NHLHS Minnesota Wild Correspondent Josh Sargent gives the highs and lows of a completely unpredictable season.
The Wild face off with the Calgary Flames tonight at the Saddledome, and if you think that you know how the Wild will come out and play tonight we need to have a conversation about what the lotto numbers will be this week. With a record of 11-9-2 and currently in 3rd place in the division there is no sure thing with this team.
Throughout the season they have been starting new traditions and breaking old ones, from being completely inept to a dominating force, and just when you think you have them figured out BAM! they crush your spirit.
When they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 at home people where getting excited for the upcoming road trip vs. Edmonton and Vancouver to prove that it wasn’t just a home stand fluke. Going into Edmonton the Wild spent a whole period on the penalty kill and were lucky to come out with a win only to face off with a Canucks team that was looking return the beating they took in Minnesota. The Wild came out with nothing and it honestly looked as if they switched uniforms from their previous meeting.
The next four games at home were against some of the league’s top talent. Between LA, Chicago, San Jose and Washington the Wild only gave up 6 goals, I don’t know how everyone feels but I thought that was huge. Niklas Backstrom almost shut out the Capitals until Ovechkin scored in the last 2 minutes but had his first home shut out in 41 starts against San Jose winning 1-0. Prior beating the Sharks Minnesota had a record of 3-16 vs. San Jose, while Washington has never beat the Wild at the X (just thought I would throw that in).
Soon after the 5 game home stand it was time for the team to venture out and play Columbus (where they never win at), Atlanta and Florida (who they owned in the past), then finishing with a up and coming Tampa squad.
With Jose Theodore in net the Wild finally won a game in Columbus and were riding high into Atlanta. I would hear people on the radio and TV saying that this trip they could take 3 out of the 4 games now; that they should be able to run over the Thrashers and Panthers like they have done traditionally in the past.
Again after a great win they came out completely flat and ran into a human train by the name of Dustin Byfuglien (who is from MN and at least one thing we can be proud of) and lost 5-1. Looking for a rebound win the next day they gave up 2 goals in under a minute losing 2-1. Despite the loss Minnesota did look like they buckled down and played a solid game for the remaining 2 periods. Picking up a win in Tampa Minnesota ended the trip completely opposite of how everyone thought it would go, 2 of 4 yes, beating Tampa and Columbus no.
How did they follow that up, by beating a hot Anaheim team then going to Detroit where they never win and beat the Wings 4-3. Leading the Wings 2-1 going into the 3rd period and never giving up when Detroit tied it to head to overtime, then pulling out the win. It brought everyone one back up in the fan base from disgruntled to overjoyed with how gutty the team was.
With everyone in high spirits Minnesota took on the NY Rangers and team deserter Marion Gaborik. Now hated in Minnesota Gabby was booed every time he touched the puck and cheered when he was hit into the boards. Gaborik though, was the one with the last laugh when his Rangers left the X with a 5-2 win, followed by Philly who put on a scoring clinic dominating the game 6-1.
With another back to back set of games the Wild came out like a totally different team yet again and destroyed the Predators 5-2. Where did this team come from?? Only scoring 3 goals in the last 2 games and giving up 11, Minnesota scored all 5 goals 5 on 5!!
Heading to Colorado with a lot of confidence, where traditionally they won all last year, and had a 2 game shutout of the Aves in Denver you had to think they had a chance right? Well they at least did lead the game going into the 2nd period but then the flood gates opened. Denver rattled off 20 shots in the 2nd and scored 4 goals. For some reason Coach Richards kept a beaten down Backstrom in the game only to surrender 2 more goals before pulling him.
This team has given up 20 goals in the last 4 games yet I can’t tell you who I think will win tonight. Minnesota couldn’t pull off a win in Calgary for the better part of, well, ever. But to say that they will lose, no clue. Who is to say that the team that put up 5 even strength goals on the Preds won’t show up or the gritty, gutty, grind it out team that won in Detroit. They could even be the team that spent 1/3 of the game in the box like they did in Edmonton yet still pull out the win. Or, we could see the team that Vancouver, Atlanta, Colorado, Philly, and NY walked, ran, jogged, all over.
You might have better luck winning the lotto then try and pick what Wild team will show up tonight. Up, Down, Black, Red, Even, Odd, Hit, Split, or ride it all on the river card sound like better options then trying to guess that. Like Jekyll and Hyde you just don’t know who you’re going to get.
Josh Sargent
NHLHS Minnesota Wild Correspondent
Facebook: @Josh_Sargent
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