Vancouver Canucks 3, Wild 2
Posted on November 20th, 2008 – 6:43 PMBy Michael Russo
OK, so I got the score wrong, as well as the victor, but I did get one thing right on the award-winning “Russo Radio” show on KSTP on Wednesday night (award-winning in the minds of my friends and family).
Pavol Demitra’s got a history of making his former teams pay. I so wanted to remind listeners of that fact, I made Matt Thomas late for break.
But hey, when you’re right, you’re right, and I was right.
Demitra’s scored 10 goals and 18 points in 11 games against St. Louis since he left the Blues. I don’t feel like looking up what he’s done against LA since he left there, but I know he had the one overtime winner for the Wild and definitely three or four assists.
Tonight, the chrome-headed Slovak said, “Thank you very much for having no interest in keeping me” (not really, that’s my quote) by scoring the tying goal on a second-period power play and assisting on Daniel Sedin’s third-period winner.
(On a quick side note, should I be concerned that my headphones are giving my ears little electrical shocks as I listen to the Killers right now? Excuse me while I take a sip of water).
Back to Demo, he said the only thing that would have been more “interesting” for him would have been to see best friend Marian Gaborik line up against him. Actually, seeing Gaborik in uniform again would have been “interesting” for all of us.
Jacques Lemaire flipped Mikko Koivu and James Sheppard tonight so Koivu could play on the checking line with Stephane Veilleux and Antti Miettinen and match up against Demitra and the Sedin Twins.
The Wild checking line actually did a solid job for the most part, but one breakdown deep in the Wild zone resulted in Sedin’s winner.
By the way, maybe next year if Gaborik’s on the Canucks, the Wild can buy the Sedin Twins for about $6 million each. Just a thought that I’m sure will be on every rumor site in the league tomorrow.
Lemaire felt the Wild didn’t have its legs tonight, and it was surprising how the Canucks, who played the night before, picked up steam in the third and the Wild didn’t.
The Canucks took a three-point lead on the Wild in the Northwest Division, but the Wild has played three fewer games.
Koivu scored two goals for the fourth time in his career, including one shorthanded breakaway.
Nik Backstrom suffered only his second career home regulation loss to a division opponent. He’s now 17-2-5 at home against the Northwest. It was also Backstrom’s first home regulation loss since March 4 (11-1-3).
Cal Clutterbuck had eight hits tonight in less than 10 minutes. It says he played three shifts in the third. I thought it was less actually, which I thought was peculiar. Clutterbuck’s got 59 hits, a team-high, in 15 games.
We’ll see if the Brent Burns forward experiment continues. Erik Reitz had his first sub-par game in awhile. He took a tripping penalty on Ryan Johnson and was on for one goal, having a Willie Mitchell shot get caught in his skates before Steve Bernier scored. Reitz was benched in the third after two shifts.
OK, that’s it from here. Brian “Stensaation” Stensaas on tomorrow as I write my Sunday stuff and decompress from the Kevin Falness opening on Ch. 45 tonight.
——————————————————————————————————–
OK, Wild has 19 skaters on the ice. The extra, being Craig Weller, but he’s scratched.
I watched the Wild employee hockey game today. Those of note who played: there was Mike Greenlay, Matt Majka, trainer Don Fuller, Matt Benz, Chris Snow, Jamie MacDonald, Robert the Intern and Brad Bombardir, who was only good because he was “playing against us donkeys,” said Greenlay.
The best player was a guy in a purple jersey. They played with one goalie, by the way.
The most memorable moment was when Robert the Intern absolutely creamed a teammate – the only girl in the game. She went down. She was in pain. She left with an “upper body injury.” Robert sustained a “lower body injury.” Robert told me after it was his knee. He’s since been fired for telling me. 
324 Responses to "Vancouver Canucks 3, Wild 2"
Yes this is me and I say - Let’s Go Wild!
