Wild smoked 5-1; series tied at 2
Posted on April 16th, 2008 – 1:02 AMBy Michael Russo
I’m going to be insanely fast tonight as I have a 4 a.m. wakeup call to get out of dodge.
I take it back. Kiszla was right.
Talk about an ugly hockey game full of silliness. I never thought this would end. The Wild got so chippy out there, Peter Forsberg didn’t leave the bench in the third to protect him.
The Wild took a team-playoff-record 111 penalty minutes. Derek Boogaard played 2:03 and got 24 minutes of penalties. Stephane Veilleux, running around endlessly, took eight penalties, totaling 35 minutes.
However, the referees, who were trying to keep control of this mayhem, somehow gave him a misconduct with 11:30 left in the third period but let him stay in the game after serving a five-minute fighting major.
So even though his night should have been over, he was on at the 20-minute mark and took 12 minutes more worth of penalties.
The Wild put Colorado on 13 power plays, a Wild record.
It was just a mess, although somehow Chris Simon got zero PIM’s. That’s equivalent to Colorado scoring five goals and Paul Stastny not getting a point.
The Wild’s overworked defensemen lost this game. Turnovers galore in the first period, and all six defensemen played big roles in the disaster as I documented in my rewritten gamer for the web site.
Of all players, Jacques went hard after Martin Skoula. He also went after Petteri Nummelin, who couldn’t even move at times, and 38-year-old Keith Carney and Sean Hill.
The Wild has one day to regroup back in St. Paul before Thursday’s Game 5. Practice isn’t til 4:30 Wednesday, so expect a very late blog update.
I’d say the series outlook looks a little different than it did 24 hours ago, eh?
This was not shocking to me. The Wild has done this all year. Letdowns when it can go for the kill.
Now it’s a series again.
293 Responses to "Wild smoked 5-1; series tied at 2"
Ugly ugly game. Nothing else can be said about it. You could tell Jacques knew it wasn’t Backstrom’s fault for being down 3-0 early. He would have pulled him at that point if it was. The D like you said left him out to dry.
Have a safe trip back. We’ll be here later today for whatever you can dish out to us.
I don’t care how ugly the game was, Kiszla is an idiot.
Maybe the Avs are better, but since they’re older, tire by the 3rd and we were able to capitalize…but if they can capitalize early and often like they did tonight( and Backs wasn’t that sharp on a couple of those goals) we can’t make it up and disaster ensues. Please Wild, prove me wrong.
Hear hear Nate!
Thanks for workin’ hard Russo.
Season of Missed Opportunities.
Hard to blame the D for being tired. They’ve played hard (and very well) the first three games. Any chance at all of Schultz playing in Games 5 or 6?
I agree this team have never had the abillity to take advantage of good possitions they have worked hard to get into. They can show flashes of brilliance and then fall of the map upon returning to “good enough”.
I’ve drunk a lot of Kool-aid so I still stick to my prediction, Wild in 6 or 7.
Dang, have to work in a couple of hours. Night.
BDS, I think you’re right about the 6 or 7…but man, now I’m afeared that inconsistent Wild has returned..I’d feel differntly if we lost it like we did the 1st game…but this was an absolutely ridiculous effort for an important game.
Phil - look at the positives. We return home with home ice advantage. It doesn’t matter how we lost still only counts as one lost game, how ugly it may have been.
Best of 3 now with two games in St Paul, I still really like their chances. Plus, #1, it’s mathematically impossible for them to not start scoring in the 1st and 2nd periods eventually. (isnt it??? sheesh) #2, it’s mathematically impossible for them to not score first in at least one of these last 3 games (seriously it’s up to 8 straight, there’s no way that can keep up) #3, There’s no way Gabby will be held without a goal for 5 or more straight games (hasnt happened once this year as far as I know). #4, There’s no way Jose (Ha!) is going to be this good for 7 straight games, he’ll throw in an average night somewhere along the way here.
The Wild made it so much harder on themselves with last night’s really disappointing performance. Skoula got tired of being ‘Super Marty’ so he reminded the Colorado fans why they got rid of him. And he wasn’t as bad as Numelin or Sean Hill. Those two were flat out God-awful.
When I go to bed on a Wild game, it’s only because their effort isn’t worth my time. After they broke Theodore’s shutout, it was way past time for shut-eye.
Let’s get it done Thursday night, boys!
I don’t care how ugly the game was, Kiszla is an idiot.
He’s just a profesional troll.
I’m not worried about this loss.
If you’ve watched hockey for as long as I have, you’ve seen this pattern before. Team A wins a couple close games, and then Team B blows out the other team once, followed by Team A winning close games to close out the series. In other words, Colorado blew all their capital in one game. (I hope)
Heck, last year, the Wild won Game 4 big, but still lost Game 5.
not all of the penalties the wild took were chippy. some were but there were a lot of hooks and holds that were very suspect. i can think of two right now and that is the hold on sheppard and the hook on gaborik sometime in the 2nd period. there were more. DB got 10 of his 24 for firing the puck down the ice after a suspect hooking call, then another 10 i think for letting foote know it ain’t cool to cross check #10 into the crossbar. Can’t complain about those and they certainly weren’t chippy. voros got 10 for maybe wanting to jump into SRV’s fight?
i don’t know, the only one being chippy on our side was SRV, IMHO. maybe voros.
hill has been a disaster this whole series.
silver lining - all D was bad on same night. better than having one or two players bad on different nights.
Russo, how can you say that Kiszla was right? That is deplorable. His article was downright abysmal at best.
I believe Russo is only refering to “Goon” team. When a team gets undiscipline and 111 PIM..they are goons.
The rest of the stuff he said about the jerseys and state were completely uncalled for.
Come in off the ledge people. It was obvious the Wild was happy to get the split they needed in Colorado and the Avs knew the season was over if they lost the game. Wild will be fine. Following the season-long M.O. of this group, they will most likely lose on Thursday and then win the series in 7 games. Enjoy finally getting to sleep tonight prior to midnight. “X” will be a madhouse tomorrow night and our boys will be flying. Deep Breath everybody…..
I’m not too worried, this happened against Edmonton during the season and they bounced back.
I’m with Deep. Our boys were tired and in the back of their heads they knew last night wasn’t a ‘must win’. It was however a ‘must win’ for CO.
We can only hope the pendulum will now swing the other way. CO will be pissed about how our team gooned it up. They will now be talking about playing a physical game (not their game) against us tomorrow. Hopefully our boys will be back to their disciplined selves and CO will be the team taking dumb penalties.
It is now best 2 of 3, but our boys took 2 out of the first 3.
Also, the word from the NHL League Office is that starting tomorrow night, teams will be playing three third periods, instead of the customary first, second and third periods. This should really help the Wild.
Agree about Hill, he has been worthless, any chance Rietz plays for him?
Kizla’s article is an embarrassment to journalism, period. The Wild clearly sucked last night and lost a bit of professionalism themselves, and the refs should also be embarrassed by their performance… but that doesn’t change the fact that Kizla is misinformed on so many levels. Who cares if he snubbed you in the press-box? Like you said, he obviously knows nothing about playoff hockey or anything resembling objectivity.
How’s that for an opinion piece?
Probably depends on how he’s been in practice. Rietz’s problem is that right now JL can’t afford to sit a D on the bench if he screws up. So, once they are dressed, they will play at least 5 minutes. Better the beast you know (Hill) than the beast you don’t (Reitz) right now. Too big of a risk that Reitz won’t be able to keep up with the pace of the game from the first shift. Then JL’s stuck with him for the rest of the game.
JL’s comments about the loss laying at the feet of the defense tells me there’s a good chance Reitz will play tomorrow, if only to keep one of the old men fresh.
DB augmented my point nicely.
Congratulations to the Avalanche for capitalizing on the chance the Wild handed them last night. Thankfully everyone escaped uninjured. I agree too that we can all be grateful that the D were all bad on the same night. The Wild just didn’t play last night. I gave up and headed in the bed direction at 4-0. While getting ready for bed, it ended up 5-0 and I knew I made the right decision. Very painful to watch. I am not worried though, yet. There are still 3 games left and we need to win 2 of them. 2 of them are at home so that should help and no more back to backs so our D should get a little rest. Hopefully we can come out flying in game 5 tomorrow and bring home the W.
The Wild’s true personality as a team came out last night, they show one face but quickly become another when things don’t go their way.This is proof that the intent to get tougher for the playoffs will backfire before the Wild get too far in the playoffs. Goon team, loser town, when all said and done just another mediocre team that might make it thru one round. Good by.
Maybe the defense wouldn’t be so tired if the Wild actually had an offensive threat taking pressure off of it. Outside of Miko K and Rolston, there’s nobody on this team that can play when it counts. Gaborik and his $5million/yr is a waste.
That game was a bloody car crash; totally disgusting, yet something you can’t stop watching.
Gf says after the terrible first - “Well, at least it can’t get any worse…”
Oh, oh, but it sure can, can’t it?
I don’t think I have ever, ever seen our D play that bad. Ever.
The officiating was interesting. I’d actually say ticky-tacky and biased, but that would make me something I don’t want to be, so I wont say that. You count on some of that on the road, and the boys did get 5PP’s vs 1 for Avs the other night at the X.
I’ve also never seen anything even close to the way Boogie lost his MIND last night. He just never acts like that.
Top 5 worst games this year. For sure. Right up there with the Edmonton game, and the Calgary game that we lost after being up by 3. I seem to remember a particularly gross San Jose game as well…
Ok, so like food poisoning after eating cheap tacos - lets just hope its ALL OUT OF THEIR SYSTEM now.
Don’t feed the trolls.
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After last nights game the only thing that looked good for breakfast was cake. The Wild have to win Thursday or this could be very bad for my diet and then both the Dr and the Mr will yell at me.
dog gone it… wish we could have won 2 in col. too bad… our Defense need Schultz and Foster.. right now that’s the difference in this series. With those two we’re up 3-1 or it’s over by now.
Will all of you stop your Gaborik apologies?
They guy is an anchor and always been. He is fast, yes, but how many breakaways has he scored on? How many game changing goals has he scored? How good would he be without Demetra? Think about it. While he has worn the “C” on his sweater, how well has the wild played?
If you watch the games, he can’t play defense, he is unable to skate backwards, and he loafs at the blue line hoping for a pass that can spring him. The NHL has figured him out and unless he comes up with some new stuff, he will NOT be effective in the playoffs.
He is merely a distraction.
i still am having a hard time seeing how the wild, gooned it up. Simon did nothing. fedoruk challenged laperie-scared like a man and ian ran away. DB rightfully gave foote a couple of shoves for crosschecking #10 into the crossbar. Voros was a little reckless and SRV was reckless. that’s it. belanger gets run over so SRV steps in but we are the goons?
Re: the 8:08 post
the pasting that the BJs put on us the day after thanksgiving was the worst game of the year.
G* see my post above about there having to be one blowout in a series like this. A corollary is that in that blowout, things get chippy. When we had our blowout last year, the Ducks started getting physical, leading to several scrums, and an infamous sucker punch. When the shoe is on the other foot, what do we call it?
I’m not saying the Wild gooned it up, just that I can see the argument.
DB - I’m only responding to regulars today. I suggest you do the same.
G*: The March 24 game at the Grease is up there as well, but since the loss to the BJs was at home, I too would have to go with that one.
VoR: Correct you are. Might wonder over the Cannucks message boards and see how their offseason is going 
“wander” over….
I only saw a third of it, but I’m hoping they stewed all the way home, burning from the embarrassment of this butt kicking.
I’m expecting to read about a “focused” team in practice today and at the skate tomorrow morning from the Don.
Then I’m expecting them to “go out and be hockey players” Thursday night - at home - and EARN control of this series.
I have no will power, I did have the cake. Do you think the glass of milk I had with it makes it ok?
Last night it was like they all took their angry pills, but not the ones that help you channel said anger into productivity, just the dumb angry. Although the faces SRV was making in the box made me laugh so hard I thought I was going to pee myself. Well I gotta go to work now and listen to people tell me my team sucks, of course I can always point out at least my boys make it to the post season.
i understand completely what happened but i didn’t see any thuggery and there certainly wasn’t any suckerpunches.
the series has been physical, it didn’t become physical last night. the only wild player that was crossing a line was SRV. his hit on stasny behind the goal was reckless. other than that, and voros running at sauer at the end of the game, i didn’t see anyone taking a cheapshot at any colorado player. two of the scrums were in response to suspect hits made by colorado players. something they have been doing all series but haven’t met response most likely because of the tightness of the earlier games. when down by 4 you can respond. so, if it make y’all feel better calling it being goons, so be it. i didn’t see it.
markhead’s Daily schedule for 4/16/08
8:00 Wake to alarm (mom)
8:01 Return last of rental beer
8:02 Log on to Russo’s blog to troll
8:03 One hand a reply to snugglyboy21’s e-mail
8:05 Up the basement stairs for cornflakes with mom…
I hope eveyone’s right that they’ll bounce back in 5 because I’m worried. All these games now with nary a goal in the 1st 2 periods, Gabby being awol, I see a pattern..I want to be wrong, but those are the objective facts. Home ice, why not what it was last year, may be what the Dr. ordered as well as the thicker air.
I also disagree that we gooned it up, doesn’t gooning it up require you use your goons? Our goons had no takers.
Green* - Voros maybe got a little chippy? I thought he was a disaster out there. If anything, to me, SRV was usually involved in defending someone - Voros just seemed to be taking runs at guys. I kinda thought SRV’s reaction to boarding Statsny was that he knew he went too far on that hit.
I don’t know, maybe I need more kool-aid, but I thought the vast majority of the penalties were fine. How the Wild reacted was not so fine. They got themselves to a point where if I was the ref, I might very well be inclined to start calling close stuff to keep the game from turning into a free-for-all. Give the Avs credit for maintaining their composure.
“All these games now with nary a goal in the 1st 2 periods”
Phil, that is my biggest concern. If they can’t figure out how to score before the third period begins, they will be in BIG trouble. They need to bounce back and lay a good 4-1 or 5-2 beating on the Avs. I am just not certain they can do it.
isn’t it pretty much understood that, when you’re getting your butt kicked on the scoreboard, your propensity for stupidity (thinly veiled and accepted in hockey as “getting tough”) rises more or less exponentially?
It’s not like the Wild was the first team to act like idiots when they were getting smoked in a game. Even in the playoffs.
While a couple of them (SRV) were out of control, I was more or less happy that they showed the stones and the pride to snarl - and I’m glad no one got hurt/Flyers-ed.
I hope the guys down at the X have the ice in good shape. As it warms up outside sometimes it can be difficult to get the ice right.
Don’t worry about the first and second periods:
The word from the NHL League Office is that starting tomorrow night, teams will be playing three third periods, instead of the customary first, second and third periods. This should really help the Wild.
yawnson gooned it up. he got a roughing penalty in the 3rd.
lets recap
shep holding in 1st - tic tac
rolston interference - don’t remember
fedoruk trip - don’t remember
DB gave a cat a shoulder for roughing and a 10 minute misc
SRV hooking - suspect
at 12:35 in 2nd with aves up by 4, bella gets run over along boards, SRV goons it up and answers. SRV 4 minutes, bella 2. mcleod who started it gets 2
burns and foote unsportsmanlikes at end of 2nd
in 3rd ryan smyth hooking - suspect
gaborik hook, very suspect
SRV boarding - reckless
Rolston slash - very suspect
then at 8:25, foote crosschecks #10 into crossbar. the wild “goon it up”
DB 2 and 10
yawnson 2 for roughing
foote gets interference
mcleod (him again) 2 for rough
laperiscared challenges SRV for running stasny, SRV “goons it up” and answers the bell. both get 5 for fighting. voros gets 10 for something
rolston unsportsmanlike - didn’t see it
fedoruk challenges laperiscared like a man and he runs away, both get misc
SRV gets in scrum at end of game and gets 2 and 10
SRV was reckless. that i give ya. calling the rest gooning it up is hard for me to understand.
I’m hoping this embrassing loss motivates the team, like after the blowout by Oilers. Plus, I think the Avs might get a bit over-confident after something like this.
Players have moved on…I am moving on. The Wild blew out the Ducks last year and look who won the series. Wild in 7.
Looking forward to Game 5.
ouch. not pleasant to watch. except for SRV’s making fun of Mcleod in the penalty box. Good stuff.
part of me doesn’t mind the chipiness, yes it was ugly, but how many Wild teams in the past could even agitate and try to get under the other team’s skin?
only other positive is I have a new AV to hate in McLeod, what d-bag.
and i do agree with russo, how many times have they done this yes year? i mean the looked so awesome in OT on Monday only too totally look disinterested the next time out.
Looking forward to tomorrow, the X will be awesome. Word.
Agreed Austin, I don’t even care if we win it 3-2 again, just score 1 or 2 goals before the 3rd.
G* I agree that it shouldn’t be called gooning it up. But I can see the argument, because a lot of Wild fans would be screaming if the shoe was on the other foot. (Chris Rock: “Now I’m not saying he shoulda killed her, but I understand”)
That said, you have to play a physical game and fight hard when the game is out of hand to set up the next game. if you can get Forsberg to look over his shoulder just once in Game 5, I’d call that a success.
I think they will be embarrassed of their play last night (if not, the certainly should be). Back to back overtimes in the thin air of Denver had the team looking slow. Avs wanted it more last night. I see this one going seven games now.
“The word from the NHL League Office is that starting tomorrow night, teams will be playing three third periods”
Haha, if only we could trick the guys into believing that!
Jim Carr here.
To Ian: I may be bald, but at least I’m not chickenshit like you!
What a vag. He actually wanted to go with Shepp! I think Shepp could take that doosh. SRV held his own and he’s no tough guy.
We didn’t goon it up, but I wish we had. We got all the penalties we would have gotten for being goons, but got it for things like shooting the puck down the ice after the whistle. That misconduct penalty would have been much more useful had it been for bludgeoning somebody. Lappierre would have been a good target. He’s only brave enough to fight when Boogy leaves, and still wouldn’t even stand up to Voros, who is aweful at fighting.
The reason Forsberg wasn’t on the ice in the third wasn’t because they were the afraid the Wild would play dirty, it was because he’s out of shape, and couldn’t handle 3 games in 4 nights.
Russo was right about us letting up when we could go in for the kill, but typically when that happens, once we get on the ropes, we bounce back. I’m glad we lost by so much last night rather than another close OT game in which the players could tell themselves they lost because of an unlucky bounce.
Hi, Jim Carr again. Russo, I know that some in our audience don’t know the finer points of hockey. Could you tell them, for example, what is icing?
Russo: Well, um, icing happen when the puck come down, bang you know, before the other guys you know. Nobody there, you know. My arm go comes up then the game stop then start up.
I see. What is high-sticking?
Russo: High-sticking happen when the guy take the stick, you know, and he go like that you know. You don’t do that.
You don’t do that?
Russo: Oh no, never, never.
Why not?
Russo: Against the rules. You know, you’re stupid when you do that. Just some English pig with no brains, you know.
Uh, what is slashing?
Russo: Slashing is um, like that you know.
Mm-hmm. And there’s a penalty for that?
Russo: Yeah and for the trip also, you know like that…And for hook like this…And for spear, you know, like that…You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free.
I think a game like this was bound to happen considering our top 3 D lead the league in minutes played up to this point of the playoffs. Tired legs lead to mistakes, and penalties.
They will regroup, and come back more rested, focused, and ready to go. Close games from here on out.
FIGHT TO THE END!
When games get out of hand, that is when scores are settled. They were taking some runs at our guys, hence the SRV retailiations. I’m sure Voros didn’t see why he shouldn’t try to put some of their guys through the boards. But I didn’t really see him do anything ridiculous.
The refs were brutal. It wasn’t bad enough that our D were skating in quick sand but they were making borderline calls on us when we were down 4. We would have lost regardless but those BS calls didn’t do anything good for the game last night.
In a way I don’t mind taking an a$$ kicking. Might wake us up a little and make us refocus.
The D’s were tired. Can you blame’em? Maybe. This is team -2 of its best D’s, going back to back in the mile high city and that is what happened last night. Frankie says relax. I agree with thevoiceofreason.
Also, where’s our captain? Gaborik needs to get his a$$ in gear! It was go time a week ago man!
Re: NiNY post of 8:40: the Quebec-Montreal playoff game of 1984. Granted, there was plenty of bad blood already, but…
I think before the game on thursday, or h3ll maybe even today, I’m going to listen to Joe Satriani’s “Crowd Chant” followed by his “I Believe” to get some 1st & 2nd period scoring mojo going for the Wild.
I didn’t know if we’d miss Schultz or not in this series, but it looks that way and the boys need to pull this out so he can play in the next.
rolston unsportsmanlike - didn’t see it
Extremely weak. He said something to one of the Mr. McGoo clones. With a few minutes left in an ugly game, the refs need a little thicker skin, especially given some of the iffy calls they made.
Considering the Avs “tough” guys are cowards, and refuse to go up against anyone taller than 5′ 10″ we need to concentrate on being physical during game play. I would like to see more good clean hits. Don’t let the Avs dance around our zone with the puck, and get comfy behind our net.
Is there a video out yet it SRV making faces? That was awesome! Just shut up and show the other guy how freakin’ ugly he looks barking at SRV. Good job Steph!
I will be worried about this team if they can’t forget this game and move on. With 2 of the next possible 3 at the X, if they can’t move on from this game, they SHOULDN’T move on….
Does anyone have any plausible theories as to why the Wild keep getting screwed in the referee dept during the playoffs? Am I just seeing what a biased fan wants to see, or is there some truth to it?
G* - lol, yawnson goon - priceless.
Thanks for the recap of the penalties. I pretty much agree with your assesment.
The Yawnson rough was actually a bit funny. He just jumped in after the tool, Mcleod, had picked a player just his size, Nummie :). Yeah, that is just what a big tough guy Mcleod is. Yawnson sort of said hey I’m not a fighter but I’m much more your size. Mcleod sort of stopped looked at Kimmy,put his hand in his face and then decided to try to gauge his eye out. What a class act.
I think what’s being lost this morning in the wake of last night’s game is the new low in broadcasting that we have been forced to listen to from D & D & Q. If anyone has a connection with Bill Robertson (Wild VP of Communications) please send a note that these idiots HAVE to be replaced this summer. To listen to Greenlay and Terhaar whine endlessly about the calls and how the whole officiating world is out to get the Wild is about as embarrassing as it gets. Gorg has his own set of issues with his “insight” from the bench/sidlines, but D&D, especially the two games in Colorado, have REALLY taken broadcasting to a new low. At one point in the second period last night Greenlay was trying to explain how the Avs have teken the Wild out of their game and he used the “word” tooken. “The Avs have really tooken the Wild away from their game”. Please, for the love of Gretzky, get a note to Mr. Robertson immediately, if not sooner, that these bafoons need to go.
Phil: The Wild, and Avs definitely will not be listening to “Freinds” together. The theme for this series should be “War”, and after game 7 the Avs will be crying into their sweaters when they realize they are “The Forgotten”.
DB, would that be the same Bill Robertson that may have posted as ‘Will’ earlier this year (as Bill is short for William)? If you remember, he supported those guys, going after kj and the like for their opinion and even went after Green* about people moving seats away from him. Maybe the new ownership needs a new VP of Communications?
Repost from last night for those who didn’t see it from MP and the Holy Grail:
Sir Lappy ran away! So bravely ran away! When Fedoruk reared his ugly head, Sir Lappy turned his tail and fled! Sir Lappy ran away! So bravely ran away!
Back away from the ledge, folks.
Face it folks: Game 4 was a “must win” for the AvHoles, not the Wild. They’re only human, they knew even if the lost, they’re still 2-2, with home ice advantage.
They came out flat, got behind, it got out of reach, and the boys responded. They sent a message for game 5. I’m glad they did. So they lost on the scoreboard, big deal! It’s one game. What did you Sallys want them to do, tuck their tails between their legs?
SRV for Prez.
Whoops. “Freinds” = “Friends”.
DB, a fine example of their ineptitude was during one of the many power plays near the end where we fire the puck down and Hardy-har-har is looking for the icing call. Even Greenhorn realized we were on the PK. I think the thin air in CO made them even dumber.
DB - I agree they are not the best but really a great hockey broadcasting team for hockey is very rare to find. I guess I’m not sure what we would get in it’s place would be any better.
There have been a few lows I agree, at one point last night they did confussed Leipold with Smith.
I hate to admit this but I sort of agree with their take on the calls. A lot of the calls in this series have not been called eaqually on both teams, IMO.
I think the officiating has been terrible. However, a good team has to overcome that in order to win. I would like to see the Wild start hitting Sakic with some good, clean, hard checks. It seems that whenever a player has the opportunity to make a clean hit on him, that player peels off and makes no contact.
There’s a difference between insightful color commentary, and whining about the officials. Be a professional. Leave the whining to the fans…and pass the Provolone, please.
DB: I agree, this is why I wish they wouldn’t black out VS. I can’t stand the local commentary.
The thing that I hate about Greenlay is the constant sophomoric cliches. Does this moron think he’s explaining the game to mites?
With a color man with an IQ greater than 25, Terehar wouldn’t be all that bad.
And someone needs to tell those radio guys that they’re doing radio - not TV. The “hot stove chatting” while play goes on drives me up the wall.
Put those 2 on TV and find some good radio guys.
Although I certainly didn’t agree with every call, I think the refs did the right thing last night by calling it really tight. As chippy as it was getting, if they hadn’t done that the game would have gotten completely away from them.
And we sure didn’t need to see bigger idiots than we already saw. No one got hurt, and no one got suspended. We should be thankful for that at least.
I have no will power, I did have the cake. Do you think the glass of milk I had with it makes it ok?
From a strict caloric perspective, it’s actually worse. But it sure goes good w/cake, eh?
I only watched the first three goals and called it a night…apparently I missed all the penalties, I can’t believe they took 111 PIM!!!!!
Check Versus, even though there is a supposed blackout. I am on Mediacom (Western Burbs), and Versus did have the Wild game on last night.
Comcast does not air on VS, dumb huh? Comcast owns VS!
BDS: The continuous whining about the calls is tiresome and makes them look worse,if that’s possible. The fact that Greenlay struggles with the English language is a bit of problem considering his is supposed to be on the broadcast for his insight.
DB,
Agreed. 10:06am
My mom and Dad beat me harder than the Avalanche did to the wild..
I feel like Mike today, but I’m noticing some ironic themes this morning. We’re complaining here about D&D whining incessantly about bad calls at the same time as we’re whining incessantly about how the Wild got screwed by the refs last night.
… oh, and please don’t that last post as any defense of D&D. Greenlay was full of stupid observations last night.
Soory Russo but when was it not a series?? A 2-1 lead guarantees nothing anyway. Wild in 7!
Losers make excuses; winners make due.
Comcast does not air on VS, dumb huh? Comcast owns VS!
What the hell are you talking about? The game was on Vs in Saint Paul (Comcastland).
I will never forget (or forgive) D&D saying “We’ll be right back for Game 2 between Minnesota and Calgary!” last week.
“I’ll try my best? LOSERS say ‘I’ll try my best.’ WINNERS go home and fack the Prom Queen!”
What a bunch of goons. All MN fans should be embarrassed of what they saw last night.
V, V & the Booger had 13 penalties between them. Way to play the game boys! Idiots.
I want Boogard, Voros and Veileux on my rec hockey team. We could call them the new and unimproved Hanson Bros. Boogard still would never score or get a point.
The rest of the team should look at Burns and Koivu and get some inspiration of how to play hockey. These two guys can play! Gaborik who?
Let’s play hockey!
Hendrickson on PA and Dubay now. Call in and ask your questions.
Anyone notice that Reusse is calling us suckers?
I think after that embarassment last night we will come out strong tomorrownight if out of being embarassed than anything else.. This series is FAR from over me boys. Maybe it is the wake up call they needed? I agree w/earlier posts inthat this is going 7 now, so I still like our chances as long as we get back to physical, hard hitting play. Avs don’t like the physical stuff and it worked for us in games 2 and 3. We are in trouble if we go away from that element again..
In the St. Cloud are we got the game on VS but didn’t get it on VS HD. The Capitals/Flyers game that was on before the Wild game was on both regular and HD VS. We were a little mad that we couldn’t get the HD feed. The VS guys were annoying the future Mr. but I would rather listen to almost anyone but the Dumbermint Twins so I wouldn’t let him change it until after I gave up watching the game.
Target: I was going to ask if anyone else is getting the Vs. broadcast. I was surprised to turn it there last week, and find it on. I don’t know if it’s just because the Avs have the “stars” on their team but man to do they love up on them.
should be St. Cloud Area (Charter)
i don’t think the wild got screwed by the refs, they screwed themselves. i think fans got screwed because they slowed down an intense hockey series by making it a parade to the box. the only time a prade to the box is exciting is when you catch it on the hot zone PPV.
after having to watch the last two on TV, tehaar maybe gets the players right 50% of the time.
****** We interupt this broadcast for an Amber , err I mean Marion Alert ******
MISSING: MARION GABORIK
Marion was last seen during the final game of the 2007-2008 regular NHL season. He seems to have disappeared immediately after that.
If you spot Marion, please advise him to return to the Xcel Energy Center. His team, the goal scoring-challenged Minnesota Wild are in a Stanley Cup playoff series, and they certainly could use his offensive skills.
***** We now return you to your regularily scheduled Russoville blog *****
I am EMBARRASSED to be a Wild fan.
First..because this team gave up with over 50 minutes of hockey left. (perhaps the players should have seen the Calgary Comeback when San Jose scored three goals in about 3 minutes? and went on to win that game 4-3???)
And second..because other team’s players have to not play because there is such a fear that one of OUR players could do something stupid..and overdo a hit etc.
This is not hockey. There is no skill in this.
Here is what my coffee flavored Kool Aid is telling me:
Of course, a W no matter how and a chance to close out at home would have been best. However, if you exclude the Pens/Sens series in the East as the Sens have been going bad for weeks, the “desperate” teams are winning more games than they are losing. An easy way for one team to be “desperate” in a 2-2 series is to get blown out and embarassed right after being on top of the world. Although the Wild came out strong in Game 1, most of their best play in games 1-3 was from behind. My theory on the Wild this season and last is to look to the PK - when it is stong, the Wild is usually winning. The Wild is missing some big PK parts right now so it helps to play with an edge, to be the desperate team. I think they will bring it Thursday night and then have 2 chance to win the series. Let’s Go Wild!
Nice pull, VoR. Is that from “The Rock”? I’m picturing Sean Connery saying it.
It’s a fact that Comcast (Eagan/Burnsville) blacked out VSHD, as well as Plymouth. Why would they black out some but not all?
Why would they black out some but not all?
it supposedly goes by zipcode
I had hoped Gaborik’s ‘fight’ in the last game of the regular season might improve his game. Get him to play a little more physical. Seems to have had the opposite effect.
goal scoring challenged wild.
hmm, they scored 2, 3 and 3 in the first three. that is in the playoffs where it is just that much harder to score. ifyou are thinking they should be scoring 4, 5 or 6 goals a game then you ain’t drinking kool-aid or you are mixing crack with it.
