Coming to you live from the Xcel Energy Center press box, where I’m wondering if they’re going to put just one of these plethora of TVs on the Twins game!

Tyler Cuma was working on his sticks for 25 minutes before the game in the Wild runway. He had his headphones on listening to his iPod like the other night. James Sheppard sprinted down the runway in an attempt to scare the bejeezus out of the kid.

I guess 18-year-old Cuma’s the only guy on the team 19-year-old James Sheppard can torment.

Sheppard then had a long conversation with Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks’ young captain, on the other bench as Toews worked on his stick.

Update on Bob Kurtz’s passport, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, look at the initial blog from Buffalo.

But the Chicago Blackhawks brought Kurtz’s passport from to Chicago to Minnesota, only they left it on the plane. So Kevin Falness has now been upgraded from questionable to probable to call the game from Montreal.

And I repeat: DEAR HOCKEY GODS, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET THAT PASSPORT BE UNEARTHED.

DREAMS DO COME TRUE…KURTZ HAS HIS PASSPORT

First period

Ok here, we go…For the first time, the anticipated first line of Brunette, Koivu and Gaborik starts.

1-0 2:22 in. Colton Gillies first NHL goal (albeit preseason). He banks a John Scott rebound in between the post and Corey Crawford.

Koivu wearing the C.

Gaborik great backcheck to steal the puck from Toews. 2-on-1 with Brunette and Koivu, but Koivu missed the gaping net and an in-tight angle.

Second straight shift, Adam Burish drove Backstrom hard. This time he did it with Boogaard and Big John Scott on the ice. Not the smartest thing, and we’ll see if he’ll do it again. He took shots from both of them, and Boogaard and Burish going off for coincidentals.

1-1 Patrick Kane. Benoit Pouliot skated in front of his net with the puck. That’s a no-no, and the result was a Patrick Sharp thank-you steal and a Kane rebound goal.

Second period

Huge save Backstrom. Kane set Sharp up with an empty netter, and Backstrom dove and denied Sharp with the paddle of his stick.

2-1 Chicago at 13:53. Brent Seabrook with a PPG from the high slot. It came on a Nick Schultz hooking minor. Schultz swung and missed on a shot and hooked Martin Havlat as he went by to create an odd-man rush.

Bergeron, during his third fight of the preseason, got cut like a can of tomato paste by Kyle Beach.

Koivu created a shorthanded chance on a 5-on-3 against. He fed a pinching Schultz, but he rang the crossbar. Dustin Byfuglien went off for slashing.

End of period 2, 2-1 Chicago.

2-2 3:30 in. End of a power play, Martin Skoula wrists it on net. Crawford drops it and Stephane Veilleux slams it home.

Overtime. Wild power play coming up…I’ll update after locker room access…Have to file story the second it’s over.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 at 6:38 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.