Welcome ladies and gentleman, after a horrible day hunting I have decided to do a blog on tonight’s game. Coming into tonight’s game the Wild power play and penalty kill could only be described as the unmovable force and the unstoppable object. The Wild are best in the league on the power play going 7-15 (43.8%). Their penalty kill is a solid 82.4% and killed off 6-7 in their home opener against Edmonton.
After splitting the season series last year 2-2 both teams come into this game looking for win number 2. Wild won beating the Edmonton Oilers and going 9-0-1 in home openers. The Blue Jackets split their series in Finland against the San Jose Sharks only to lose their home opener to Chicago 5-2 and get booed by their home town fans.
Usually I don’t say that the Wild came out flat until the second period, but there was not a lot to be happy about coming out of the first. Columbus had a great period stopping the Wild at every advance. The Jackets led in shots on goal 10-2 and Derek Dorsett scored 13 minutes into the period to put the Jackets up 1-0. Both teams were even on the faceoff and Columbus was the only team to record a penalty, Samuel Pahlsson 2 min for interference. While on the power play the Wild were either unable to get the puck into the Columbus zone or once in was quickly cleared. Throughout the first the Wild were unable to connect on pass attempts either missing completely or being intercepted by the Jackets. Columbus seemed to have a firm grasp on dictating what the tempo of the game was going to be. Though I give credit to the Wild for staying out of the penalty box, the lack of physical play was very evident. This is something that I will repeat all season long, if they expect to do anything this year they need to start out physical and continue it through the whole game, and only having 2 shots on goal in the first is just ridiculous.
Coming into the second period it looked like Todd Richards did some adjustments this time between periods. The Wild seemed to come out with a bit more aggression then they were willing to show in the first period. 4 minutes into the period they got the added boost that they needed. Kristian Huselius was called for a tripping minor and the Wild power play came through yet again. Brent Burns was able to get his second goal of the season assisted by Martin Havlat (2) and Matt Cullen (3). For the Home crowd and fans watching this was short lived. 7:30 into the period Cam Barker was called for a 2 minute holding call where Columbus went back up 2-1. With some smooth passing, the Wild unable to keep up, and finished by Derek MacKenzie putting in home past Backstrom took the air out of the home crowd. After 10 periods and over 200 minutes of play the Wild finally got their second even strength goal of the season to tie the game up at 2 apiece. Cal Clutterbuck (1) was able to rebound a Havlat shot home breathing life back into this team, assists by Martin Havlat (3) and yet again Matt Cullen (4). Coach Richards liked the play of Clutterbuck, Cullen, and Havlat on a line while playing a preseason game in Finland. Deciding to go with Clutterbuck on the line over Latendresse seems to have paid off in the short term. Playing better this period the Wild outshot the Blue Jackets 12-9, both teams had 2 power play chances, and a power play goal. Physical play was up this period with some solid hits and what I really like to see, players finishing their checks. When you finish your check on the opposing teams it forces them to make a quick decision with the puck and is more likely to turn the puck over in their zone giving us better scoring opportunities.
Third period both teams were equally looking to put up the winning goal. Wild still not looking crisp all game long, hung in and had a couple chances to get some quality shots on goal. 4 minutes in Brent Burns was called for a minor hooking call putting the jackets back on the power play. This time the Wild penalty kill came alive and closed all chances for the Jacket to score. Though not without trying, Columbus was able to cycle the puck very crisp and clean almost the whole power play but unable to get a shot on goal till the penalty was over. 10 minutes into the third the Wild went back on the power play when FedorTyutin was called for interference. Unfortunately for the Wild RJ Umberger was able to score a shorthanded goal to put the Blue Jackets up 3-2. With 8 min left in the period it turned out to be the game winner. Although the Wild pulled Backstrom with 2 minutes left in the third they were just unable to put anything past Garon. With 1.2 seconds left in the game Garon made a great save to deny the Wild any chance of getting a point in the standings.
Unlike the home opener the Wild just didn’t seem to be clicking on all cylinders tonight. Though they had many chances, the passes weren’t crisp enough and often shot to far ahead or behind intended players, along with sloppy play in all areas on the ice. There is a lot that the Wild will need to work on for their even strength game if they expect to finish the with the W. Only scoring their second even strength goal of the season should be something this coaching staff’s number one priority right now for fixing. Despite playing bi-polar one person stood out yet again. Matt Cullen had yet another solid game helping to set up each of the Wild goals and was pivotal for the Wild every time he put his blades on the ice.
Side notes: This was the first game that the Wild did not sell out since they entered the NHL with only 17,336 showing up for tonight’s tilt. Captain Mikko Koivu was held without a point ending his 3 game streak. Martin Havlat finally showed up on the ice tonight putting up 2 assists. Columbus ended a 4 game losing streak at the X with the win tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment