Today’s lineup; Down to Calgary or Colorado, who do you want?
Posted on April 6th, 2008 – 9:06 AMBy Michael Russo
From a little birdie, Josh Harding in goal.
Nick Schultz is sick, so Petteri Nummelin is dressing. Derek Boogaard is scratched, and Mark Parrish is replacing him. James Sheppard, I think is out, replaced by Benoit Pouliot.
Everybody’s in for Colorado that matters. Safe to say the Avs want to play the Wild and not San Jose.
Game 82 of the season, and finally the Wild’s playoff opponent is guaranteed to be determined by roughly 4:30 CT.
– The Wild wins in regulation, it hosts Calgary, probably Thursday and Saturday (so there can be a Hockey Night in Canada game; the Swarm game would be moved to accomodate).
– The Avalanche loses in overtime/shootout or wins, it will face the Wild in the first round, with Games 1 and 2 probably Wednesday and Friday and Games 3 and 4 in Denver back-to-back Monday and Tuesday.
Check back after today’s games and I’ll post the official schedule as soon as the NHL releases it. Above is just speculation.
So, be honest, do you want the Wild to win or lose?
My feeling is it doesn’t matter. This time of year, it’s pick your poison, so if I was the Wild, put all scenarios out of your head and just play.
– If it plays Calgary, it has to overcome the Saddledome, shut down Jarome Iginla and beat a goaltender who’s got the capability to get sickly hot, Miikka Kiprusoff. The Flames also have a tremendous blue line, but as far as supporting cast forwards, the Wild is deeper and scarier.
– If it plays Colorado, it’s got to overcome Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Paul Stastny, Milan Hejduk, Andrew Brunette, Ryan Smyth, etc. That’s no easy series, and the Avs are playin’ quality hockey right now. Jose Theodore has resurrected his career in goal. Colorado’s weakness is its blue line.
But what do you think?
202 Responses to "Today’s lineup; Down to Calgary or Colorado, who do you want?"
I would rather face Colorado. Yes both teams are good, but it’s the playoffs, from now on every team we face will be good. The question for me then, is which team we have fared better against this season. Wild are leading the season series against CO 5-2-0, while they were 2-5-1 against Calgary.
The Avs scare me more offensively but I think Jose can be beat but at the end of the day I do think we can beat the Flames because we have more weapons. But as I have said many times, the last time I wished for an opponent it was the A’s and I was wrong. So, whatever will be, will be.
Either work for me.
I like Calgary because we can erase a lot demons there. Which in turn will give us confidence in round two.
Do you remember the year the Stars beat Boston (erased a lot of demons) and then went on and made a Cup run.
Either, don’t care who we play as long as we play hard. We can beat both the Avs and the Cows so it doesn’t make any difference.
You have to beat team eventually. Calgary has less chance of getting out of control scoring than colorado. The avs can put up 5 and still lose. I say we kick those pansy flames butts and then go on to take out the ducks!
Colorado has a lot more firepower than calgary does, and I think if the wild plays calgary, it will be much more of a grinding physical series than if they played colorado, and that kind of a series can take a lot out of you. Honestly in the end I think that I would rather play calgary, the games will be closer and the wild can then really play there style of play instead of possibly getting into a scoring duel with colorado
I want to play Colorado. We went 5-2 against them (so far) this season and have won 4 straight. Even though we are coming off a huge win over Calgary, it was at home and we still haven’t shown the ability to win at the Saddledome. If we lost one of the first two home games, that would be a big mental advantage for Calgary knowing they possess home ice and own us in their rink. And with all due respect to Forsberg, Sakic, Smyth, etc. — those guys aren’t the players they were 5+ years ago.
If we face the Avs, maybe we can get Wes Walz to unretire so he can shadow Forsberg again.
Facing Kiprusoff in the first round could make things ugly quickly, and the Wild doesn’t seem to have a problem playing at Pepsi Center in Denver; I would go with Colorado first round.
The only team I fear is San Jose, and it looks like all roads will indeed run through Northern California because they are playing good hockey. The Aves or the Flames???……..ehh, either. We are playing solid hockey and we can beat both.
You should not fear the lower seeds. We won the title. We should have the confidence. We will beat whoever in the first round.
Sorry, Michael and Russoville.
I want to play Colorado. Their goaltending is not Kiprusoff-like good night in, night out. They don’t try to obliterate you physically like Calgary does. And then, the Pepsi Center is not the hell-on-earth the Pengrowth Saddledome has become for the Wild.
Yes, the Avs do have Sakic, Forsberg, Stasny, Brunette, etc., but they are also a team who has almost become older than dirt. Colorado has arena problems as well (Frozen Four and NBA Nuggets) and that uncertainty could well work in the Wild’s favor.
Calgary may — MAY — not have the forward depth of Colorado, but they are younger, faster, stronger and can intimidate the Wild like no other team in the Western Conference, especially at home in front of the ‘C of Red’.
And, did I mention they also have Jarome Iginla, Dion Phaneuf and Miikka Kiprusoff?
No thanks, Michael. Avs for WRT.
Who goes today (Sun) for the Wild?
Backstrom or Harding?
WRT…I think the ONE player on any team to fear in the playoffs is a goaltender.
So, I would have to agree that Theordore is not as scary as Kiprusoff. He may have resurrected his career but he has not ‘carried’ the Avs - especially to a SCF like Kipper.
Besides, even though they solved him to win the division all it would take is another 3 post shot to get back into the Wild’s heads.
Give me the Agedlanche.
Look at if from the Avs point of view. Who would you rather play? The Wild or San Jose?
I’d rather the Wild enter the playoffs on a 5-game win streak than following a loss to the team they’ll be facing. Phanuef and Iginla are scary, but the Avs have more scoring depth. Both Kiprusoff and Theodore are sieves (as are Joseph and Budaj, for that matter), so we’ve got the advantage in goal either way.
Both teams are beatable, but as someone said above, beating Calgary would give the team a lot more momentum heading into the 2nd round. Given that the 2nd round opponent is all but guaranteed to be San Jose, I’d say we’ll need all the momentum we can get.
I think beating anyone to get to the second round will give us momentum. I guess on reflection i do fear the Flames more but who knows what happens when you get to the playoffs. Crazy bounces, a hot goalie, a not so hot goalie, incompetent reviews of goals–who knows.
woodcock…
Crazy bounces, a hot goalie, a not so hot goalie, incompetent reviews of goals
Isn’t that the description of ONE game at the Saddledome??? 
Ditto to all who said it doesn’t matter. The boys have it a stride, and if they work hard they can beat anyone in the league right now.
The only concern I have is getting into a long series with any team. I hope the somewhat depleted blue line can hold up if that’s the case. Tired legs lead to penalties/mistakes.
I would rather we face the Avs, but I hope the Wild play like it doesn’t matter. You start picking your opponents, and it comes back to haunt you.
Michael: Was ‘Special Guest Referee’ Mick McGeough chosen for the NHL Referees’ playoff pool?
Was Brad Meier? Was Chris ‘I thought it so’ Lee?
Either one. It doesn’t matter. Both of these teams have plus’s and minus’s. I do worry about going to 7 games with the Flames though. Like it was mentioned above, the Flames like to grind you and that won’t make for a good 2nd round. But if the boys can dispense with Calgary in 5, we’re good.
Just read the Don’s and Blood’s articles in the Sunday paper. I like the Fridge more and more. And if Simon can keep his head on straight these two may be the most important roster additions the Wild have made since Koivu and Burns. I’m just sayin’……
WRT - do you feel the officials have become to much of an influence on/in the out come of games?
Waiting for you in Colorado …
We owe you one from the past …
John in CO
ss6…
If anyone on this blog thought that Fridge could make that move to the net (even though Kipper stoned him) when he was acquired, they are lying!!!
He just may be the single most important acquisition of the season. Well, him or Belanger…
‘Certain’ officials believe they are ‘bigger’ than the game. McGeough is the only one that physically is…
What John in CO said, is why I would rather see Calgary.
I don’t care who we face. Champions are not made by side stepping opposing teams.
kj- Lol at McGoo. It’s funny ’cause it’s true.
The Flames are inconsistent and have a lot of pressure on them. The Avs know how to win and have many players that understand the playoffs. I think Calgary is a better matchup. Playoffs are not like regular season. The Avs I believe are 7- 1 with Forsberg in the lineup
ss6 — you are spot on. The officials have too much individual authority. They are there to ENFORCE the rules, not REMAKE them. Who ever heard of the ‘I thought it, so it must be’ rule on Gaborik’s non-goal call by Lee in the Calgary game? Brad Meier’s borderline obcession with JL due to something that happened a DECADE ago?
