Minnesota Wild @ Buffalo Sabres: Game Recap
Minnesota Wild 3-2 Buffalo Sabres
No, I don't understand this team either. They put up 30 shots and three goals when for the last week they have looked like a pee wee team offensively. Sure, the defensive game left something to be desired, giving up 45 shots, but Josh Harding was fabulous tonight, keeping all but Thomas Vanek at bay, but not many teams in the NHL can do that.
Nice to see the veteran leadership show up in a big way tonight. A goal for Andrew Brunette, in typical Bruno fashion, on a tip-in. And Owen Nolan showed Steve Montador what happens when he messes with the Irish God of War. Not only did Nolan give Montador a healthy beatdown, but he embarrassed the Buffalo d-man, tearing his name plate right off his sweater, showing Montador that he just doesn't belong in the same league.
Ok, so, it doesn't really matter at this point, but it's good to see the Wild look solid and get a nice win against really good team in the Buffalo Sabres. Again, makes you wonder how good the Wild would be if they were in the East.
Please visit Die By The Blade for the enemy perspective.
Hockey Wilderness Three Stars:
- Josh Harding (43 saves, 1 A)
- Thomas Vanek (2 G)
- Guillaume Latendresse (1 G)
Five Questions to Answer:
- Will anyone else get a little misty watching Thomas Vanek and remember the days when the Gophers were awesome? From our dear friend schleske: "to answer question # 1, I flipped to see the gopher’s score.. and then saw vanek score. Siiigh."
- Can the Wild get to Patrick Lalime? Would the Wild have won if Ryan Miller were in net? Who cares?
- Will Guillaume Latendresse be able to go full-speed tonight, or will he show signs of the injury last night? Nice goal on only 13:52 TOI. He took advantage of his time. I love, love, love watching this kid play, and it was nice to see him score again. I can't wait to see him locked up for a nice long-term contract (please Fletch?)
- Did the Wild even get tired enough last night to have an effect tonight? I don't know if they were tired or not, but they certainly stemmed the tide of an impressive offensive onslaught by Buffalo.
- Should the Wild just go ahead and put Niklas Backstrom to pasture for the rest of the season? I really think they should. No need to risk anything at all with Nik.
3 comments | 0 recs |
Minnesota Wild @ Buffalo Sabres: Game 67
Minnesota Wild (31-30-5) @ Buffalo Sabres (36-20-9)
HSBC Arena @ 6:30 CST
Television: FS-N(HD)
Radio: BOB 106.1 FM and KBGY 107.5 FM, or online at Wild.com
For the Buffalo perspective, check out Die By The Blade
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Minnesota Wild |
Buffalo Sabres |
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Forwards Defense Goalies |
Forwards Defense Goalies |
Questions to Answer
- Will anyone else get a little misty watching Thomas Vanek and remember the days when the Gophers were awesome?
- Can the Wild get to Patrick Lalime?
- Will Guillaume Latendresse be able to go full-speed tonight, or will he show signs of the injury last night?
- Did the Wild even get tired enough last night to have an effect tonight?
- Should the Wild just go ahead and put Niklas Backstrom to pasture for the rest of the season?
6 comments | 0 recs |
Where Are They Now: Quick Links
I tweeted to Russo about our little series, and got ten emails in about thirty seconds wanting links to them. So, rather than send out individual links, here is a quick list, with links. Enjoy them. Comment if you haven't already.
(Links after the jump)
0 comments | 0 recs
Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament Game Thread: Day 3

Sorry for the delay, folks. My bad.
Games today look like this:
Class A Semis:
#2 Mahtomedi vs #3 Hermantown 11AM
#1 Breck vs # Warroad 1PM
Class AA Semis:
#2 Edina vs Apple Valley 6PM
#1 Minnetonka vs #4 Hill Murray 8PM
62 comments | 0 recs |
Injury Updates
From @ChipScoggins:
Wild update: Backstrom (groin) is out and Dubielewicz has been called and is expected to arrive in Buffalo this afternoon.
Todd Richards also said that Brent Burns will not play again because of hip injury. Richards said Boogaard will be in the lineup.
Talked to Latendresse. Said Rafalski hit him just below his helmet in back of neck. He said his neck is stiff and sore but he will play.
Should be another fun one. According to Die By The Blade, Ryan Miller gets the night off. So, you don't even get that. In your face! (Sigh)
2 comments | 0 recs |
Wilderness Walk for 3-12-2010
Huh. 5-1. Well done boys, well done. I say the team just sends the top two lines and Backstrom home and call up the Aeros to fill in. Likely get the same result, and the guys obviously could use the rest with all the hard work they have put in.
