Russo’s Rants » Blog Archive » Wild vs. Jackets, exhibition opener

Wild vs. Jackets, exhibition opener

Posted on September 24th, 2008 – 6:35 PM
By Michael Russo

Wild playing 12 NHL regulars tonight. Wild believes Jackets look to be under the minimum, although nobody’s really complaining. You’re supposed to play at least eight NHLers who played at least 40 games last season or 100 NHL games, or are a first-round pick.

I’ll be on throughout the game to give you scoring updates, etc. because I’m not really writing a traditional gamer for tomorrow’s paper. Hey, it’s exhibition.

Marian Gaborik’s sitting up in the press box with his brother, Wild scout Branislav Gaborik.

Jan Hejda hooks Andrew Brunette 3:14 in. Lone scoring chance so far, Antti Miettinen robbed at the doorstep after he couldn’t pull the trigger fast enough.

Good action so far, Wild 5-0 on shots.

6:30 in, Backstrom stone cold robbed Maxim Mayorov on an open net goal with a sprawl.

Erik Reitz just fought Derek Dorsett. Draw.

1-0 Wild 4:37 left in first. Kim Johnsson drives the net down the left side, wheels around the defender, center Blair Yaworski, and scores.

Intermission, Wild outshot Jackets 17-7.

FYI, looks like some of the young guys are getting cut as we speak up here in the press box. Expect an announcement tomorrow morning.

Here we go with the second period:

Anybody know the identity of the “Come on Wild, you….can….do….it” guy, email me?

Former Gopher Danny Irmen just got a five-minute major for boarding Richard Matvichuk. The vet, who’s on a tryout, came up bleeding. But Irmen just checked him with his shoulder. Not a good call at all, and this is a kid who’s trying to make an impression.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Brent Burns have joined me in the Star Tribune seats. “The popcorn is good,” says Butch.

I told them this is where the experts sit.

Wild killed 4:32 of it, and Columbus just took a penalty. No shots.

Jared Boll just went after Weller, but wouldn’t fight him. Remember, Weller and Rick Nash had a huge run-in last year that resulted in a near riot. Remember, Weller then pummeled Tollefson to the ice. YouTube it.

Nolan stoned at the doorstep. Kolanos just whistles one wide. 9:01 left.

This has been a penalty-filled calamity, this period. I don’t like exhibition hockey. Lots of imaginary calls, like this hook against Koivu.

Second intermission. Blahhhhhhhh!

I asked Burns to write for me, but he said there’d be lots of spelling mistakes. But that’s why we have copy editors, don’t you think?

2-0. Benoit Pouliot 2:16 in. Backstrom makes three saves on the other end, and the Wild come the other way. Turns into a breakaway after the circles after Owen Nolan was tripped up at the blue line.

2-1. Jiri Novotny on a PPG. Great play by Jakub Voracek.

Mikko on a shorthanded breakaway hit the post with his shootout backhand. For deadline’s sake, I pray we don’t have to see it later in an actual shootout.

Wild definitely released some players, but nobody with an NHL/AHL contract. They’ll announce after game or tomorrow.

Oh, they won.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 at 6:35 pm and is filed under Training camp. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.