Ok, random weird thought that has nothing to do with the game. For one game I think it would fun (say maybe fan appreciation night or some eastern conference home game in the middle of the season) to see the players in jerseys with their nicknames on the back instead of their last names. So we would see Hammer, Fozzie, Fridge, Boogieman, etc instead of Schultz, Foster, Fedoruk, and Boogaard. I know you will probably think it is dumb but that ok. Just a weird random thought.
too bad DR didn’t trade #10 for OJ. Now there is a playoff performer
players in jerseys with their nicknames on the back
ocho cinco
kgopher I would love that. The wife always syas the announcers should only refer to players by nicknames. I think it would be fun.
Good point Green*, but if I would have told you back around Thanksgiving (or even 2 weeks ago) that Todd Fedoruk would have more goals and points then Marian Gaborik in the first playoff series, you probably would have asked what I had been smokin!
I think the Versus I had last night was not of the HD variety. The FSN HD feed was much better (at least to watch).
How many points does OJ have in this year’s playo - hey wait a second.
Dave, yeah it’s from the Rock, and I screwed it up: “Your best? Losers try their best, winners…”
I read this blog all the time, never commented before, but had to say something about the officiating. Sorry to whine but that is the reason the game was ridiculous last night. You start getting called for barely touching/tapping a player enough times and eventually you get the message that if you’re getting called anyway, might as well make it for something. It is frustrating. On the other side they don’t call the Avalanche for anything and then you’ve got McLeod, LaPerriere and Guite hitting from behind, spearing, and being all around goons because they know they can get away with it. I’m not thrilled with how the Wild didn’t rise above it, but at the same time, I don’t know how you would. Two straight nights of HORRIBLE officiating.
Kirk, I see the satch is strong in you, but you are not a satchi yet!
NGirl,
Welcome to the Jungle, there’s plenty of room for ref-bashers here (see 10:06am).
El gato, how ’bout: ..and buggering off, and running away, and hitting the trail to get away, Sir Lappy!
and Mcleod and foote etc
Actually, VoR, I think the full quote is, “Your best! Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and . . .”
Outstanding pull, nonetheless.
Sheesh, leave the announcers alone anybody on here that watches center ice will most likely tell you that our broadcasters are top notch they know the game, thats a plus!
Watching Koivu through this series makes me wonder where we would’ve been had he not sat out with a broken leg…hopefully some of the team can harness some of the bull he’s riding,like the gabster mabey?
Am I wrong that Gabby just dosent look like he works very hard? He glides around waiting for a turn over pass so he can try and split the D over and over and over…sometimes it works
A bird hunting analogy comes to mind with gabby. Imagine he’s the best at shooting clays, hits all of them. So when you go after birds you just give him the gun. only he shoots and everyone else works gets dirty pushes through the cover and the swamps trying to flush something. He walks the easy open trail everyone else hits the grit. Is this the plan?…come on gabby I wanna see you in the cattails in the swamps pushing and working as a team! GO WILD!!!
Can’t do nicknames on the back of the jerseys. Not enough room on the back of Magnificent Marty’s for:
SKOUBA
The Human Pylon
Minute Munching Marty
Minus Marty
Good Marty
Bad Marty
End Marty Rant. Back to supporting Magnificent Marty.
Wow, watched very little of game (just a bit of the 1st period) due to other commitments, but I think I saw enough. I would like to see SRV making faces, sounded like that was funny.
At least this effort was game 4 and not game 3. If they had done this on Monday, we’d be looking at 3-1.
I scanned the in-game comments from last night and I just can’t figure out what it is that makes people troll out when things go pear shaped. There must have been at least a dozen people that have never posted here before that just came by to pile on. Must be miserable to only feel the need to contribute if it’s negative. And then they got all defensive for being called trolls.
“Criticism” does not equal “troll”
“Contributing nothing but criticism during one of the worst games of the year” equals “troll”
Sorry, but that really bugged me.
Another non-game related item I found funny last night was, we had a few of the future Mr.’s friends over for the game last, the VS broadcast showed a shot of the Ducks bench and one of the friends comment on the Parros’s stache. He was “Whoa, look at that stache”. When I gave the update on how we all call him Porn Stache or Stache he thought it was fitting and funny. Can’t believe for all that this particular friend watches hockey that the Porn Stache has never been noticed.
Last night was bad enough to get me to stop lurking and actually post, which says alot.
Most of my feelings have been expressed here already, so no point rehashing them, but I do have one left.
What does Voros really add to this team that is more beneficial than what Puliot possibly could? I mean it seems like the guy can barely even skate. Sure he gets in front of the net and that helps some with point shots, but when the rare rebound does come out, he always seems to be in the middle of falling down and can’t put it away like Fridge can. I think teams figured him out during the season after he came in and was quite effective, but I don’t think they have forgotten the formula to making him ineffective.
Sure Puliot can/would make some defensive errors, but he could bring some offense to the table and at the very least he wouldn’t put a guy into our own goalie.
maxpower, I assume that opening comment was tongue-in-cheek. At least I hope so. Only one word describes our tv “personalities”. Homers.
NGirl: I’ve been wanting to say the same thing but wasn’t sure if I’d be considered bias or something.
wildlover, I know I’m biased, obviously I’m a Wild fan, but I think the last couple nights went beyond bad as far as refs. I read the paper this morning expecting there’d be an article about it, it was so ridiculous, but that was probably hoping for too much…..
kgopher, if you’re going to talk about staches why not talk about Guite’s, that thing on his face is horrendous
MicMac - I definitely think Mr. Voros, and probably Mr. Boogaard have earned a “rest” for Game 5. Problem is, not sure we have the guys to replace them. My guess would be at least Foy in for Voros.
I agree that the team kind of gave up after the two defensive blunders that led to goals. Could they have come back? Sure, but I think the will to come back for the 4th time was too much and they couldn’t overcome it.
Might as well get our licks in when we could. Why not?
I live in the Roseville area and no game on Versus last night.
I say leave Boogaard in. Except for last night, he has not been a penalty liability for us.
I was advocating resting Simon and Voros, especially Voros after game 3, and putting in Pouliot and Foy.
Lastly, put Reitz in for Hill…he couldn’t be any worse than Hill, right?
Might as well get our licks in when we could. Why not?
Yeaaaah, now that’s what I’m talkin’ bout!!
Agreed sunshine. Although I wouldn’t mind seeing it, I’m not counting on Benny or Reitz getting a shot, but I would guess Foy for Voros.
This is coming from a Wild fan…..For all you who said that the refs screwed last night. Thats a joke. The three goals that we handed to them in the fist lost the game for us. The Wild embarrassed themselves in the second and third periods. Veilleux was a joke.(and I love Veilleux) Voros looked like an idot out there. So please stop complaining about the refs. The concern should be our putrid 4th, 5th and 6th defensemen. Also, if #10 is not scoring it will be difficult to make a deep run.
Boogie will play tomorrow; Pooh-Bah will be in for Voros. Aaron has played his way out of the lineup and Pooh-Bah looked serviceable when he got his call-up.
Voros especially showed a lack of maturity last night. I guess he forgot his “stay out of the box” mantra. When SRV started picking up minutes, I guess he figured he better try to do what he can to keep his dominance in that area.
Green*
The WILD have scored a grand total of ZERO GOALS in the first 2 periods of all 4 games thus far.
If you don’t count that as underperforming in the goal scoring dept. then I don’t know what to tell you.
Certainly I don’t expect them to score 5-6 goals every night, but they NEED to start scoring more. The Wild has proven this year that they no longer have the ability to keep a 1 goal lead. So they need to start scoring more, especially with their D-man core so thin and run into the ground.
Regular season, Gabby averaged over 1 point per game and 1 goal every other game.
He has done ZILCH thus far. This man is supposed to be the Captain, and wants 8 million bucks a year ……well, I don’t care how many goals you score in the regular season, if you just disappear in the playoffs. UNACCEPTABLE.
I think the Wild’s devastating loss of Foster and Nick Schultz is really obvious now.
Lastly, put Reitz in for Hill…he couldn’t be any worse than Hill, right?
Another gem! Where you been hidin’? 
With all the focus on the forwards in this thread, it was the DEFENSE that killed up last night.
buid from within: I am not sure if you are making fun of me or agreeing with me.
I will take it that you are agreeing with me.
Regarding the officials last night. To be sure the Wild lost their composure, and took a number of stupid penalties. I believe it’s also true that the refs called every ticky tac penalty they could against the Wild whereas there were very few borderline calls against the Avs.
Aaron has played his way out of the lineup and Pooh-Bah looked serviceable when he got his call-up.
I agree DB - what do you think about Reitz for Hill?
Sunshine,
Agree. See my 11:45am.
hmm, way back at the trade deadline it was obvious to everyone but DR that we needed a center and a d-man, our lack of both is killing us in this series. yeah we managed to crab two ot wins and yeah we can still win the series cuz the avs aren’t that good…but does anyone really think this team can go any further after what they’ve seen so far? god i hop that the leafs hire DR for some reason cuz i don’t think leipold is gonna fire him like he should…
Are Wild fans ashamed or what? Who could guess that the Wild would implode into the thuggery of game 4? We don’t need this ugly, crude violence. Period. It’s not who we are, or who the Wild should be. Let’s hope for better.
300 minutes of hockey and the wild have been in the lead for less than 5, wining two games on fluke goals. You know the D is dead and so is the O under JL
I think the wild can make a good run..beating the Avs is entirely feasible and any of the teams we would face next, we have beaten them this year, so to beat them in the playoffs is not out of the question at all…if we make it to the SC, I think that would be the easiest series we’d play..the east conference is just not up to the NW divisions physical play.
Okay.
One other thing… Do the refs read the papers or listen to sports talk radio before a game? The Kizla article, I am sure, was being talked about in the Denver area as it was here.
I wonder if that article influenced some of the calls. Not saying that some were not deserved but some were questionable.
pkne: How many D would you have suggested we carry all season? There is no way anyone could have foreseen losing Foster, and Schultz in the freakish manner they have.
way back at the trade deadline it was obvious to everyone but DR that we needed a d-man
Knock this crap off. We had 8 serviceable defensemen. I defy you to tell me how DR should have foreseen the Foster and Schultz situations and therefore the need for more defensemen.
Besides, it’s the playoffs. You had your chance weeks ago to bitch about the trade deadline action/nonaction.
Thanks phil. If I reference more obscure songs will I be elevated to satchi?
Will:
You will find no shame from me. A fight has been brewing since Lappy went after Gaborik in the last game of the season.
Last night was the perfect night to let it boil over. The first 3 games, we haven’t led at all except for 5 minutes, when were Boogey, Simon, Fedoruk, SRV, or Voros was suppose to get in their punches. We were down and we were out by the end of the first period. Might as well go down literally fighting.
Kirk and VoR–absolutely–that is a dead horse. No one trades on the basis that two of their top D are going to somehow get injured in the future when you already have enough serviceable D. Anyone know if there is a chance Branko will be back for Game 5?
VoR: Jinx.
The only shameful thing was the SRV boarding of Stasny.
As for tomorrow, I definitely think that you play B-B-B-Benny and Reitz, in for MoVo and Old Man Hill.
woodcock - Hoping so. To follow up on my 12:18 post, if Branko can go, insert him for Simon or Boogaard. If not, use Foy.
There is some kind of wierd irony in the fact that center has become a relative position of depth, and defense……well, you know.
I don’t think the Wild fans should be concerned yet, they got the split and two of the next three are at home. I like the Wild’s odds. I think the only thing that was brutal from the game was the Boarding call, that was a nasty hit, that being said I think the Av’s are a bunch of turtles, slappy needs to challenged, the man skates around taking runs at the Wild’s skilled players and won’t fight the big guys.
For those bitching about the “goonery” just remember what Floppa said in the game story: “On the Wild’s aggression, Peter Forsberg, who didn’t play for most of the third period, said, “That’s kind of what happens when you get down five goals or four goals. If we were down, it would probably happen the same way.”
It’s a fact of hockey. There is no “shame” in it. If it’s too much for you, go play badminton.
No I’m not a regular, I’m from Colorado but have lived here for almost five years now. I will ALWAYS be a die hard Avalanche fan and have been since they arrived in Denver for the 1995-1996 season. I am responding to, first of all, Mr. Kiszle’s article in the Denver Post, he is a columnist, where opinions are the basis of their writings. If you don’t like that style of writing, don’t read it! Also, to the poster who said that Peter Forsberg is washed up and they took him out of the game because he’s out of shape? (another article commentator referred to him as a “senior citizen”) Please look at your facts before spewing such nonsense. Peter Forsberg has been with the Av’s through two Stanley Cup winning seasons and is still a great contender. They took him out because it was clear that we were winning, NFL teams do that as well. I love a good game and have loved how close the games have been between the two teams,and granted I love the physical aspect of hockey and expect it to a point, but last night the Wild threw tantrums worse then a toddler. It was not the refs fault, not the Av’s fault, it was their own shortcomings that put them in that position. Hopefully they will get their heads on straight and we will have a great game tomorrow night. The Av’s have ALWAYS been strong contenders, and before you start spouting off ignorance, make sure you are looking at the big picture. Stanley Cup wins - Av’s-2, Wild-0
Nummy was out a good portion of this season. And JL expressed unhappiness with Hill as well. Another D was really in order. And a Center.
As for those who are complaining about Gabby not scoring..that is because 90 percent of the focus is on Gabby and noone is paying attention to Fedoruk. He is looked at as merely a bruiser not as a scorer.
When you look back last year to the Ducks..and the fact they only had one bonified scorer in Selanne…he scored some..but mostly it was others like Palsson etc who helped them win. This is the phenomenon that we are dealing with. And that is where the goals should come from.
Our D should be making room for Gabby. That would be a start. But right now..they are working overtime and they cannot handle this load. Then again, Gabby should be making some for himself..and he really struggles with this. He did last season vs the Ducks..and although there is some Talented D on the Avs..they are hadly what the Ducks had. This is something the Wild need to work on with Gabby.
Established teams moving to MN = 0
Established teams moving to CO = 1
300 minutes of hockey and the wild have been in the lead for less than 5, wining two games on fluke goals.
PMB’s OT goal was not a fluke! The play that let to MN gaining control of the puck was a fluke but the goal itself was not.
After game 3 the Avs had led the series 295 minutes and won 1 game on a fluke goal.
Truth is, the Wild have come from behind to tie the game 3 times. I don’t think any of us would have thought they’d do that.
Indeed you will young one…aka Kirk 
!
Cups in VAN after 30 plus years = 0
Certainly I don’t expect them to score 5-6 goals every night, but they NEED to start scoring more.
slept thru math class i see.
if they wild score more, like you say they need to, then they are scoring 5 - 6 goals a game. seeing the have 2, 3 and 3 not counting last night which was an abortion.
it ain’t that hard to figure out kid.
unless you mean one more goal a game but then that is splitting some mighty fine hairs if you ask me.
oh and scoring more and scoring in the 1st 2 periods are two different things
Ok, listen up all you Sallys!
This is playoff hockey. This is how playoff hockey games are played. Always have been. If this is new to you, fine. Perhaps you can learn a bit about the game. If you’re having a hard time understanding why the Wild “lost composure,” displayed “crude violence,” “showed lack of maturity,” “gooned it up,” etc., etc., etc., perhaps you could ask one of the players why that happened.
In fact, why don’t we look at what Colorado Avalanche players had to say:
“That’s hockey,” Avs forward Ryan Smyth reasoned. “I mean, I’ve been on the other end of the scale before, behind down and you just want to try to carry some momentum into the next game.”
“When you get up four goals, five goals, it’s just going to happen,” said Forsberg. “If we were down, probably the same thing would happen.
Now, get behind you’re team for Game 5, and FIGHT TO THE END!
it was obvious to everyone but DR that we needed a center and a d-man
center, maybe
d-man, no way. we had 8 serviceable d-men at the time. no reason to overpay at deadline. our top 4 or 5 are pretty strong. that leave 3 or 4 for 1 or two spots. good position to be in. no one expects to lose two at the same time.
BFW is right on.
watch some of the classic series on nhl network. games like last night happen and in everyone play gets rough.
reason is when playoff games are close, you can’t afford to send messages or teach lessons. when you get up of down by 3 or 4, that is when class is in session.
Thanks Adam. Are there any Stars fans out there that would like to gloat about the ‘99 Cup?
Peter Forsberg has been with the Av’s through two Stanley Cup winning seasons and is still a great contender. They took him out because it was clear that we were winning, NFL teams do that as well.
Ok, I’ll bite. Why then were Sakic, Brunette, Stasny and Hejduk ALL still seeing a regular shift? Oh, that’s right, it’s not the NFL and all players finish out the game, regardless of the score.
docjen,
the talk on floppy was just trash talk..we have guys on our team older than him..i would agree with you about vellieux’s hit but your guys have done that too - including leaving their feet to hit, elbowing etc, so don’t try to play the roll of saint. Plus our boys, even SRV will fight, your tough guys hide behind the ref’s skirt .
Fact is we came out flat and you jumped us, you did the right thing. Tomorrow’s another day. you won convincingly last night which means nothing for the next game.
that is when class is in session.
I love it! Instant classic.
For those bitching about the “goonery” just remember what Floppa said in the game story: “On the Wild’s aggression, Peter Forsberg, who didn’t play for most of the third period, said, “That’s kind of what happens when you get down five goals or four goals. If we were down, it would probably happen the same way.”
It’s a fact of hockey. There is no “shame” in it. If it’s too much for you, go play badminton.
ATW, totally agree. In fact, our two posts must have crossed on the web. Since yours was first, wanted give credit where credit was due.
…slappy needs to challenged, the man skates around taking runs at the Wild’s skilled players and won’t fight the big guys.
He has been challenged. He won’t fight anyone. The only way he’s going to fight is if someone takes an instigator. He didn’t even drop his gloves to fight Gaborik. Just punched him with them on.
The NHL is being overrun with players that do that. Get rid of the instigator rule and you’ll get rid of the borderline cheapshots that happen every game which pose a much greater potential for serious injury than two guys going at it bare knuckled.
kj,
I have a Russoville Housband request.
You out there?
Housband = Houseband.
If Radio can go tomorrow, he is in for Voros. If not, I think we’ll see Foy-boy.
We will not see Reitz in for Hill. If we were ahead in the series after sheeting the bed like that, maybe. Not a chance with the series tied. If this goes 7, I would not be surprised to see Schultzie in for Hill in #7.
Wow. I’m late! Good stuff. Here are my thoughts on the series so far:
Refs: I think the refs started this mess with all the non-calls from Monday night. This team cannot expect breaks obviously, but the refs need to call the game evenly on both sides. There have been some very serious missed calls. And that angers people, especially the players on the ice.
I think that contributed to the series getting out of control so soon.
Wild Confidence: The team really blew it last night. No passion. No confidence. It didn’t appear to me they were prepared at all to play. And that is unacceptable. This is playoff hockey. That issue needs to be addressed immediately.
Team Defense: Hahaha…what defense? The D was awful. Man, I could score a damn goal on Skoula! And Yawnson - I’m sorry but does this guy EVER hit ANYBODY? Dude, Sakic is old and Forsberg IS washed up. We need to be taking the body to these guys every chance we have. WTF! The Wild lost this game themselves. Voros looked bad last night. Velliuex looked bad. There was no one to pick up a rebound or garbage goal. I saw lots of opportunities just floating around the net.
The Chippiness: I love it. That’s right. Getting chippy without taking stupid penalties if good for this team.
They seem to respond better playing with an attitude. I like to see the big guys stand up for our goal scorers, but guys like Gabby and Butch and Mik also have to defend themselves. PLEASE don’t stand there and get face-washed or punched like a girl. Take a page out of Shep or Burn’s book and STEP UP. Those two kids always hold their own. I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow night. It is going to be another emotional roller coaster I know, but I’m in it until the end. This team better come out looking for a fight. I’m angry already!
Saw this on one of my forums, totally agreeing with it:
The game got way the hell out of control. Part of that MUST go on the refs, who have the job of keeping the peace. The way that misconducts/warnings SHOULD have been assessed in order to keep some semblance of control:
2nd period (Score 3-0 Avs) 03:22 Ben Guite : Boarding - 2 min This one was retaliatory for a hit thrown seconds earlier. If it were a Wild player hitting Floppy, it would have been a 3 minute stoppage while Forsberg sold it like a champion, followed by a major penalty and a 10 minute misconduct. Rewatching the game, this appears to be where most of the problems started, if I were to pick a single point. Guite, it should be noted, is the same player who blatantly slashed Backstrom in game 3 as Backstrom played a puck behind the net. Still 3-0 the game wasn’t exactly out of reach at this point, but a warning to each bench may have helped calm things down.
2nd Period (score 4-0 Avs) 08:24 Derek Boogaard : Roughing - 2 min Boogaard received a 10 minute misconduct for slapping the puck down the length of the ice (into emptiness, and in fairness, a Boogaard shot cannot be that imposing, given his numbers) and for elbowing Jones in the face, best as I can tell unprovoked. Much as I love Boogie, the Refs should have seen things getting out of line, recognized that Boogaard would continue to get frustrated because there isn’t a player on the Avs willing to fight him, and just given him a game misconduct to prevent any further frustrated aggression from him.
2nd Period (Score 4-0 Avs) 12:35 Veilleux and Belanger 6 minutes combined for a pair of roughings and a cross-check, 2 minutes to McLeod for roughing Belanger dodged a hit as he came out of his zone, got rid of the puck, and took another hit from the same player at about center ice. I believe it was Arnason who was going after Belanger, but given the point in the game, that should have been a 10 minute misconduct for offering the two hits and then taking part in the festivities afterwards (before being dragged down and pinned by a ref). Not receiving any penalties on that play was and is a joke, and may have been what set off Veilleux.
3rd period (Score 5-1 Avs) 05:33 Stephane Veilleux : Boarding - 2 min A simply dirty hit that could have taken out one of Colorado’s young stars. An inexcusable play that should have been a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. If it was getting out of hand before, this is really when both sides just let loose with no pretensions of actually playing hockey.
3rd period (Score 5-1 Avs) 08:25 Adam Foote : Interference - 2 min On a play that also saw 3 minors for roughing, and a trio of 10 minute misconducts, the refs somehow decided that starting the melee by throwing Marian Gaborik face/body first into the goal from behind didn’t deserve a 10 minute misconduct for Foote who also took part in the after-whistle scrum. Even more astounding is that no misconduct was assessed when Foote’s skate towards Burns (away from his own bench) after the horn at the end of the 2nd is taken into account.
Including the fight that happened 5 seconds afterwards (in which Laperierre courageously protected his teammates by going after the smallest guy on the ice while ignoring the larger Voros who clearly wanted a piece as well), the Wild received 3 penalties for 9 minutes as well as 3 misconducts (Boogaard, Johnsson and Voros) while the Avs received 3 penalties for 9 minutes and a single misconduct. Moral of this 5 seconds of clock-time? Hit the opposing team’s star player into the net from behind, and watch as your team receives 20 minutes less penalty time.
I feel as if I need to reiterate that I’m not in any way, shape or form blaming the refs for the Wild loss… the atrocious first 20 minutes buried the team further than any referee incompetence could have. I’m blaming the refs for the roughly 35 minutes that followed, in which it is nothing short of miraculous that nobody got injured due to their inability to retain control.
Being a Wild fan, my question is: With all the whining about LaPeirri-scared not fighting anyone bigger than a third grader and a game like last nights being the perfect time to teach lessons, why didn’t Boogey or Simon disregard the instagator rule and drill the little biotch? If they say he isn’t being respectful of the code, why be respectful of him?
Minute Munching Marty - Hilarious.
Excellent question, Goofy014. I hadn’t thought of that.
If this goes 7, I would not be surprised to see Schultzie in for Hill in #7.
Keeping fingers crossed here - get well soon #55!
My View of the Ref’s and loss:
1) The first three goals were TOTALLY our fault. Not the Ref’s! You can’t blame the ref’s for that. THEN…
2) After the three goals, that when i start blaming the Ref’s. They had inconsistant calls. It’s their fault that they “choose” to only see our faults, not the Avs. They need to watch both teams. Not only the Wild. Do we need to assign a ref for every player?
In the end, if we would have been on our game from minute 1, it would have had a totally different outcome.
Your opinions matter! GO WILD! Step-up up the “Gooning” tomorrow!
bfw…I am here…but stuck in meetings all day.
We take all requests…as long as it isn’t Survivior… 
Also…4:30…tomorrow…Tom Reids…I need to know who’s gonna be there so I can get a table that is big enough…
VoR, the only thing I disagree with is Lappy not wanting Voros and going after SRV. SRV did the deed and needed to be the one fighting and Lappy was the one to challenge him. It’s like when May had to answer to Boogaard when the teams met for the first time this season. May did the deed and had to answer for it.
I don’t think anyone is blaming the refs for the loss. Many Avs fans seem to think this is the case. The blame rests squarely with the Wild and the horrible first period. That said, both games 3 and 4 were subject to some atrocious officiating. I am sorry, but simply touching another player with a stick or hand (without any hooking, holding, slashing, or spearing motion) is not a penalty. On the other hand, there has been a blatant hook on Rolston (game 3), trip on Nummelin (game 1 or 2), and holding by Forsberg whenever he falls down (a lot). Generally, not a problem if its being done to both teams, but in this case certainly seems like it is one sided. Wild have overcome much of this in achieving a 2-2 series tie at this point, and simply need to ignore it and play good hockey down the stretch. Unfortunately, as a fan watching the game, crappy officiating sticks out.
bfw, the sentiment of your 12:32 post I agree with completely. It absolutely is to be expected in the playoffs, as we saw with the Ducks last year. As Smyth and Floppa noted, you do some of that stuff to get momentum or maybe to get in the opponent’s head for the next game. That’s fine (though Boogard’s tantrum is still a mystery since it can’t possibly accomplish any of that). Sorry, but I still cannot get exerciseed in the least about the refs last night. I think the PIM disparity was, by and large, self-inflicted.
My own view of last night’s game was that it appears it was more difficult for our d-men to recover from the previous night than for the Avs players. Almost all of them looked like they had cement boots on. Because of that we fell behind early and things got out of hand.
I still think these are two very evenly-matched teams and that this is anyone’s series. I thought that yesterday morning as much as I did this morning. All the plans yesterday for celebrating the clincher tomorrow night (exaggeration, of course) were way to premature.
If they say he isn’t being respectful of the code, why be respectful of him?
Because by breaking the code, they are sinking to the level of the offenders. You also lose all your moral capital.
Also, agreeing on the refs. They are not to blame, the first period is to blame, but the refs were just horseshat after the first, and they lost their chance to calm the game down.
Should we allow video review of penalty calls? That would probably never happen because then the game would last an incredibly long time. However, I feel that video review of scrums would be a good thing. Right now, to my knowledge, the penalties are handed out by what each ref saw and what they remember.
Good bit of fun from the Slapshot bloggers today….
Millions of hockey fans around the world awoke grumpy this morning. With both Washington and Minnesota losing, their hopes of a Stanley Cup Final which features Nicklas Backstrom facing Nicklas Backstrom suffered a severe blow. The Caps now trail the Flyers two games to one. The Wild are now tied with Colorado two games each. In their repsective losses, Nicklas Backstrom played over 24 minutes and scored no points and Nicklas Backstrom was pulled after the second period having allowed five goals on 29 shots. Both will have to step it up to make this dream a reality. Let’s Go Backstroms!
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/the-morning-skate-off-with-their-heads/
This “moral capital” you speak of, VoR? What the heck is that? Can we trade it in for goals or wins? If not, what’s it worth?
I COULDNT FIND BLOUIN OUT THERE LAST NIGHT? ANYBODY SEE ‘EM?
Hockeydad, I had also sent out that warning, too many people worrying who we wanted to play next or who’s name goes on the Cup! Get through the 1st round and then let’s worry about the next opponent.
Hang on everybody, no one said this was going to be easy!
Don’t think I’ll be able to make it on Thursday kj, say hi to the missus for me and enjoy the game (unless Mike or one of his alter-egos say they’ll make it, then I’ll be there)!
So if everyone is saying that SRV had to answer for running Stasny, why didn’t Gute have to answer for hacking Backs behind the net in game 3 and running Shep last night. IMHO, he should have had to answer for running Shep at the very least.
We lost to the Ducks last year, but at least we held on to our “moral capital”.
II believe some penalty’s should be reviewed and should be up the the ummm… let’s say video guy to say which ones.
I love Tom Reid’s.
And to add to BNG’s question, why hasn’t Laperiere and McCloud had to answer for the continual running of Gabby, PMB and Shep going back to the regular season?
We have the sack to answer. They don’t.
This “moral capital” you speak of, VoR? What the heck is that? Can we trade it in for goals or wins? If not, what’s it worth?
Ten drams of moral capital is worth 1 token, each token’s cash value is 1/100 of a cent. But people knowing you’re not taking cheap shots means that when you need to lay down the law that others will listen.
I COULDNT FIND BLOUIN OUT THERE LAST NIGHT? ANYBODY SEE ‘EM?
Judging by your name, I’m guessing you’re Maxim Sushinsky. How’s life back in the Motherland? Have you gotten a huge contract offer to come back to the NHL yet? Oh, and say hi to Roman Voloshenko when you see him!
Just got back from working out and had some time to clear the melon after last night’s game. Reading the comments it seems as though the Wild is indeed done and should just fold up shop. Going into the 2 games in Denver, I’m sure most of us were making deals with the All-Mighty that the Wild could “please, just get one of these two games”. They did. This team can’t win if it doesn’t score goals in the first two periods…oh wait, it has twice. Well, this team certainly cannot win unless Gabby gets on the scoresheet. Oh wait, it has twice. It took a total collapse of the D-corps last night to produce the result it did. But, and I’d have to check with the League on this, the Avs only got credit for one win last night and the series is still 2-2 with 2 of the next 3 at the “X”. In the playoffs you have to have a closer in baseball mentality. Give up a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth one night to lose, f*ck it, you may be back in the game the next night with the bases loaded in the ninth trying to hold a 1-run lead. Same thing with the Wild. Last night was bad but the team accomplished what it needed in Denver, IT GOT A WIN. Now they have the chance to right the ship tomorrow night in front of what will most likely be an insane crowd. So buck up people, last night is gone and tomorrow the team has a great chance to grab control of the series again. This has not been some kool-aid driven diatribe; this is simply the reality of playoff hockey. One bad game does not a series make; it’s a best-of-7, not a best-of-1.
Thanks for the conversion rate, VoR, but we’ve been trying to lay down the law. I don’t see the Avs doing much listening.
I read or skimmed most of these, but I, as a fan of neither team involved in this particular game, agree with Kirk’s post that after Colorado went up 3-0, the refs seemed to pick out each borderline call against the Wild but few if any against the Avs. It didn’t give Minnesota a chance of getting back into it. I won’t rehash the “shouldn’t have gotten down 3-0″ which has been played, just saying what I thought of the refs in the second and third periods.
KJ, here’s my request for the House Band(everyone else, you’re welcome to sing along):
Guess who just got back today?
Them Wild-eyed boys that had been away
Haven’t changed, haven’t much to say
But man, I still think them cats are crazy
They were asking if Wild Fans were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told them you were living downtown
Driving all the Av Fans crazy
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
I said
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
Thursday night they’ll be dressed to kill
Down at Iron Range bar and grill
The drink will flow and blood will spill
And if the boys want to fight, you’d better let ‘em!
That jukebox in the corner blasting out my favorite song
The nights are getting warmer, it won’t be long
Won’t be long till Lord Stanley comes
Now that the boys are here again
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
Spread the word around
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boy’s are back, the boys are back
Nice pull and adaptation, bfw. Classic Thin Lizzy!
Thanks for the conversion rate, VoR, but we’ve been trying to lay down the law. I don’t see the Avs doing much listening.
That part was half in jest. The point is that if Boogie breaks the code, then why should another enforcer still respect the code with Boogaard? If not, then you get a devolution of any sense of code or honor in the game.
This series is tied after four games. Each team has split on their home ice.
Seems to me that’s pretty fair considering how tight the division/conference/league is right now.
…We now return you to your regularly scheduled hair splitting…
Nice pull, indeed, bfw - love when they play that at the X after a long road trip.
Agree to disagree, VoR. The Avs don’t have a true enforcer. They’re just a bunch of agitators with no respect for The Code that is observed by true enforcers. I just don’t think we should handcuff ourselves with a Code when they’ve thrown it out the window. I’m not advocating cheap shots, so don’t misunderstand. I’m just agreeing with Goofy that we should take the instigator if the opportunity to presents itself again and make someone on the Avs answer for the things they do the way SRV took it like a man for running Stastny. The Avs do that stuff and then don’t expect to have to pay for it. That’s not observing The Code.
VoR - I understand, but everyone knows that Boogie respects the code. The issue is he is dealing with 2 players that obviously don’t respect the and thus should be handled differently
Dave, DB:
Thanks. I was thinkin’ “Tom Reid’s bar and Grill,” but went with Iron Range. Take your pick.
You guys should lobby kj and his band to play that version….LOVE that song!
Eh, call me a latte drinking fruitcake if it makes you feel better, but the way you show respect for those who respect noone is a greater indication of your character than anything, IMO.
Voice of Reason
Great post…right on.
If the referees would have shown some nads and really taken control, this would have been avoided. Additionally, to let the Laperrieres, mcleods and Footes play chippy without retribution or punishment leads to this kind of thing. Always has, always will.
God, I love hockey!
Hmmm, it’s funny that if a ref were to call one team tight because he feels they are a ‘chippy’ or ‘dirty’ team that he in effect creates a self fulfilling prophesy. A ref doing this to try to avoid losing control of a game actually makes it easier to lose control of the game. A team which gets called for ticky tack stuff while the other team goes unpunished is going to get frustrated. Getting frustrated will lead to more chippy play which will lead to more penalties which will lead to more frustration. Round and round it goes until the game ends 111 penalty minutes later. We’ve seen it in the NHL before. We’ve seen it in college hockey before. I’ve seen my teammates do it, I’ve done it.
I’m guessing the NHL refs have never really thought that hard about it.
OK OK OK I get the whole hockey is a tough game bit, I get that the Av’s commented professionaly after the game admitting they would do the same thing, but on some other message boards, (not so much this one) all I hear is Wild fans whining and crying foul. I think if you look, also, at the penalty minutes, you will see that they were excessive. It really took away from the game.
As far as established teams moving to MN=0 to CO=1? Get over it! That was 13 years ago, I think the Av’s have proven themselves year after year. People have run that excuse in the ground.
Good hockey is just that, Good hockey. Obviously our Mile High air was good enough to assist our “old, out of shape” players to not just win by 1 in overtime, but to outright dominate the game.
I’m very much looking forward to the Av’s winning tomorrow night, but if by chance they don’t you won’t see me whining. Good Luck to you MN Hockey Fans!
And again, VoR, I have to ask: what does character count for? It could be argued that we had character last year and the Ducks didn’t. If they start awarding some sort of a trophy for having the most character and the most “moral capital”, maybe we’d get it. They don’t.
“As far as established teams moving to MN=0 to CO=1? Get over it! That was 13 years ago, I think the Av’s have proven themselves year after year. People have run that excuse in the ground.”
You are proving the point for us. 13 years in Colorado… plus all those years in Quebec. That adds up to a hell of a lot more than 8 years in Minnesota. You had the building blocks already, and we had nothing. It’s pretty cut-and-dry there. No arguing that point.
The series has been good. Last game was not an indication of the great hockey played by both squads so far. Things should cool back down in the game tomorrow.
The Lady Byng
Good one, Deep.
docnjen, clearly you haven’t read Dr. Rosenrosen’s paper regarding his research for the hockey gene. It’s quite fascinating. It talks about how some people have a gene that influences their enjoyment of or distaste for hockey. The gene also gives those who have it a propensity to complain loudly about the most recent game. This Dr. Rosenrosen is careful to point out that those without the gene can enjoy hockey, but they typically tend to not go insane over it like those with the gene are wont to do.
I KNOW DARBY HENDRICKSON.
docnjen, not sure if you saw it, but that comment about established teams moving to CO was in response to a ridiculous comment made by an Avs fan suggesting, I guess, that the Avs are somehow a better organization because they have 2 cups. When your comparing yourself to a team who’s first year of existence was the year of the last cup (or was it the year prior?), sorta rings hollow doesn’t it?
A Blackhawks fan might as well brag to us that his team has more cups than the Wild.
Max, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about lipstick, would you?
Re: Joe Satriani’s “Crowd Chant”…
(The goal song for half the league(and some football teams))
I despise that song.
I didn’t like it when it came out, but I have been ‘giving it a chance’ for like 2 yrs now.
Its horrible, and there are just so many better tunes to play.
Thriller, or Rock and Roll part 2 would be great - but those songs are both by child molesters which sort of takes away from the whole family vibe at the X…
I’ve always liked Immigrant Song and When the Levee Breaks.
Maybe Leipold fires D&D for proper hockey announcers -I’d love to see Kurtz and Reid do TV, but that probably ain’t happenin-, and commissions a real goal song unique to just the Wild.
If you know Darby, tell him to take 8 bucks and get himself a new haircut. Looks like somebody started his head on fire and put it out with a car accident.
I have to ask: what does character count for?
What’s to stop someone from saying “Boogaard doesn’t care for the code, so I’m going to break his leg with a baseball swing with my stick”? You know why guys like Holloweg get cross-checked in the face? Why Ruuttu and Kesler get stomped on? Why Matt Cooke is one hit away from eating through a straw for the rest of his life? Because they don’t respect the code. I just think that when you ignore the code, you sink to that level, and next thing you know you have a rep as a dirty player, even compared to the other dirty players.
If Boogie doesn’t intend to fight fair, why should Georges Laraques fight him fair? What goes around comes around. Karma.
As for what we have now, hit Laderrier and Guite with hard, clean checks, and beat them on the scoreboard.
Total lack of discipline after the game got out of reach. Was an opportune time to set the record straight with Mccloud and Ladouchbag. I was not as embarrassed as I would have been as a Duck fan when the Wild took over game 4 last year. That was just plain….gross.
We could probably argue this for hours, VoR. Just agree with me that you’re wrong, and we can move forward.
Kidding.
hockeydad, docnjen certainly saw the comment since it was his(hers?)
Dave, ok, I agree you’re wrong
:p
Touche, VoR. Touche.
If you know Darby, tell him to take 8 bucks and get himself a new haircut. Looks like somebody started his head on fire and put it out with a car accident
SOMEBODY SHOULD TAKE ‘EM OUT BACK TO “CUT-THE-MULLET” OR GROW IT. DO SOMETHING. IT ONLY LOOKS GOOD WITH MAROON AND GOLD ZUBUZ AND A PINK SYNTHETIC HAT, OR WHEN HE’S ON A LINE WITH SLY AND MAX, JUST LIKE THE GOOD ‘OL DAYS!!! (ORIGINAL MEMBERS RAISE UP!!)
AND WHERE WAS LUBO LAST NIGHT WHEN WE NEEDED HIM. HE WOULDA’ BEEN A GOOD FIT.
I COULDNT FIND BLOUIN OUT THERE LAST NIGHT? ANYBODY SEE ‘EM?
Judging by your name, I’m guessing you’re Maxim Sushinsky. How’s life back in the Motherland? Have you gotten a huge contract offer to come back to the NHL yet? Oh, and say hi to Roman Voloshenko when you see him!
Recently had lunch w/Tommy Thompson, and he had a few updates on some under-the-radar transactions:
Minnesota re-obtained the rights to Sylain Blouin after he finished the ‘03-’04 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, (reportedly for a used skate sharpener and bag of pucks).
He is currently under loan to Quebec RadioX (http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=14111) of the LNAH (http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:K2b1yVk7MccJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligue_Nord-Am%C3%A9ricaine_de_Hockey+lnah&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us), where he put together an astonishing ‘07-’08 season (5-3-3-6-6). It is not clear if Blouin will be eligible to be called up for game #5.
Sushinsky had a career-year with St. Petersburg of the Russian Hockey League (56-22-31-53-65). When asked if he had any interest in returning to the NHL to help the Wild in this years SCP, Sushinsky, a free agent, replied: “Чемпионат России по хоккею с шайбой”
When asked about Voloshenko, Thompson simply stated, “Never heard of ‘im.”
i will be at reid’s with my old man
foreskin,sacitch,jose queervo will be golfing on monday. WILD IN 6!!!!!
Max, please stop screaming.
docnjen, you might whine if you lost and someone took a run at Sakic and knocked him out of the series.
Don’t think it would ever happen (unless it was Voros) because Sakic has been a class act and above all of the chippy stuff so far from what I can tell.
Austin, he’s in Russia, maybe he thinks he has to yell from there so we can hear him!
Austin how are the Wildcatters doing? They make me use the caps ON at work, lo siento, now go get me a juice box!!
haha, nice El Gato. Max, I honestly don’t know much about the TX teams. We have the Ice Bats here in Austin, but I have not had the opprotunity to see a game yet. No juice boxes here, just some good old fashioned Kool-Aid!
- Max - do you still owe DR/the Wild $100k?
