Wilderness Walk for 2-12-2012

by BReynolds on Feb 12, 2012 9:00 AM CST in Wilderness Walks

Before we get too far, let me take just one second to tell you that the Minnesota Swarm are hosting their annual Dog Day at the X today at 2PM. You can bring your dog to the X. On top of that, you can watch a team in your favorite building, one that scores and even wins.

Just a suggestion.

As for the Wild. The words are beginning to run out, as they did last year and the year before. The same problems reappear, with a similar lack of solutions. The biggest difference is that no one has said "I don't know" to the press, yet. At least this year's squad continues to try to find solutions. If nothing else, that is an improvement.

Not much of a win, but even a small win has to count for something at this point.

First Things First

Vote - If you won't take my suggestion and head to the Swarm game, the least you could do is go vote for DTBL. We don't charge a dime for all the fun here at HW. We rarely ask for anything in return. Do this for us.

Wild News

Wild loses to Blue Jackets for the second time in five nights | StarTribune.com - Le sigh.

Staubitz clears waivers; Lundin back in; Rau suspended for Zucker hit | StarTribune.com - Something was mentioned in the press box last night. The status quo needs to be changed. While sending Staubitz to Houston is not a decision I disagree with, it doesn't do much.

Wild brings some buzz but can't beat Blue Jackets | StarTribune.com - Gamer from Russo.

Shots come, but goals don't for Wild - Shots, shots, shotshotshots.

Wild drop second game to lowly Blue Jackets in five days - TwinCities.com - Gamer from across the river.

Defenseman keeps healthy outlook about his scratches | StarTribune.com - "Pulling a Zidlicky." So many definitions for that phrase.

Michael Russo’s Sunday Insider: Fletcher weighs options | StarTribune.com - Hold tight, sir. It isn't worth it.

Tom Powers: Moral victory against Columbus? Ha! - TwinCities.com - Once again, Mr. Powers embarrasses himself. He has a point. One I agree with. Then he has to make a snide joke about the ethnicity of two players? Really? I wonder if he would have done the same had the players been black. How about if they were white? Would he ever write - I came to watch the two new white guys in town? Imagine what would be said if he would have written "But I wanted to see the new black kid in town."

The Pioneer Press, Tom Powers, and the editor who allowed this filth to be published owe both of these players a public apology.

Disgusting. Completely unnecessary, adds nothing to his point, and makes the entire article tainted. Go watch some concrete dry.

Tending the Fields

Vees make it 31 - Sports - Castanet.net - Mario Lucia. Learning how to win.

Chad Rau’s brother suspended for hit on Wild prospect in college game | Hockey Stop | a Chron.com blog - Hockey is a small community...

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Comments

Powers- what a douche

That is all.

by Kingpin45 on Feb 12, 2012 9:32 AM CST reply actions

I still can't even begin to undersatnd how a team that remained in first place for a full month could drop so low, so fast

If you say regression, I’m drop-kicking your head off.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 12, 2012 11:38 AM CST reply actions

Not being able to score a goal, no matter what,

tends to catch up with a team eventually. It has now reached epic, tragic, and comical heights. That outside wager that I suggested, the Wild getting a top 5 pick, is suddenly looking just a bit less unlikely after the past few days.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 12, 2012 11:43 AM CST up reply actions

Seems like the most likely reason

It wasn’t reasonable for the fans to expect the Wild to continue to win 2-1 or 1-0 games. At some point, the team would have to consistently be able to score 3 or 4 goals a game. That hasn’t happened despite adding Heatley and Setoguchi. Since the beginning of January, the Wild have scored 3 or more goals 4 times, and 3 of those were wins.
There has been so much pressure on the defense and the goaltending all season. The big losing streak in December and January really illustrated those concerns. If the Wild don’t get sublime goaltending and defense, they have no chance. Either Backstrom or Harding literally have to pitch a shutout in order to get a win.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Feb 12, 2012 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

Right now, I would settle for 2 goals a game. With the way Backstrom is playing, that would be enough to get at least a point.

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

Master of unsustainable passive regression.

by BReynolds on Feb 12, 2012 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Charlie Coyle sure has been tearing it up since going to Saint John

Looking forward to seeing him in a Wild uniform

by J.A.Berty1330 on Feb 12, 2012 12:35 PM CST reply actions

Unfortunately, I've been reminded of this article the Onion did

http://www.theonion.com/articles/twins-shocked-to-learn-you-can-score-2-runs-in-sam,20989/

Change it to “Wild shocked to learn you can score 2 goals in a game” and it’s eerily familiar…

by J.A.Berty1330 on Feb 12, 2012 1:14 PM CST reply actions

Woe is me

Waaaaaa! My team can’t win. The season is over. Fire everyone. Trade everything. Houston needs a pro team anyway so send them away. Minnesota, honest to god, doesn’t deserve any pro teams.

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

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 12, 2012 2:53 PM CST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

im just wishing now that we had played like we were supposed to

All season, because that unbelievable start in the beginning has everyone’s expectations muffed up.
Its not like we were scoring goals then either. Or even jumping out to hot starts in the game. We were playing gritty hockey, pucks were finding a way in, and our goalies were only letting in one, maybe two a night.
Injuries messed whatever chi we had going, but its not like our style of play has deterred from where it was. It is simply the pucks aren’t going in, and are goalies are letting in a little more than they were. Our top line is pretty sweet, but the rest of the team talent wise is just below average imo. Making dumb to useless trades isn’t going to help( christensen is a scrub, at least wellman did something for houston). We are pretty much going to have to ride this one out and hope for the best. That’s all this year was supposed to be anyways. I’m not disappointed at all. The future is bright.

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

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 12, 2012 3:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions