Saturday update
Posted on April 5th, 2008 – 6:09 PMBy Kent Youngblood
On Saturday, after a rare home practice before a flight out of town (Jacques usually likes to fly first, then practice there), Lemaire hedged, if only a little.
Remember? On Friday he said all his top guys would play in Sunday’s game in Colorado and that he would maybe play one or two guys who had been regular scratches of late. Mostly, that’s still true.
But, if Calgary loses tonight and the Wild goes into its game tomorrow knowing the Avalanche will be the opponent? Things might change. Jacques said he’d still play to win and play most of his top guys. But if he knows Colorado is on the docket for the first round he will play more guys who haven’t played much lately.
”I would try certain guys, make sure they get a game in,” Lemaire said. ”It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get them in a game against that team, and then I can tell if they’ll be able to play.”
If Calgary wins, the Wild would be in the position of being able to influence their own fate as far as a first-round opponent goes. But Lemaire made it clear that he wants to win and isn’t about to start trying to pick his opponent. That’s one thing you never do, he said.
We’ll all know the story once tomorrow’s game is done as far as who the Wild will play — and when. The Wild will open up either on Wednesday or Thursday. Here are a couple thoughts on that:
–Talking with Russo, it would seem likely that, should Calgary be the wild’s first-round opponent, the first two games would be Thursday-Saturday. Why? Calgary would be the only Western Canadian team in the playoff field, and I’m sure the NHL would love to put the Flames on TV in Canada Saturday night.
–If the first-round opponent is Colorado, it appears scheduling conflicts in Denver would dictate that the two teams will likely have to play games three and four on back-to-back nights on Monday and Tuesday, according to news out of Denver.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Mike Ramsey, still waiting for his surgically-repaired eye to get to the point where he can travel, was ready to drive to Colorado for Sunday’s game if the wild was in a position of having to win to clinch the division. As it is, he’ll stay home. But it’s the last game he’ll miss this year. He should be able to fly by the time the playoffs start. If not, he’ll drive.
By the way, over 300 fans were in line prior to 9 a.m. Saturday waiting to buy playoff tickets. Now only single tickets remain for the four potential home games in the first round.
That’s about it. Have a good day.
51 Responses to "Saturday update"
I think it’d be great if Vancouver wiped the ice with Calgary. Completely humiliated them.
In case anyone is interested. Re-post from the last thread.
Anyone interested in playing fantasy hockey? I created a league for the playoff fantasy challenge at NHL.com. E Mail me if you’re interested. I don’t see if there is a limit to the number of teams you can have under a certain group.
if we play calgary, would that maybe mean 8pm local start times? that would suck
So Wild fans….what do you want us (Vancouver) to do…give we you the Flames in round one or not?
A win doesn’t mean anything for us, so let us know and we’ll do it for ya.
I’d rather face the Avs, but this last victory against the Flames chipped away at their “aura” of invincibility + Iginla didn’t score #50 here which has to increase the Wilds’ confidence as well. I’m just thankful we have home ice.
Washington Capitals are SE Division Champs.
I’ll be watching the ‘nucks/flames game in between rounds of cribbage…
I would like Burrows to coax someone on the Avalanche into taking his head off. That would be a win-win.
I think either team will be tough. I think we just have to bring our game against whatever team we play. I guess if forced, I’d pick the Avs. But there isn’t that much of a separation between the two IMO.
that would be hard for burrows to do as they are playing the flamers
G*: what did you find as far as lines for the playoffs? Wild to win…??
Byron Ritchie just tied it. 1-1
Huselius ties it as they are announcing Ritchie’s goal.
2-1 flames, 10 minutes in
Huselius scores rather. 2-1 Cows.
Calgary would be a harder opponent but I might like them if we had a choice.
The way the Wild are playing there is no reason to fear the Flames yet they would not underestimate them. It will be no-nonsense hockey if that is who we get.
if we play the flames, we get to see more of the tres terriables, which is a + in and of itself.
But if he knows Colorado is on the docket for the first round he will play more guys who haven’t played much lately.
Wait, so if we’re already locked into Colorado we will rest guys, but if a loss would give us something (that something being Colorado) people in the pressbox stay in the pressbox? Don’t do this to us.
I’m not saying the Aves would be a pushover by any means (Sakic, Smyth, Stastny, SForsberg…I’m scared already) but at least we’ve won an away against them. Still 0 for in the saddle.
I think everyone but Iggy will score for the Cows tonight. Nystrom makes it 3-1
3-1
Still 0 for in the saddle
we won’t need to win in the saddle
bodog has the wild at 18/1
Alan, the problem is you can’t do much because you have a bunch of guys with no guts–just guys like Burrows who like to spear. The lack of guts is showing tonight.
Regarding the playoff schedule, while it would be great for the NHL to have a Hockey Night game with the Flames, the Swarm have a 7 pm game on the 12th of April. Unless they move that game, it can’t happen. Also, regardless of who we play, games 3 and 4 appear to have to be back to back games on the 14th and 15th at either Colorado or Calgary given the events on their calendars at Pepsicenter.com and pengrowthsaddledome.com.