- ATX and HD - Thanks for making sure my point to the Avs fan wasn’t lost on him.
Adam, it is a fair point indeed. Very black and white IMO. No middle ground on that one.
When are we going to get an update from Russo? I would bet that JL will have them practicing today.
Hey Bandgeek,
You need to remember that cake eaten for medicinal purposes does not cause negative results.
Almost forgot -> The cake is a lie.
My 2 cents on last night. I’m starting to think that the Wild need to have a collapse in order to have a chance at winning the series. If it isn’t difficult and hard to do, it isn’t worth doing. We’ve managed to win without our top scorer, our 2 top d-men and other assorted players out, plus the refs don’t like us. So obviously we needed a horrible game to kick us in pants. The hockey gods demanded a sacrifice and this was it.
4:30 practice today, pushed back from 1 pm. 10 am skate tomorrow
sunshine, from the Don above.
Practice isn’t til 4:30 Wednesday, so expect a very late blog update.
IF YOU WATCH LAST NIGHTS GAME BACKWARDS TO PINK FLOYD YOU WILL SEE MARTY SKOULA RUNNIN’ AROUND IN THE BACKGROUND.
Docnjen
what other blogs/message boards are you referring too? seriously, i’d like to see it for myself, well except for that piece of shat Dater’s blog
Green*
Clearly you and I disagree on the current goal scoring of the Wild.
So we disagree, fine, each is awarded their own opinion.
However your most recent posts towards me have been rude and disrespectful.
Grow up.
Look at what happened when we lost to Calgary and the Oilers. We came back, beat the Oilers, Vancouver, Avs, and Calgary to take the NW Division Title.
However, I don’t know how long they can do this. It will eventually catch up to them. They need to play almost perfect in the next two games.
Gabby needs to figure out how to break free and score or make all of his scoring chances count. I liked him with Koivu and Fedoruk. Demo with Rolston and PMB was not a bad line either.
Hockeydad you are right, we shouldn’t count the first cup they won then. Does that make us any less of a team because they moved them from Canada to Colorado? WOW that’s a new one. The point I was trying to make was that the Av’s are a great, talented team. Foreskin and sacitch? So very clever, but so very immature. Would I whine if someone took out a player of the Av’s for the season, I’d be mad yes, but whining? No, I save that for my 7 y/o. I don’t like the Wild, Vikings, Twins etc., never will, but I do like being able to give my opinion and having optimism that the Av’s will take it, but we shall see. People of Minnesota can make all the excuses they want, but the fact is if CO wins it, they out-played and out-scored and vise versa.
deep, read your missive, and am at a loss..I’ve read all the comments and I didn’t see one regular, non troll saying we can’t win the series..bad game all around for us..i hope inconsistent Wild has just made it’s only cameo appearance in the playoffs.
Russo,
What was the bench minor that Rolston served? Came out of comercial break ready to drop the puck then it all went on hold and Simon went back to the bench and cut to a shot of Rolston in the box. It seemed the team was even unaware of penalty.
Two observations:
When Forsberg speaks, I imagine him sounding like the Sweedish Chef from the ‘Muppet Show’ and Kotex McLeod, Jimmy Durante called, he wants his nose back!
Like JL said prior to the NW Division title game against the Flames, its on the other side of the door. If they want it, they just need to open that door and seize it.
Do they want to go to the next round? Do they believe they can? They need to seize it.
TRIVIA. WHO AM I?
“HI, I’M ANTHONY LAPANTA…”
*******DISCLAIMER*******
Public figures used in 2:34pm Build From Within post are portrayed for satirical purposes only. All other characters are fictional. Any use of real names is coincidental and purely unintentional. Any similarities to actual persons is also pure coincidence, and not our intent. We cannot emphasize enough how coincidental our fictional entities are to any real life individual, entity, or character.
docnjen, we don’t mind having you here, there’s a dude named Alan from Vancouver we don’t mind either..but some of your fellow coloradoans were ugly little trolls here last night and I can virtually guarantee you that if the rolls were reversed, none of our regular posters would have gone tollish on Avs blogs.
And I agree with your assessment on who/what will win the series.
Oh and to whomever it was that doesn’t like Satriani,I’ll cut you with his ax!
docnjen, I hope you keep posting here and you won’t see name calling from most of the regulars. However, lets see if you can find differences in the first Avs roster v. the first Wild roster:
1995/96 Avs
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0006901996.html
2000/01 Wild
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0023312001.html
d-man, no way. we had 8 serviceable d-men at the time. no reason to overpay at deadline. our top 4 or 5 are pretty strong.
OK, not responding just to G* here, as several have said something similar. I would have liked to see the Wild add another D at the deadline. Bryce Salvador was pretty much given away to the Devils, and the Avs picked up Salei, who has been pretty good in this series, for pretty cheap too. I can’t believe there weren’t other deals to be had if enough bushes were beaten.
True, nobody could have foreseen that they’d be missing both Shultz and Foster, but let’s be honest about these “8 servicable d-men”. Before the injuries, they were really only 5 deep, and I wouldn’t really describe Skoula and Foster as *strong*. Burns and Shultz are strong, and Johnsson is pretty good. Now they’re 3 deep and hoping they can hang on long enough to get Shultz back.
I like a tall glass of Kool Aide now and then, but the blueline has not been the Wild’s strong suit this season. Not every deadline deal requires breaking the bank, either. The point is moot now, but I just don’t agree that the blueline roster looked just fine on deal day.
seems like some nerves are a bit frayed here today…
phil, that was Mike in blog disguise under 3 or 4 different names. Mike isn’t with us right now as he is currently taking the MMPI with his alter-egos. Each personality gets to answer 20 questions. I think Dave’s a Killer is getting the question ‘I would like to be a nurse’ and the answer will be yes.
IF YOU WATCH LAST NIGHTS GAME BACKWARDS TO PINK FLOYD YOU WILL SEE MARTY SKOULA RUNNIN’ AROUND IN THE BACKGROUND.
Heh, that’s kinda funny, but how about getting off the cap locks?
well, not the same vibe at least.
Buck up little campers!
el gato LOL!
toivo, agree 100%, Vandermeer was also picked up by Calgary for a 3rd rounder and is on the 1st pairing with Phaneuf. Philly dealt him after they got Modry from the Kings.
And ditto to HD @ 1:31 pm
I think adding another D at the deadline would have been great but we needed a center more than anything at that time. Most of us were banking on a center.
There was talk that while Hill and Nummy were serviceable, JL didn’t complete trust them.
thanks toivo…JL has shown zero faith in hill and carney all year, and nummy seems unable to play long stretches at the NHL level, so that’s really five solid d-man, two of whom (skoula and foster) can be complete crap for stretches…yeah, we coulda used some more depth back there all season. why should i “cut that crap out” if our poor play at the back causes us a first round loss?
i said i think we can take the avs, but i just can’t see this team going any further unless some of these jokers (gabby, demitra, pmb, etc.) start getting their act together…that’s a fact, sorry if you don’t like it…
is the Don gonna update us today?
docnjen - missed that you were the one to point out the difference in the number of cups the Avs have vs the Wild, so sorry for that.
Your original post was just fine right up until the last sentence. Barring something totally bizarre, of course, if the Avs win the series they will have deserved it. I for one certainly agree that they’re a formidable opponent – I have been saying for days around here that these two teams are very evenly matched. You just lost me (and some others here) when you made the absurd Cup comparisons as it has absolutely nothing to do with the here and now and, more importantly I think, the point you were trying to make.
For the sake of discussion, let’s take this trade for a D man this a step further. Here are the two deals the Avs made and the Salvador trade as well. What could the Wild have done to make competitive bids:
- Ruslan Salei D Traded, for Karlis Skrastins & 2008 3rd-rd pick
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired a first round and a conditional fourth round Entry Draft pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Adam Foote
- Bryce Salvador D Traded, for Cam Janssen
Note: As far as I can tell, Skrastins is Hill from 5 years ago minus the goal scoring and Janssen is a young fighter.
phil, check Goody’s post from 2:59
seems like some nerves are a bit frayed here today…
Old Habits Reappear
Fighting the Fear of Fear
Growing Conspiracy
Everyone’s after Me
Frayed Ends of Sanity
Hear Them Calling
Hear Them Calling Me
FOOD!
Adam, the premise underlying your question is a little unfair unless you knew Foster and Schultz would go down. I don’t think we would have had an issue with tired d-men playing back-to-backs if our top 5 were Burns, Johnsson, Schultz, Foster and Skoula.
Wow, you all seriously need lives.
AVs in 6 (on home ice).
WOW do u need a life if u actually think the old farts can win in 6! thursday and saturday will show u why u need young legs in a series like this!! WILD IN 6 Go-Avs must be dreaming
thursday: WILD 4, AVs 1, gabby will have a hat trick.
saturday: WILD 1, AVs 0, backstrom gets a shutout
wild in 6,wild in 6,wild in 6,wild in 6, w i l d i n 6. DO U HEAR ME NOW!!!!
Phil, thank you for your kindness, but I have been reviewing the Denver Post message boards as well. Trust me, the Minnesotans using that board to vent their excuses are rude and sound very ignorant. I have never seen so much deflection! In these people’s minds, if they insult and generalize about Coloradans, then we all won’t realize that the Av’s kicked butt last night. Hockeydad, the cup comparisons was to say obviously the Av’s are a good team and have worked together for many years. To the individual that made the comment about the “old farts”. My son and I just got done reviewing the rosters for both teams, who both have their share of players over 30. Please stop basing your opinion on your opponent based on their age and base it on their skill! Competition is fun and like hockeydad said, these teams are evenly matched, don’t turn it into insults and ignorance. You all should check out the Denver Post board, you wouldn’t want to admit you are from MN after reading their rants HAHA.
I’m an Avs Fan. There was no “goonage” or anything remotely like it last night, or even in this series. These two teams are very competitive and proud, as any Stanley Cup Playoff Team should be in the NHL. I’ve seen much worse, as far as things that could actually been considered Thug-worthy, for example last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmMgUZBusHs
At the end of the day, some people have more composer than other’s and it is never fun losing badly. This is and has been a great series!!! Kiszla was just shaking beehive’s…and it worked. May the best team Win!!
Goodys Day?
8am; Duuuuuh
10am;Duuuuh
1pm; Duuuuh
5pm; Snooooore
He’s a clever fella but not too bright!!
[…] Kiszla with his pom-poms. But any bashing of the "Betty" column pretty much ends when the venerable Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune endorses it, thanks to his home team’s […]