Wow, the Wild play a stifling style. Has there ever been a Wild game with more than 2 goals for or against? Not trolling, just asking
AJ you’re funny
Long time reader, first time live game poster…
Been very flying and open so far. Couple nice hits by Cal - and nice line of Boogy-Cal-Benny.
When are they going to realize, people want games in HD broadcasting. I hate watching games regular, it sucks.
Pyatt is such a wuss.. why didnt he fight Reitz? what a wuss.. haha reitz didnt care he just wanted to fight someone
Benny is too good to be on that line, he should be swapped with Sheppard because he has done nothing this season so far
The game is blacked out on my center ice. someone please tell me where they are seeing it!!!
its on channel 775 for me, i have center ice
775 on directv
its on channel 775 for me on center ice…but rogers sportsnet is broadcasting it
God, the Wild are a boring team. How do they sell any tickets? SNOOZE!!!!!!!!
channel 45
NHL CI on Directv… I couldn’t get it to come up either. It asked me to shell out $3.99. I had to reboot my receiver to get it to bring up the game… that’s a waste of 10 minutes.
I’m sick of this. It happened to me Tuesday when my DVR missed most of the 1st period.
Looks like a lively bunch in here tonight… fix the blog so the regulars come back plz!
Hey Russo, how’s the ref doing from the Pittsburgh/Wild game? Any news from your buddies?
Greenlay was on HNIC radio tonight, talking about how the defense has been so good this season “Even Skoula has been playing better…” LOL
MNinAL I had the exact problem with my old cable provider here in GA but it was just a black screen..had to go to directv.
i am on hold with the charter now, all the other center ice channels work, just not this game. getting pissed…..
I like that Reitz is introducing himself around the league. And I know he doesn’t necessarily HAVE to, but I’d still prefer if he took off the lid/half shield if he’s going to drop.
I can’t stand John Garrett. Every time a Nux player gets touched he has to whine that it wasn’t a penalty. And we wonder why Canucks fans are so combustible?
AJ - Fans in Mn don’t need a goal every two minutes to be able to watch a game. People just love watching the game they grew up with. As for the ticket sales, I think they were doing OK last I heard;)
is anyone else having problems?
I just got off the phone with charter and they have no idea why i can see every center ice game except this one…..starting to get really upset…
yeah he is beotchin about everything, still ramblin on about the fight in first
Amen to the HD comments! Let’s get a quick one here…
Welcome, Greatski, by the way.
Cluts/Boogey/Pouliot best line so far??
nice pressure by the 4th
Man the Boogie, Poolboy, Buttertruck line has been… dare I say it!… Awesome!
BTW: to any Canucks fans reading and getting ready to defend Mr. Garrett, we HATE our own announcers for being idiotic homers.
I dont want to ever hear “he who should not be named” complain about not being able to score with certain guys on his line.
Pouls is tied for the lead on the team with Clutterbuck and Boogaard.
is there anyone around rochester on here tonight, are you getting the game?
This guy will have the state eating out of his hand if he scores a few goals…
Did terhar just say Burns has a zoo of “snakes and turds” in his basement?
I still love the “fills you up” girl!
man, maybe I’m glad I’ve got John Garrett if Terhaar’s saying stuff like that, rayray
Gun, I’m pretty sure everyone loves the “fills you up” girl.
Thanks NiNY…I enjoy reading the posts by you, KiPA, Ms. C, ATX, and the like…
Wasn’t Kyle Wellwood the guy that no one wanted this summer?
MIKKO!!
Franchise!!!!!
Mikko!!!!
Captain K!!!!!
yes he was WildinATX
even strength, too.
So Nick, is he actually playing well for Vancouver or are the announcers just being homers?
Well lets hear all the skoula comments..open the flood gates
Woot! Koivu ftw!
Finally the other team gets a “too many men”.
WildinATX: Apparently he’s been pretty good so far. The old change of pace…
That was the Skoula I was used to
IGoW just stepped on the puck and fell over….get him a walker!
BTW, Thanks for the shout out greatski! Welcoe to the party!
