ll just have to talk to the other million people who stopped by this year.
Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN
Master of unsustainable passive regression.
Good effort
from everyone. Even the players that have taken some flak lately had some good plays (Zanon, Zidlicky, Gillies & Staubitz). We deserved the two points there…Stupid giant Rinne…again. If we bring the same our streak WILL be broken tonight.
HMMMM....
Felt like taking a walk for lunch… Guess its not happening. :)
Really liked the effort tonight at least
A loss is a loss though, and that sucks but if they play like that against Edmonton, they will win.
PS, I still hate the shootout
"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 29, 2011 1:42 PM CST via mobile reply actions
It’s good the Wild got a point, but it sucks they gave two to a team that’s getting closer and closer to them. Looks like they gave a good effort at least, so I can’t complain.
Way to go on your first recap Jesse! Great work! I find recaps to be the most fun to write :)
I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.
Twitter: BubbleWild48
Thanks, JS. Just lucky I didn’t have a blow a gasket after a poor performance or another dirty play.
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.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior
Hehe yeah
Pretty hard not to curse on the front page when that happens, believe me! ;)
I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.
Twitter: BubbleWild48
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