And then there’s the ‘Special Guest Referee’, McGeough, who must think 18,568 fans crowd the ‘X’ to see HIM work, not the players!
The NHL ‘war room’ in Toronto and Stephen Walkom (NHL Referees head) must take control of the game before the game is permanently damaged beyond repair. The officials are there to OFFICIATE. Sometimes, they forget.
kj - LOL screw you, MaGoo!!!
The better half and I were both impressed with some of Simon’s moves during that Calgary game. This is just a gut feeling, but I think if JL shows Simon some confidence, he may be on the brink of a breakout. Again it’s just a feeling but I think Simon has much more to contribute than just being very good at beating the snot out of opponents….
Does anyone else think the NHL is going to the all telepathic official next year? I only ask because of the demonstration we were all lucky enough to witness the other night at the X. Boy, Bettman is a genius, no?
Yipee i get to see more ugly fat people wearing those god awful pajama shirts now that it is playoff time. Like making yourself look even uglier will somehow will your team to a victory. When was the last time you saw a 350 pound hockey guy? Nice dressing skills there calvin klien. I had no idea that green and red shirt went so well with your blue jeans and tennis shoes.
This is the first time this season I want the Wild to lose today. Unless we play every game like we did on Thursday. We can’t be Calgary, we can, however, beat Colorado.
Other than the 25 or 30 thousand fans locally, does anyone honestly care about a winter sport being played in the middle of spring? Is it any wonder that the ratings for hockey nationally are below under water basket weaving? No one cares who the hockey group plays. I bet most people have no idea how many players you need for a hockey match. The fact that so many people care is funny and proof of the empty lives these rubes lead.
Look at me, I have a guy who name I cant even pronounce let alone spell on the back of my big ugly shirt. I am really cool now.
I want Colorado in the 1st round but not for the obvious reasons. Calgary is the kind of grinding team that can give San Jose fits. I personally think the Sharks are the best team in the league (points totals withstanding) and having Calgary lean on them for 6-7 games may take some steam out of them. The western confernence in the playoffs is a meat-grinder no matter who you face. While offensively gifted, Colorado is not as nearly as physical as Calgary, Anaheim and Dallas. The Wild have always been better against “skating” teams and only now are prepared to meet the physical teams in the playoffs.
Thanks for your opinion WRT and well put. I wasn’t aware of the history with JL.
Is anybody else getting a feeling that this blog is turning into an a$$hole magnet? geez
I’d rather see Calgary. While we have handled Colorado this season I don’t like the fact that we haven’t really seen Forsberg yet. He is fragile but seems to be playing very well. The Av’s have 3 pretty solid (but injury prone) lines. Kiprusoff and the Saddledome are my only fears about Calgary, and only one of them is on the ice.
I say we take it to the Avs today and unleash the tres terriables on the Flames…would be a more exciting series…watch a few flames get pummeled (e.g. Godard, Vandemeer), excise some demons by beating them in 4 straight..Kipper’s given up 8 to us in the last 2 games so he’s not invincible and Backstrom is hot. Moreover, I think you want to go into the playoffs on a win, and roll from there…. Crush our enemies, drive them before us, and hear the lamentations of their women! CALGARY WE ARE COMING FOR YOU! You biotches.
Yawn…the loser blog is found under ‘Timberwolves’.
Yawn/Mike hockey fans don’t care if the rest of you don’t ‘get it’. Just because it is irrelevant to the majority those of us that understand it are passionate about it and are enjoying the most wonderful time of the year.
Unless of course you are a Nuks fan… 
ss6- I’m getting the same feeling and I don’t really like it
yeah slap it is, but only because they put a RR’s link on the front page of the website..
oh, and please don’t feed the trolls
Far and away, Colorado is the easier matchup. Let’s take our chances vs. Kipper and Iggy…At this point, you have to beat the best to be the best. If we beat them, we’ll be bruised, bloody and weary but confident. I’ll be content if we win 2 series. ‘Don’t see us getting by San Jose, which is the only other matchup I don’t like.
No doubt I would rather play Colorado, our record is much better against Colorado and i live in Denver now so I can wear my Wild Jersey to the Pepsi Center!
Anyone else watching Hawks/Wings? LOTS of empty seats at the Joe this afternoon.
Doesn’t matter both Colorado and Calgary are good enough to have won the division. enough said.
Again, I will ask where the trolls are that were calling for DR and JL’s heads a month ago. There was always some wisdom to the Simon trade. Of course, like KJ said, no one could have predicted his skills to be of such value.
But his physical presence and veteran status are key to the confidence of a young skilled team. One guy can’t provide that, you need a few. Hill, Carney, Simon, Fedorek all set a tone despite their someimes mediocre play. I wouldn’t want to play the Wild this year.
I personally think the Wild should win in a shoot out to Colorado because the Wild have a losing record against Calgary.
Still looking for more takers to play fantasy hockey.
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.
A month ago I would have chose to play Colorado over Calgary in a heartbeat, but after seeing them play the last few weeks I don’t really care who they face. I think if they keep playing like they have been, they can beat anyone. The boys are looking really good right now… Bring on anyone!
hey yawn…you obviously have nothing better to do with your pathetic life if you are reading and posting to this blog when you are truly not educated in the great sport of hockey. get a life! Do you think any of us cares that you can’t pronounce Hill?
Go Wild!!
Hockey match? Hockeygroup?
Go away…….
Wouldn’t matter who we face, but the Cows would be so much more satisfying.
Colorado and Calgary are so different in their team strengths.
Wild need to fear Calgary or Colorado, or any other team right now … if the Wild play their own game.
As someone else said, Calgary would be a very intense series.
I have a slight preference to playing the Flames.
Yo Einstein, er I mean JL, clearly you care or you wouldn’t be so worked up right now. Why don’t you tell us all again about your awesome highschool hockey career. Maybe you can bore us all again about that game when you scored those two goals against Edina. You were awesome back then I bet. Let me guess, you have your wild jersey on right now don’t you? You probably sleep in the damn thing.
Kirk - there were a lot of MT seats in Vancouver last night as well. It was kinda sad really……
VoR - I agree. It would be nice to finally pick the lock on the SaddleDoom and beat the Cows. How great would that be for the boys confidence. But again I worry about the grinding.
I’m for either. I see both being long and tough series and I could see the Wild winning or losing to both of them, so it doesn’t matter. Play well today and carry that into whatever match you have.
Hands down, Calgary. It almost guarantees that CI will have CBC and TSN feeds (at least I hope so!) of the games. Compared to dumb and dumber and the Avs crew… quite possibly my two least favorite in the league.
Can’t we get through 1 day with out the trolls, seriously. It’s like trying to have an adult conversation with an obnoxious 6 year old constantly with the “I’m hungry, I have to go to the bathroom,I want my mother, pay attention to me, pay attention to me”.
Nick won’t make it to 82 games!
That should be Wild need NOT fear …
flu finally caught up to him…
Did anyone get a chance to read the article about CBS ignoreing the Wild?
I see the “Game of the Week” is Detroit and Chicago. The game doesn’t mean anything. The Wild and Avs are playing for position and yet we still get the shaft. WUWT?
The better half, aka Mr. Negative, he’s soooo Minnesotan, predicts if we get the Cows we don’t make it past the first round. He’s not popular around here today……:(
ss6: CBS should ignore the Wild. The Hawks-Wings game is on NBC (’Nothing But Crosby’) …
No Pouliot today? That sux
Whoops. Just going by memory. Guess we now know how good my memory is..:)
klj - yes that does suck. But we haven’t heard for sure he’s not in.
I’m also hoping Voros and Foy see some ice. Why not? Give the boys a break.
Either team is fine. its jut like buying mutual funds, past performance isn’t indicative of future results. so our records vs the flamers wasn’t that good this year. so what. I don’t remember having a lot of bad games vs them just not wins. i know that not winning = bad game around here but i don’t subscribe.
so, as long as we continue the intensity an keep playing like we have, it will be very hard for any team to beat us 4 of 7 games.
ss6: Memory like that, maybe we should find your missing children.
I really hope the Wild throw the ‘B’ squad at the Avs today. Let them get a game in before the playoffs. We’ll need them at some point; it’s not good to just let talent sit like that.
C’mon, JL. Throw ‘em a bone!
Fortunately, WRT I did keep good track of my children. That’s probably why my memory has left me.
ss6: You got me there! 
Who cares who the Wild play? Will it improve or affect my life, my family life, my career etc…NO!!! I play hockey myself 4 nights a week and will have little time or desire to watch a bunch of overpaid individuals play a game. Shell out an average of $75 a ticket per game…..are you working class people nuts? If the Wild management gave a damn about this team making a run for the Cup they would have added more then just SIMON before the trading deadline folks. Just my opinion.
Richard: Yes we are nuts. Nuts about the Wild!!
LETS GO WILD…..LETS GO WILD…..LETS GO WILD…..LETS GO WILD…..
just getting the chant started
who says i’m working class?
thanks for playing richard
When the owners put money back into the team and attempt to build a better team for the playoffs like virtually all our competition did, then I may care. Until then, just don’t care. An early exit from the playoffs may hurt in the short run but hopefully will wake up owners in the longrun. As long as those seats are full these owners are no different then virtually every other Minnesota pro sports owner- CHEAP.
Anyone know if gaborik is going to play the entire game today?
Did someone declare this ‘day of the trolls?’ If so, I missed the declaration…
And since when did we operate under a ‘caste’ system, anyhow?
Trolls..go away. You are not welcome here. Honest discussion is always welcomed. But the BS from Yawn, Richard, Teresa and Mike is just that. B-S. So go away.
richard/teresa what if the wild make a deep run into the playoffs? will you still bash the management?
Just some friendly advice… let Gaborik’s no-goal from the other night go. You still won the game. Don’t tempt the hockey gods by continuing to complain about it.
Who’s complaining?
Teresa, if you don’t care why even come here let alone share your opinion?
What do you suppose Richard finds offensive about working people?
After watching the caps play last night I think that AO is the MVP. that guy is all over the place and is not scared to mix things up. Just a stud!!!
Kevin in PA: Would you have said the same things if it had been Sid the Kid or Malkin with the non-goal?
All we really want is for consistent refereeing. The call is the same for Team A as it is for Team Z.
No personal interpretations by individual officials. No ‘phantom calls’. No ‘I meant to, therefore it is’ calls made after the fact.
What sports league worth your money does THAT??
Teresa, sweetheart, perhaps you are aware of the salary cap. Hmm, maybe not since you probably don’t know much. I think mgmt has done a pretty darn good job with an expansion franchise now making the playoffs three times and winning a tough division.
Theresa and Richard are from the Pioneer press..it’s probably really Shipley in cognito…
Poor Schultzie, 1 game shy of a full season. He just had to get that flu bug.
Kirk Wise: you have mail.
Wild in OT. Had a very wonderful night last night with AustinTXwildfan and his wife in LoDo.
Actually, I echo Kevin’s advice. It’s over folks and we won the game - perhaps even more impressive because we overcame that call. Had we lost, it would have been something to continue complaining about, but we won and it doesn’t matter.
Also, I still can’t remember the game, but I am sure the Wild benefitted this season from the same rule. There will always be personal interptetations by referees as long as they’re human.
WRT: the same exact thing happened to us Wednesday against Philly when the game was tied in the third period and we were going for our division title. Yes, I was fuming, but I didn’t have issue with the rule. I knew why the call was made, but what I was upset about was I couldn’t see how the ref lost sight of the puck. We got a goal a minute or two later, won the game, and I didn’t worry about it. It was a bad call that went against us but didn’t hurt in the end, so I moved on.
I’m not trying to be a jerk in saying you should do the same; it was sort of a half joke. That’s why I used an emoticon face; when I use one of those I’m usually at least teasing if not outright joking.
I normally wouldn’t ‘feed a troll’ but to the Richards of the world… What I, a working class chick, choose to spend the little bit of extra money I have on is none of your damn business. I think a couple of hockey tickets is better than another overpriced toy you can show off to your neighbors in the driveway…. Now back to better things, GO WILD!!!
Come on Hill
that chick in the lime green shirt behind coach Q has been a STH there since the Nordiques moved there.
man…Hards has some serious juju going early, eh?
I hope he can keep it up Nick.
G* are you blogging right now?
The game just has to be during my Sunday nap time. Guess I’ll just have to power nap between periods.
me too, Band…hopefully he’s saved up plenty from riding the pine the last couple months.
Just decided that I prefer the Flames - might as well live or die with the tough guy lineup!
Adam: I would kind of prefer to have the Sharks tenderize the Flames for a few games before we get them, though, if we’re going to play them (or the Flames tenderize the Sharks, for that matter).
I think this is the first 45 (not FSN) game in HD this season.
nice awareness Hards….
Parry needs to get off the schnide here today
CALLED IT!!!
Nice job, Nick.
PARRISH!!!!!!
I wonder if the Wild fan they showed after the goal was Austin? He’s there this weekend right?
just trying to do my part, Kevin…
Sorry to be a downer folks but get a life of your own and quit living it through a team whose members have no idea any of you exist. Sorry to be blunt but it’s true.
I am more worried about getting up for work tomorrow and putting food on the table for my kids then I am about who the Wild are going to face in the playoffs.
(OK couch potatos bring on the flak for the next 10-20 responses; flame me…….I kinda like it anyway)
David in SLP
That’s where we’re different, Nick: I call goals for other teams, you call them for yours.
Sorry to be a downer folks but get a life of your own
Pot, meet kettle.
- NiNY, good point on a CGY/SJ series.
to each his own, KiPA.
I agree with you DavidinSLP.
Come on folks he does make an excellent point. The players have no idea nor do they really care if we exist(except to fill the seats to give them fat contracts of course) The players in pro sports are very rich individuals that have a lifestlye we can only dream of but…I do enjoy watching the playoffs on TV - FREE !
P.S. We are (approximately) 5-2-1 against Colorado and 2-5-1 against Calgary and some dopes wish to play the Flames? There are idiots born every minute I see.
Gotta be Mike appearances today - despite the split personalities, no one else is more self-contradictory and inconsistent than he. Welcome, Mike!
Hockeydad: I don’t know what they’re selling, but I’m damned sure not going to click on their names.
Thanks for the earlier support, by the way, HD. I know it’s not a popular sentiment around here, so it’s good that someone agrees with me.
KiPA/HD: forgot about that…bottom line to me is that if it’s a rule it’s a rule. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with it or like it, but it’s not like the ref made it up on the spot.
Wow! Look at the game summary for the Dallas-San Jose game! 105 PIM in the first period!
TVHockeyguy is really my 12 year old son. I just caught him watching the game in his bedroom with walls adorned in Wild posters and other items, face also glued to his computer monitor. Pay no attention to him - he’s been so excitied since Thursday night that he hasn’t slept. Lay down, Michael, and get some sleep for school tomorrow!
Three fights (including Joe Thornton and Milan Michalek), one checking from behind major with an accompanied game misconduct, and four 10-minute misconducts handed out in the Stars-Sharks game.
In the first period.
Anyone else catch Laperriere holding Parrish’s stick for like 5 seconds right after the faceoff to start the power play? A BC player did that to a Gopher last weekend too.
Do you guys think Simon did his best Bobby Boucher from the Waterboy impression after Hannan cross checked Parrish in the neck. ‘22′.
One team trying to send a mesage to the other in that game, or just plain getting out of control?
I don’t know, HD. Seems like it’s getting out of control. Thornton and Michalek aren’t really fighters. Unfortunately I don’t appear to be getting that game on Center Ice (getting a baseball game in one of the supposed hockey slots) so I don’t know what exactly’s going on.
I don’t want the Wild to lose. I want them to win it in a shootout. I think a tie in regulation would be ideal.
Frankly, I’d really like someone to take out San Jose and Anaheim in the first round. How that happens, I don’t care.
As for the opponents, I think Theodore is much more likely to collapse in the playoffs. Kiprusoff has been … a tough nut to crack.
I’d rather defend Sakic and Forsberg than Iginla. I don’t think the Forsberg Flop is an issue in the playoffs. His acting ability is well-known and I don’t think he’ll get the calls in the playoffs.
Stars/Sharks is on NHL (215 for you Directv’ers)
Oh, that’d be why it’s not on Center Ice. Thanks MNinAL.
Parish looks better. A lot better.
Ok, after watching a period and a half, I would much rather have the Wild play Colorado. This game means a lot more to the Avs and they are absolutely playing with no heart. I thought for sure they’d come out screaming, but they look like the early season Avs. GO WILD!
I think Directv should move Big10, ESPN, NHL, and the other sports channels in the lower 200’s up to the 600’s. I never remember to check the NHL channel for NHL games. It’s only because I get tired of the CO broadcasters that I looked every other possible location for another broadcast… as it turns out, I’m listening to the MN radio feed through the Wild website.