Nolan is a maniac!
i think he tripped over the puck twice
Clutterbuck that is
Mikko giving Demo some solid jabs there…
Jeffs468:
Try 980 if you have Charter. That’s where I’m watching it.
Nux goal
Lameo.
Reitz got footcuffed and ran out of time.
Ands thank you so much!!!!!!
missed half the damn game, but thank you
Backs!
I see i am thanking you while pretending to be you!!!
thanks again!
Jeff, glad you found the game.
And who got the goal/assists for the Nux goal?
Haha, glad I could help!
No problem ATX!
pretty exciting period for Reitz so far: fight, minus, minor penalty…
I vote Fozzie for color commentary, replacing Greenlay until Fozzie feels good enough to play.
Bernier from Mitchell and Wellwood I think, WildinATX
MIKKO SHORTY!!
MIKKO
MIKKO!
WOOOOO!! Koivu! A shorty even!
SHORTIE!!!
MIKKO!!! SHORTY!!!!
Bergeron = Petteri Nummelin. They’re the same size, they skate the same way.
wait, Reitz’s fight was in the first…my bad
Hey guys. Can I get a score quick. I’m at work again til 9:00pm
Ands, can i ask how you found that?
I bet MAB isn’t as good at shootouts though.
2-1 good guys, 5 left in the second
guh…kill this off, boys
Weak sauce.
way to kill the first one
FUKC!!
Ugh. as in UGLY.
spoke too soon - damn
spoke too soon - damn
spoke too soon
didn’t Shep tip their first one in, too? And that one was tipped by Zids? What’s a Finnish brother gotta do to get some help out there?!?
How many kills straight were we on before that?
Whoa Greatski, watch the left click there pal! 
Yeah, those goals are nearly as bad as our goal against the Pens the other night.
Just me or was that Reitz penalty a dive?
it’s great that Demo had to go to the Canucks to score at the X.
Kimmy is angry. Kimmy wants a goal.
Hi y’all. Is it better here now? I had to drop DH and a couple of friends off at the Metallica concert so I’ve been FF (one click) through the first period and a half. It looks so slow in real time now.
Wow. Demo without a stick was just standing perfectly still watching the puck. funny.
Franchise is having a good game. I’d like to see him get the game winner and the hat trick in the 3rd.
yeah, it’s better, ms.c. Not 100% yet, but much better.
MN in AL: I’d be okay with that.
ms.c, it seems to be quite a bit better yes.
Jeff468, Oh the powers of Google and a lot of determination!
Am I a bad fan for watching the Nucks feed? I just can’t deal with the D&D tonight.
Ms C.
you had a chance to see Metallica and you didnt go?
I have seen them 4 times, one of the best shows no matter how many times you see it!
I just typed in KSTC 45 and Rochester and it came up with an article about games that got picked up in the Rochester area.
Note ranters what Demo is doing with Backstrom. SMART… he is lobbing pucks at him getting him to make unconventional saves throwing a different look at him. When a goalie is in a zone like Backstrom it is wise. Demitra is crafty as we all know
Wanna see Mikko get that Hat!
Thanks, i spent 15 minutes on the phone with charter. Even asked the dumbass if it might be on another channel, he said it was a feed problem! God, i hate charter!
ms. c - I agree with Jeff about Metallica. Then again, I had the chance to see them in high school and was forced to stay home and write a paper that I had procrastinated on. So maybe I’m no better.
And as for the Nuks feed, that’s our only option. But, at least the homer announcers are fun to mock.
Come on boys! Let’s put the nail in the coffin in the third!
I saw Metallica the first time in about 1985. junior high, first concert i ever saw. That was even before they were popular, believe it or not, they didnt even sell out the Mayo civic center in Rochester! They toured with Armored Saint and Wasp!!
Let’s put the nail in the coffin in the third!
Don’t you need to put them in the coffin first?
Wasp…really?
I know, Jeff, they think I’m crazy for not wanting to go, but I just don’t dig concerts that much. Not big arena ones like that especially. Give me Willie Nelson at The Backyard in Austin.