Correction: If we played Calgary on the 9th and 11th given the Swarm conflict, we could play in Calgary on the 13th and then the 15th. Sorry, my bad!
Whoops. Well somebody take Burrows head off!!
Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Made me nervous there. Sorry, I’ll go to the box for the hoops comment.
If the Flames are playing CuJo tonight, does that mean they would prefer to open in a place that is not in Minnesota?
4-1 Cows
Maybe with homeice we wouldn’t have to win in the saddle, but the need to be perfect at home is tough. And 2-1-1 vs Flames at home so far, call that 3-1 if you make us desperate and ditch the shootout…not enough.
Canucks playing like they are ready for the golf course.
5-1
6-1 cows, Iginla got #50
Btw, in reading the rulebook I am reminded of Burn’s first fight and the fowl he was fighting. As dumb or dumber (can never decide which is Terhaar) said , “This is the NHL, there’s no pulling hair”
Rule 41 n.
A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player who is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct including, but not limited to hair-pulling, biting, grabbing hold of a face mask, etc.
Canucks really mailed in after the Wild loss. That seemed to be the end of their season.
Nice tribute to Trevor Linden by the fans and the Flames.
Not just because of FA’s in Vancouver, but it seems they are ripe for a do over next year.
If I recall, Nanne and the North Stars were once in a quandry between Linden and Modano.
Conroy just said they’d prefer to face MN but they were just happy to be in the playoffs. When Iginla was asked, he said we’ll take either. We’re in and now we need to get down to business. Personally, I’d prefer the Avs, but who knows what will happen.
We’ve never matched up well against Kipper.
ML, I don’t agree about Kipper, we scored 8 (if you count that BS whistle call) on Kipper in our last 2 games
Really, really nice and emotional tribute to Trevor Linden after the Van-Cal game tonight. It was pretty cool. This team will feel really empty once he’s gone…
It was Alan, I told you before that linden is one of the guys I like on the ‘nucks…seems to be a class act.
Also, I have gained a huge amount of respect now for the Flames. For coming out to show respect to Linden, I really respect the Flames now, especially Iginla.
I might even hope for them to go all the way (although that’s a bit much to swallow right now), but they really surprised me by doing that!
Well it is hockey night in Canada, so it was a fitting good-bye to one of their own
The Flames beat the Canucks tonight almost as badly as Gary Bettman beat Trevor Linden three years ago.
Classy effort by the Casucks, laying down like dogs in front of their own fans.
RE: The scheduling questions above. It has already been decided that the Swarm games will be moved if there’s a conflict. The April 12 game would move forward to April 13; The April 19 game would move back to April 18.
canucks show what yellow-bellied losers they are with their effort tonite; a case could be made that they have the least talent in the nhl. see ya! they will not even crack the top 12 next year.
I just hope whatever happens tomorrow(tonight) that we don’t catch a hot goalie in the playoffs like we did when we caught Jiggy in the Conference Finals.
we should be the feared; not the fearful.lets not worry about who we play; let others worry about playing us!
Wow, some “classy” responses here on the thread tonight by people like Goalieguy and kjr.
Vancouver fans will be totally supporting the Flames now. At least they can show class once in a while.
I hope the Flames beat you guys in 4 straight.
Alan- Whew! I’m sure the Flamers are relieved that all you Knucklehead fans are putting your undying support behind them. They can’t help but win the cup now… Speaking of class.. your team could use some.
This isn’t a Presidential primary where you have to wrap up delegates or get endorsements. What the hell do we care about who Casuck fans support? And who are you Alan? Ambassador of Casuck fans? My advice to you is to drink less Molson.
So the Avs are a point back of Calgary. If the Avs get 1 point on Sunday, what is the tiebreaker? Is it most wins? Or head to head?
MN_in_AL: those, in that order, followed by goal differential, which I believe is necessary in this case and tilts in the Aves favor.
COMMENTS:
* REMEMBER AFTER THE SIMON TRADE HOW PEOPLE CALLED IN TO THE RADIO STATIONS CRYING AND CANCELLING THEIR SEASON TICKETS- WHAT BS! SIMON WAS A GREAT ADDITION, EVEN AT HIS AGE.
* REMEMBER WHEN WE ALL COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WILD’S LACK OF TOUGHNESS? INTIMIDATION IS THE KEY TO THE PLAYOFFS.
* PRE-GAME VIDEO/MUSIC IS GREAT MARKETING. STOKES UP THE CROWD.
* DEFENSE WITHOUT FOSTER HAS STEPPED UP.
* I JUST SPENT $1000 FOR PLAYOFF TICS. THE NORTH STARS 1991 RUN COST ME $350.
* HOW WAS YOUR GIG WITH FLORIDA? I LIVED THERE FOR 18 YEARS BEFORE HOCKEY.
* YOU HAVE A GREAT WILD GIG- YOU COULD OF GOTTEN THE WOLVES JOB.
Alan, Trevor will be missed: he is a classy guy–but what a poor showing by the Canucks.
Yeah the ‘nucks didn’t have it in them last night, but who could blame them? The game was absolutely meaningless to them along with being hugely disappointed they were out of the playoffs…I think the fans knew the ‘nucks were not going to win that game but were there for Linden.