Ah, sarcasm.
Gamers & More:
Wild can't escape a three-goal hole | StarTribune.com - Chip Scoggins covering Russo on what can only be the worst road trip in history. Great writing, though, so we're covered.
Hip injury keeps Burns off ice | StarTribune.com - Update on Burns / Clutterbuck. News from before yesterday's game.
Loss to Detroit Red Wings causes Minnesota Wild further pain - TwinCities.com - Brothers' gamer.
Wild's Backstrom forced to sit out at Detroit because of lower-body injury - TwinCities.com - In the column marked "stories I actually care about," Backs did not play last night. Need more info on this.
Game Day Enemy News:
The Buffalo News: Buffalo Sabres - Probably one of the most arrogant beat writers I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. He is one of the "women's hockey isn't competitive, we should get rid of it" crowd. I wouldn't give him the time of day, let alone read his work, but here it is if you would like to.
Die By The Blade - SBN Sabres blog. Much better source, and one of the best blogs all around on the net, not just hockey blogs, any blog.
KiPA's Korner:
Angry Edition - Enjoy this one. When KiPA is angry, it makes for good reading.
Enjoy the game. I won't be around for this one either.
-Buddha
5 comments | 0 recs |
Minnesota Wild @ Detroit Red Wings: Game Recap
Minnesota Wild 1-5 Detroit Red Wings
Ick. That pretty much sums it up. That Calgary crushing feels so long ago. Watching the Red Wings tonight, you have a hard time understanding how they can be looking at the playoffs from the outside right now. That team has so much offensive talent, and can play so well, that they simply take over a game at will. At least against a team who looks to have packed it in.
Once again the Wild found themselves down early, as Johan Franzen got the home team on the board at the 2:25 mark of the first period. After that Tomas Holmstrom scored on the powerplay at 9:19. The Wild seemed to be ready to make a game of it as Andrew Ebbett scored with 11 seconds left in the first period, but that was as close as Minnesota would get. They amassed 12 shots in the first period, but only four in the second and five in the third, showing no signs that they were interested in getting into the game.
Only Darren Helm was a minus on the night for the Red Wings, whereas only John Scott was a plus. That pretty much tells the story. The Wild were outplayed, out hustled, out-shot, out-manned and out-classed tonight. If the rest of the teams above them go .500, the Wild have to finish 14-2. I'd say it's pretty much over.
While the loss was bad, and the way the Wild played was bad, the worst part was the fact that Niklas Backstrom tweaked his groin in the morning skate and Guillaume Latendresse was hit in the head by Brian Rafalski's stick early in the second period and had to be helped off the ice. No word yet as to either players status.
Please visit Winging It In Motown for the enemy perspective.
Hockey Wilderness Three Stars:
- Johan Franzen ( 2 G)
- Henrik Zetterberg (1 G, 2 A)
- Tomas Holmstrom (1 G, 1 A)
Five Questions to Answer:
- The Red Wings sure like that extra point for losing in OT or the shootout. Any chance they try to get another one in OT tonight? Heh, we wish.
- Will the Wild actually show up tonight? No.
- Better TV viewing, Wild v. Red Wings or Minnetonka v. Lakeville North and Hill-Murray v. Duluth East? The high school games were much more interesting.
- How badly will HW be invaded tonight? Cue the theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. It was a ghost town.
- If Brent Burns is injured in the forest and nobody notices, did it really happen? Well, tonight I think the entire team was in the forest.
6 comments | 0 recs |
Minnesota Wild @ Detroit Red Wings: Game 66
Minnesota Wild (31-29-5) @ Detroit Red Wings (31-23-12)
Joe Louis Arena @ 6:30 CST
Television: NHLN-US(HD), FS-N(HD)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM, or online at Wild.com
For the Detroit perspective, check out Winging It In Motown
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Minnesota Wild |
Detroit Red Wings |
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Forwards Defense Goalies |
Forwards Defense Goalies |
Questions to Answer
- The Red Wings sure like that extra point for losing in OT or the shootout. Any chance they try to get another one in OT tonight?
- Will the Wild actually show up tonight?
- Better TV viewing, Wild v. Red Wings or Minnetonka v. Lakeville North and Hill-Murray v. Duluth East?
- How badly will HW be invaded tonight?
- If Brent Burns is injured in the forest and nobody notices, did it really happen?
6 comments | 0 recs |




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