I knew I’d just sit there wishing someone would pull up the floor and play hockey on the ice underneath it.
Fair point Kevin.
Let’s put them in the coffin in the third boys!
Yeah Ms C, the backyard closed…. apparently they are supposed to be opening in a new location though…
Hehe. Markov scored for the Habs…just managed to trade for him and get him in my lineup today. Woot.
sunshine back.
MKIA: Demitra does that all the time. Try to bank it off the goalie’s back. Notice that Backstrom didn’t go down very low when hugging the post there. He knew that Demitra was going to try to throw it on his back and when he moves, the puck goes in. Demitra still was able to bank it off.
Ya, Wasp. when is the last time you heard of them?
i dont even remember any songs they sang!!
I saw them back in ‘94 in England and again in ‘96 in Sommerset - great shows both times.
If Mikko gets the hat, I’ll throw my cap at the TV. Let’s get it on the PP so he has one of each!
Eeep! It closed??? No way! *sigh* That sucks. Man, I drank a lot of margaritas there…
I saw them the second time in the metrodome Monsters of rock tour. dont rember what year that was though..
some of those years are kinda foggy…
Nice feed to the (empty) slot by Burnzie there.
crap…don’t need these penalties here.
Nice one Schultzie…
honest to God, Garrett is on par with Terhaar for most blind homerism.
so, Nux get in late last night/this morning. JL gives the 4th line a lot of TOI in the first, less and less as the game goes on.
I’m wondering if the strategy isn’t hit them (as much as you’re going to hit them) early to help tire them out, keep it close through two and then try to put the hammer down as they tire in the third.
Woo! Butch shot!
I will just point out the fact that Butch just took a pretty hard, and nice, slapshot on that last shift. Nice work baldy!
dang butch with an attempt at a hit and a shot in the same period. whats got into him?
Shep can’t catch a break, can he?
Waitin on that hammer.
FUKC!
wtf was Backstrom doing there? He definitely should have been playing the pass there.
Tabernack!
Fudge.
me too, rayray…
lots of time
i am out of beer.
damn
Get Pouliot and Boogie out there again.
What’s the rally drink of choice tonight? I think I’m going to try a Cognac to shake things up.
BDS, I am hittin the Fireman’s #4 for luck. Granted, I have been drinking it all game… so maybe it’s not so lucky.
I think that the Wild will change goalies on Saturday but I dont think they should. I think you ride it out. That third goal looked like Backstrom was out of position
sorry, i am out of everything.
no beer, JD nothing.
sad sad night.
That’s weird. When I set this up to record this afternoon, this game was on two channels. Glad I chose the one that actually showed the game.
Ohhh. The Finn is Angry.
Jeff, why didn’t you plan better?
Maybe I’ll do my part and drink a second bottle of wine…
Ahh..come on someone do something….get the puck on the net!!!
Has Pouliot been playing for like 5 straight minutes?
Where was this intensity 30 minutes ago?
Let’s pull that face off goal they did last game.
I’m not going to lie, Sanford seems to do much better against us than Bobby Lou…
C’mon boys.
Get the goal for Bandgeek’s birthday game.
Um. Can those people quit hooting?
Post Game Musings:
Koivu the Canuck Killer.
Hello bad Skoula, always a thrill.
Burns at wing, it’s getting worse. He has more offensive chances as D. Also offensive, MAB defense, he or Reitz should be pressbox at all times, JL may rotate as he sees fit.
PMB, you get two complaints. 1). No more PP point, create from somewhere else. Two games in a row you give up breaks the other way. 2). Attack the net! What, do you have to be told in french? A 2-on-2 with Bruno is a time to use your skill to create, not peel off and wait for all 5 defenders to get back.
Sheppard, it’s time to watch Bruno. You don’t have the skating to be Koivu, that’s okay, we forgive you. Learn how to use your body and your hands to create offense, you have a great example in front of you.
Pouliot, please play defense between your man and the net.
