The Minnesota Wild come into tonight’s game looking to change how they have played Rexall arena. Just like how the Wild own the Oilers in the X so do the Oilers own the Wild at Rexall. In the last 10 games they have only won twice.
Starting out in the first period both teams played at a pretty good pace coming out. Both teams went up and down the ice getting some close chances on goals. 3 minutes into the game former Oiler Kyle Brodziak was able to jam home the opening goal of the game on the third try past Khabibulin for his first goal of the season, assisted by Brad Staubitz (1) and Brent Burns (2). 3 minutes after that Brodziak picked up his second goal of the game and season when Latendress found him open putting the Wild up 2-0 early in the first, assists Latendresse (2) Cam Barker (3).
Nick Schultz was called for a hooking minor giving the Oilers their first power play opportunity. With on 30 seconds left of the power play Greg Zanon turned the puck over leading to Chuck Kobasew being sent to the box for holding. The Oilers with 30 seconds of 5-3 play were unable to cut into the lead though not due to a lack of effort. Just before Schultz was done with his penalty the Oilers had a flurry of shots that were sent away by Backstrom and Wild players alike. Throughout the 5-4 Edmonton couldn’t get anything going with the Wild getting their sticks in the passing lanes and the Wild killed off both penalties. 8 minutes left in the period Cal Clutterbuck was called for a slash giving the Oilers their third power play of the game. 30 seconds into the power play Ales Hemsky scored unassisted cutting the lead 2-1.
The Wild finally got their chance to get their league leading power play on the ice when Dustin Penner was called for a hooking minor 13:30 into the period. Setting up Latendress (3) was able to get the puck from Havlat scoring 25 seconds into the power play, assists from Havlat (6) team points leader Matt Cullen (6).
Before time could expire in the first both teams were not letting up at all until Eric Nystrom was called for a minor charging giving the Oilers their 4th power play opportunity. Lucky for the Wild, the Oilers were called for a too many men on the ice penalty (2 minutes) evening up the play to 4-4 prior to time expiring.
At the end of the period shots on goal were 7-9 Edmonton. But the Wild were committing too many penalties. 4 in the first period of play is half of what they have been averaging per game, but still lead 3-1. In the last 8 meetings the Wild have only scored 3 goals in Rexall twice.
Coming into the second the Oilers were able to kill off the man advantage that carried over from the first. Both teams looked as if nothing was lost coming out of the first intermission playing both physical and fast.
Just over 4 minutes into the second Latendresse was call for a Delay of game minor giving the Oilers their fifth chance on the power play. Down 3-1 the youth of this team in Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle were starting to come on but couldn’t do enough to put the puck into the net.
The Oilers clearly taking over in the period were firing on goal every chance they had. Putting up 6 shots on goal with 12 minutes left into the period the Wild were too busy deflecting the barrage to get anything going. Things got worse for the Wild when there was a scrum and Brodziak was called for a 2 minute cross checking. Edmonton still firing on all cylinders the Wild needed Backstrom to make a great save stopping the Oilers from scoring and killed off their 6th penalty.
8 minutes left of the second Edmonton was out shooting the Wild 13-2. Trying to get something put together the Wild found their stride and started to own the Edmonton zone. They had multiple scoring chances but were unable to put anything past Khabibulin.
At the end of the period Latendresse was called for a holding minor with only 18 seconds left in a scoreless period. The Oilers out shot, out hustled, and out class the Wild though out the second. The youth of the Oilers in Hall, Eberle, and Paajarvi were flying all over the ice getting plenty of chances but the experience of the Wild were able to weather the storm. The Wild were out shot that period 15-8 but were able to show some signs of life still leading 3-1.
Coming into the third period the Wild had to kill off their 7th power play of the game. The Wild safely came out with good defense and bad passes by the Oilers. Only getting 2 minutes of 5-5 play the Wild committed their 8th penalty of the game but 30 second into the Edmonton power play Dustin Penner was call for a high sticking evening up play 4-4.
During the 4-4 Brent Burns was called for a roughing minor giving the Wild their 9th penalty of the game and just over a minute of power play for the Oilers. With 2 seconds left of the Burns Penalty the Oilers Shawn Horcoff scored his third of the year cutting the lead to 3-2.
Although there was less than 10 minutes of play and the Wild were FINALLY playing 5-5 Hockey they still looked like they were just trying to hold on. Edmonton was taking plenty of shots but was unable to get anything on goal. Looking gassed the Wild were just trying to get the puck out of the zone for a chance to breathe.
3 minutes left in the game Martin Havlat gets called for interference minor giving the Wild their 10th penalty of the night. They must have been praying hard enough because Edmontons Tom Gilber was call for interference as well sending play back to 4-4. The Oilers decided to pull Khabibulin with 2 minutes left giving them the man advantage with an empty net.
Off the face off win Brent Burns was able to bank the puck down the ice and into the goal giving him his 3rd goal of the season and the Wild the win, assisted by Mikko Koivu (5)
The Wild needed this win not only because of the division implications but they need to exorcise the demons of Rexall arena. Last season the Wild had a losing record on the road and hopefully will be able to build off this win going into Vancouver tomorrow. Though it was a rough night for them playing basically a whole period shorthanded they were able to take lead early, buckle down, and hold on for the win. The Wild were 1-3 on the power pay and 2-10 on the penalty kill. With this win the Wild gain 2 big points and go 3-2-1 on the season.
Thanks for reading and get ready for my Wild vs Vancouver preview tomorrow. Follow me on Twitter at @josh_sargent.
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