Jose (minus the Pussycats) is having a decent game. Hards really has his mojo going. Parrish looks like he’s trying to prove something.
CARNS!
WOOOO CARNEY!!!!
MN_in_AL I have Direct TV and those channels haven’t moved for me. Maybe it’s a regional thing……….
GO GRAMPS!!!! YIPPIE CARNEY!!
Father Time tickles the twine!
It is clear the Avs are lying down. Theodore wants nothing to do with the Wild in the playoffs.
Nice glove save by Hards. That being a lefty thing is really coming in handy.
Old guys can score too.
Even without male enhancement!!!
Gotta say that I expected a much better effort from the Avs today. Not that it’s poor, just not so inspiring. If I am them, I would much rather take my chances against the Wild than SJ.
Avs are in slo-mo mode, which is not good for the Wild.
The old ‘I don’t want it, you can have it’ scenario…
Stars/Sharks, Tory Mitchell just did a combination elbow-to-the-head/check-from-behind which led to a scrum and a penalty.
Tory, acting more and more like the class of the NHL.
It seems like the Avs gave all they had during that stretch where they scored the goal. After that they’ve been relatively flat.
HD: maybe they think they can beat the sharks. Our play hasn’t been inspiring either but that’s understandable. Just keeping our players sharp and skating.
They just showed Theodore and Carney’s goal. Theodore looked like he wasn’t even trying. No screen, and he wasn’t even close to stopping that.
That was a sieve goal by Theodore - he looked like a high school goalie.
Maybe, sunshine. I agree our play hasn’t been inspiring either, but as you say, quite understandable. Because of the circumstances (i.e., wild having clinched, Avs being able to jump to #6) and how evenly-matched these teams are, I never really thought the Wild had a chance today. Still a period to play, though, I guess.
Go Avs…
Go Aves doesn’t sound right. GO WILD!!!!
I might be speaking too soon but Harding has been ridiculously good.
They’re not skating. They’re stick-checking everyone.
nice shot from Old Joe there.
Ok, I could have seen that coming.
Now, can we go into OT and win the game?
OT and just for fun we let Carney, Skoula and Simon do the shootout.
Hill taking care of business behind the net.
People are crazy for wanting to play Calgary over Colorado. The Avs are an aging team that we have handeled for the most part this season…..and Theodore isn’t even in the same league as Mikka. We have had success at Pepsi, whereas we can never do anything at the Saddledome. It’s all about matchups, and it’s a proven fact Calgary > Minnesota in a 1 on 1 matchup….standings don’t mean anything this time of year.
Monkey Fudgers!!
Okay, so I’ll take Colorado over Cal, but only if Hill doesn’t play. 2 Hill penalties=2 CO Goals.
Hmm, this might be a place for Simon and Fridge to set a tone for Wednesday night.
I don’t think the A squad was out there on the penalty kill. Go back and look, there wasn’t a whole lot of serious defense going on during either PK.
The thing about CO that scares me is the shootout. They have a bunch of guys that can make Backs look like a high school goalie.
No shootouts in the playoffs.
ROLI!!!!!
so, this is kinda interesting. I would think the Avs would play it tight the rest of the way to make sure they get 1 pt.
well give it 47 seconds and then score in the first minute of the 4-3 in OT
I think there’s a momentum fairy at the Pepsi Center messing with this game.
Now, on the PP?! What to do if you’re the wild. I suppose it would be perfect to get the PP goal in the OT
Green*…did you see the Wild jerseys behind the Wild bench???
Colorado!
Yeah OT!!!
Avs…first round. You have to beat them all so who cares….bring ‘em on.
Ahhhh…. that’s right. No shootout in the playoff. SWEET! How could I have forgotten. I guess I just get irritated at Backstrom’s ability to be so good in nets during play, but looks silly when it comes to the shootout.
Now, put the lid on this by winning it!
Well, not gonna be an easy series but certainly winnable. Go Wild!
Well, knowing that they’ll play back to back is probably good for the Wild.
Hopefully Backs will come out strong in game 1.
Come on boys finish this!!!
Gabby turns on the jets!
I know I said bring on the Flames before but now I say Avs - they will be rocked by the X on Wednesday (while the Flames just went through it) and I like going back-to-back with the Avs as Russo reported.