Gaborik rumors. I get it, they’re fun. But before we go on and on about refusing to play, tell me why he played two games and then took himself out.
Henrick Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Henrick Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Henrick Sedin, Daniel Sedin. Okay, okay, okay terhaar. How about Rick and Dan? Do we need full names for every tick-tack pass?
Muther Effer. I am outta here before the Nuk-Trolls re-appear. C you guys later!
Schucks!!! They won the draw and then Zidcy misses the net.
I really hat to lose to the Canucks more then most other teams.
Good thing the Wild would not trade Sheppard (or include him)for a scorer……..GULP.
He’ll learn how to use those big feet sometime
Ugh. Losing to the Nuks puts me in a bad mood. Poor ATX for having to put up with it.
Yuck. Lost to the Nucks. I’m glad I missed it!
I figured they’d lose 3-1, so I guess they did better than I expected.
And I skipped a wine party thrown by a partner to watch this game. I’m thinking that may have been a poor choice.
WiATX - just drink that second bottle and pretend you were there. Now, if they were opening up some real good wine your SOL.
bad game, poor effort, other then Clutterbuck, Koivu, Burns, and Backstrom, the rest of the team was lousy, and the defensive play was embarrassing. The Wild deserved to lose, and unlike 2 nights ago in Pittsburgh when they deserved to lose too, tonight they actually did.
Too much passing, too little shooting, terrible 5 on 5 play….it falls on the shoulders of the coach. Jacques needs to change the way he coaches or retire, because either he is doing a terrible job of teaching, or the players have tuned him out. The Wild have played awful this month, and even though they have got quite a few undeserved wins, it’s impossible to look at this month and call it much of a success.
For starters, Boogaard needs to be waived, Mojzis and Sheppard need to be sent down, Kolanos, Locke, and Stoner need to be recalled. Then, the coaching staff needs to stress low zone offensive play and shooting on net. Also, they need to stress being more selective with their shots. Too many point shots never even get to the opponents net due to shooting into a crowd of people instead of having an open guy take the shot. Finally, the coaches need to tall all these pansy assed defensemen to see player, hit player. Demitra’s goal was a bit fluky, but the other 2 could’ve been prevented had the defense put Bernier and Sedin on their asses like they should’ve. Finally, the Wild need to take 30 minutes every practice to just shoot on net. I have never seen a team fail to hit the net as much as these guys do. They need to learn how to control their shots, something they should’ve all learned in youth hockey by the time they got to junior hockey at the very least.
Too much passing, too little shooting
they need to stress being more selective with their shots. Too many point shots never even get to the opponents net due to shooting into a crowd of people instead of having an open guy take the shot.
wait, what?
B Pol looked good again, by B Pol standards. Did you notice he was on the ice the final 1-2 minutes. He’s even winning over Jock.
Koivu is making me forget all about that Slovakian candy ass, oh what’s his name again. By the end of the season Koivu will be a top 10 forward, IN THE LEAGUE. He damn near tied it up with the takeaway behind the net and the stuff. Talk about putting the team on your back. Anyone else care to score tonight???
Sheppard needs to ask himself some tough questions. Boogaard generated more excitement than Sheppard, or did I miss the subleties of Sheppard’s game again?
Well it was a beaujolais nouveaux party… not expensive, but still. I think the fact that it was a partner’s party is probably the key point there.
And Dan, you and I have a different opinion of what the phrase “poor effort” means. And you incorrectly used an apostrophe the other day (in the morning, so you likely weren’t drinking), so that annoys me too.
Until you start making comments that make sense with what I saw or what other people saw, then I’m disinclined to agree with you. Especially with nothing but your opinion to back it up. I’m certainly not going to address each of your points, but here are a few I found relevant.
Boogaard had some very nice plays tonight. Not overly skillful, but way above what people thought he was capable of and they lead to some chances. So waiving him seems like a bad call to me. But that’s just me.
