GDT 10/17/09 Wild Vs Nucks

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Minnesota Wild (1-5-0: 2 points, 15th in Western Conference, 5th in Northwest Division) at Vancouver Canucks (2-4-0: 4 points, T-13th in Western Conference, 4th in Northwest Division)

Over the last 11 days, the Minnesota Wild has taken five flights, sat through 20 bus rides, endured injuries to three key players and has won zero total games. Other than very solid 60-minute efforts against San Jose, and again last night in Edmonton, the Wild has had very little go right for them. At least the players have their health. Well, some of them do.

Last night, the Wild dropped its fourth straight game on this road trip, falling 5-2 to Edmonton. Playing without Martin Havlat, Petr Sykora, Cal Clutterbuck and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, the Wild turned in a fantastic effort, yet skated off the Rexall Place rink with their heads down after 60 minutes. Benoit Pouliot and Andrew Brunette tallied goals for Minnesota, which trailed 3-2 in the third. But the Oilers took advantage of the pressing Wild late in the game and tacked on two more.

As Wild fans look for something to feel good about, they can take some solace in seeing that the hated Vancouver Canucks are struggling nearly as much. In fact, if the Wild can pull a regulation win out of Western Canada tonight, the Wild and Canucks will be tied in the standings. The Canucks also flew to Vancouver last night from Alberta. Facing Calgary, Vancouver trailed 5-0 after two periods before getting goals from Rick Rypien, Mikael Samuelsson and Christian Ehrhoff.

Broadcast Information

Wild at Canucks will be broadcast locally on KSTC-TV, Channel 45 at 9:00 PM. The game can be heard on WCCO 830 AM, or online at Wild.com.

Click here to receive Minnesota Wild broadcast alerts/game day previews each Wild Game day

If You’re Going

The giant video screen above ice level at General Motors Place is one of the biggest and best, this side of Dallas Cowboy stadium. Seeing replays on the huge, crystal clear board might actually make sitting amongst Canuck fans tolerable.

Who’s Hot?

It’s a little hard to believe that during a four-game skid, a player can keep pumping in goals like Andrew Brunette is doing. The wily veteran notched his fifth of the season last night to lead all Wild scorers.

Tonight’s Storyline

Tonight is simply about two teams desperate for a win. Granted, the first place team in the division is the surprising Colorado Avalanche, but neither of these two teams want to fall any further behind than they already are. The Wild and Canucks always make things interesting, and desperation can be a key ingredient to an explosive hockey game.

Keep An Eye On

Even before he scored his first goal of the season last night, Benoit Pouliot was stellar. The big man was all over the ice sheet last night, creating chances, tipping shots and crashing the net. With injuries to key forwards, Pouliot will be counted on for offense. If he turns in more performances like last night, that won’t be an issue.

Probable Wild Line Combos

Martin Havlat skated this morning, after missing last night’s game with a groin strain. However, it looks like he’ll need at least one more game off before returning:

Brunette-Koivu-Miettinen
Pouliot-Belanger-Brodziak
Hilbert-Sheppard-Nolan
Boogaard-Smith-Sifers

Probable Defensive Pairings

Schultz-Zidlicky
Burns-Zanon
Hnidy-Johnsson

Between The Pipes

After a night off last night, Backstrom returns to the goal crease in the second game of back-to-backs.

View From The Press Box

It looks like John Scott will be a healthy scratch for the second straight night.

The Infirmary

Petr Sykora (groin), Cal Clutterbuck (high ankle sprain) and Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion) are all out. Havlat (groin)remains day-to-day.

Richards’ Quote of the Day

“I know it’s a loss, but we have one game left on this road trip, a big game (tonight), and we have to try and build on the positive things.”

-- Todd Richards, looking ahead to the last game of the Wild’s longest road trip of the season.

Honorary State of Hockey Residents

Willie Mitchell and Pavol Demitra are both former Wild fan favorites. Mason Raymond played two years at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Worthless Stat

Things are tough on the road right now, but they’ve been worse, even in playoff years. The Wild’s longest road losing streak is seven games during the 2006-2007 season, a year that Minnesota finished 48-26-8.

Glen Andresen | Web Content
Minnesota Wild

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Willie Mitchell and Pavol Demitra are both former Wild fan favorites.

Demitra was a fan favorite? All I've heard from Wild fans is that he was a useless overpaid soft injury prone bum, with myself countering with the fact that he has been a very successful offensive player throughout his career, and was played out of position with a fringe-NHL player on his line while with the Wild.

And I think Boogaard should be scratched in favor of Scott. John has yet to take a stupid penalty or be a minus player, Boogaard plays 1 game and what does he do.....get that useless giant piece of crap off the team, he is a detriment to an already terrible team....

Boogie looked ok last night, nothing stupid. but he did do that last year too where he started out alright then just tanked.

00Xtremeninja wrote:

Boogie looked ok last night, nothing stupid. but he did do that last year too where he started out alright then just tanked.

-1 and a cheapshit stupid penalty late.

00Xtremeninja wrote:

Boogie looked ok last night, nothing stupid. but he did do that last year too where he started out alright then just tanked.

He didn't do anything particularly well either though, was always behind the play for the most part as usual.

lolwat wrote:

00Xtremeninja wrote:

Boogie looked ok last night, nothing stupid. but he did do that last year too where he started out alright then just tanked.

-1 and a cheapshit stupid penalty late.

i guess that happened when i turned it off, lol.

TaLoN wrote:

He didn't do anything particularly well either though, was always behind the play for the most part as usual.

You still talking about Boogie or the team in general?

Choppy online feed tonight...

Nice Nick!

How did Luongo not see that shot?

Looks like the goal goes to Koivu, deflected off of a defenseman's skate and in.

Holy crap Luongo! No wait....holy 5-hole Luongo! Nice to see Koivu show up even though Ohlund is gone.

Yeah, figures something happens when the video cuts out so I missed it...

Dee Oh Cee wrote:

Looks like the goal goes to Koivu, deflected off of a defenseman's skate and in.

No it's Shultz's goal.

Now we just need 10 more goals to make up for the 7 that they'll give back during the clusterfuck in the 2nd or 3rd.

Jagged Ice wrote:

Dee Oh Cee wrote:

Looks like the goal goes to Koivu, deflected off of a defenseman's skate and in.

No it's Shultz's goal.

FOR NOW, replay shows Schultz never touched it, it was Wellwood's stick that the puck deflected off of. It will be changed to Koivu's goal at some point.

It's been officially changed now, Mikko is the goal scorer.

Hopefully Richards tried a new approach by telling them that it's still the 1st period.

Ugly.

Well played. Insert golf clap here....

Getting outshot 26-8 with just over a minute left in the 2nd.

I missed it but who knocked Backs stick out of the way on Kesler's goal?

Not sure, the replays haven't shown.

Should be a great third period. 2 very desperate teams in need of 2 points.

hockeygirl101 wrote:

I missed it but who knocked Backs stick out of the way on Kesler's goal?

no idea