Way to make something happen Gabby! Just don’t get hurt!
food above, FYI
Its nice to have the Altitude announcers show some respect for the Wild unlike those idiots from Calgary on Thurs.
Laperierre doing his job…now he must die. First shift of game one, one of the horsemen needs to pummel him.
Gabby fighting? Wow! First PMB, now Gabby. Next it’ll be Demitra and then Rolston.
Wow, classy move by Laperriere.
5 each for fighting? What a load of shit.
1st shift: boogaard destroys lapussier’s face. can’t wait!!!!
Agreed NiNY!!! That cannot be allowed, otherwise it might as well be Anaheim last year. 5 min maj each
Rolston fought Burrows earlier this year. Demitra fought Savard last March.
Who was that M’fer third man in? Are you kidding me? Two guys are going to take on Gabby?
Yep…beat them but give them a loser point!
What a move by Wolski
Why not Fedoruk and Simon in the shootout?
After the first whistle, Boogie needs to set the tone by dropping the gloves on Laperriere. And as soon as Laperriere gets out of the box again, then Voros needs to do it again. It’s either that, or you send Boogie after Joe Sakic and that is just about the lowest thing you can do.
Damn. Well, the season starts in a few days. Go Wild!!!
Oh, well…our shootout record stands and thank god no shooutouts in the playoffs.
AL, I think you’re onto something. Make him fight Burns, Boogey, Simon and Fedorek.
I remember both Rolston and Demitra getting into it. I thought Demitra was clearly in over his head. Burrows, I seem to remember he covered up like a wimp.
Lesson learned on that game…don’t take penalties..thought they looked good otherwise..Harding let in a quasi-softie, but then so did Theodore..maybe with that pierre guy, we’ll have some fisticuffs next game
I would have preffered Calgary as thats the easier matxhup, but the oppurtunity to set up playoff hockey even before the series begins works for me. I thought we should have sent a message and made the shootout meaningless by sending our goons to simply slap the puck into the boards and give a good glare. Question was Gaborik eligible for the shootout, if so then its just another reason the NHL needs to do away with the shootout as it simply isn’t hockey.
Gaborik and PMB needs to go to Boogey’s Fighting school.
Gaborik was defintely not available for the shootout. He is 1-20.
right away in game 1 the wild must send a very loud and clear message on the physical front that they are the ones who will be controlling this series and not the avs. as someone said above send boogie, simon, feds, etc. after lapussier, adam foote, etc. right away.
if those supposed avs “tough guys” wuss out and won’t fight then we introduce heduk, forsberg, stasny & sakic’s faces to our fists.
I’m not sure we weren’t the stupid penalties would have happened if the game mattered. Really the Calgary Colorado debate is to close to call and maybe being able ot have a preview game was enough for the Wild to do a few things that don’t work if your total focus is getting a win. I hate Colorado already I love it. grow the beareds boys.
Laperierre is an idiot and it will be nice to see him Fedoruked in the next game by Simon/Boogaard.
I wonder if he will turtle?
Istill say this is a much better match-up for us than the Cows. Look at the record-that speaks volumes. I know we kinda got part of the monkey off our back the other night against them-but face it-the Saddledome has demons against us. The players would never come out and say it, but I would bet anything tyhat amongst themselves, they are liking this match-up better. I concur..
That was a Cookelike or Burrows-like display. What a moron. You don’t fight the other teams most skilled guy. Count on it 14 will get Simonized or Fedoruked in game 1 and deserves it..
Grimes- How do you see Flamers as an easier match-up?
The regular season record means nothing a lot of things effect regular season games that don’t effect the playoffs, most notebly the fact that in the regular season individual games don’t matter, and thus no reason to make major adjustments when playing a weaker team that matches up with you bad.
And lets not get to overwhelmed by our results with the flames we were 2-5-1 but won the game that mattered , and lost a game by one goal in whih a Wild goal was dissallowed for a reason aren’t sure about. Call hat a tie and were 2-4-2 I’m just not going to call that a mismatch of any sorts.
The simple answer is despite the fact the Avelanche had its best players a limited time they finished the regular season ahead of Colorado.
To me it does not matter who the Wild play. We have home ice advantage and that’s what matter. We need the X to be rockin’ during the series, win this series and get juiced up for the next round. We have to lay the Avs forwards in a balances series and trust our D and G to be better. We win this one 4-3 in a nail biter.