From all the reports from Houston, Stoner is a career AHLer. If you have more occasion to watch him than Aeros season ticket holders then that’s terrific. I look forward to a game-by-game update from you.
Shep may have a sophomore slump going. I’m going to give him until January to prove otherwise. I’m generous like that.
Maybe it’s just a lady problem that he can take care of soon here.
PMB seemed to be absolutely invisible tonight. He peeled off whenever he carried into the offensive zone.
Shep will snap out of it, I hope. Considering we could have Joki for him right now, he needs to prove that he is going to be worth it.
You can easily forget about Gaborik but it would have been nice to have him or whomever we get in a trade out there if he wasn’t injured during these critical games.
Ands — Thank you for helping Jeff find his feed earlier! I meant to mention it before but we were watching with 1 computer.
And who is “he”?
Just got back from the game… my first one of the season… I apologize if I am repeating, but:
That was an absolute excellent 40 minutes of effort. I’m telling you, if the game ended after 49 minutes, they would have been in business.
Problem is, it doesn’t.
That idiot of a zebra Mr. Dumb A$$ Fraser made his usual idiot calls. Apparently since the Nucks can’t stay in their skates, that is the Wild’s fault.
Also, lots of non calls for holding, hooking, etc. (in favor of the Nucks yet again.) I did see the boys get away with a couple, but all in all seems like Fraser simply wasn’t watching half the game.
I now hate the Nucks even more. Especially whoever 9 is on their squad. Picks a fight with Reitz then lets someone else take it. Sissy.
Burrows attacks Butch… again… again, no call.
Everyone wearing blue and white is terrified of Boogey. Sissys.
Don’t know if they showed it on TV, but 18 for the Nucks got an absolute butt chewing from Fraser. There was play in front of the net and 18 snapped his head back like someone hit him. No one was even near him. Fraser absolutely lit him up during the break.
grr… I hate watching them lose to the Nucks. Oh, and Demo can kiss my…
Seamus — you’re inclined to see that because that’s what you want to see. I saw a couple of really good shots on goal and some good defensive plays. Maybe not $4 mil per year play at this point, but much better than people give him credit for. That’s what I saw.
Yeah no problem.
I’m trying to explain away Shep’s play as of late
Nice to know the ref did something about that soccer style headwork, but wish that something would have been a penalty.
Buddha - I said the same thing about the calls with 5 minutes left in the game. There were several penalties called on the Wild that I thought were questionable. I thought the refs would even it up as they so often do, but not so much.
Further, the Mr. and I thought O’Brien should have gotten the third man penalty for his “fight” with Reitz, as Reitz offered to fight that one dude and then O’Brien stepped in. Granted, we don’t know that rule that well. Did he not get it because there was no fight initiated by Reitz with the first Nuk?
Ands — I’m going with sophomore slump.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
9 is Pyatt. The Pretty Nuck.
Actually, ATX, I would like to see PMB making some plays. I have nothing against him. I don’t know what it is, he just didn’t seem to find room, but when he did have a chance now and again, he kinda backed out. Maybe I’m being picky. But I’d like to see more out of him.
I’d like to see more out of PMB too. But I’ll take what I get for now. There’s something nerve-racking about your skills or your record being bought into as an employee that I empathize with.
PMB is a good guy. He’s an exceptionally skillful player. He will find his way. Give him a chance to do that.
We need more from PMB. We can’t depend on Koivu to score all the goals or Backs and defense to save us game after game. Something is going to give pretty soon.
ms.conduct, if you say anything further about a “pretty nuk” I’m going to take away the beer (or 3) I was going to buy you in March.
Well, Pyatt is a sissy. I’d use the other words I want to use for him, but I don’t want to offend Russo.
Dan - You are complete and total blithering idiot. It was not a complete poor effort. The third period, yeah. The rest was solid hockey.
Boogey being waived? Are you trying to make every tema in the NHL happy? They would LOVE to have him.
Shaeppard can’t be sent down without clearing waivers, and he wouldn’t. Not in a million years.
And I am glad you are not the coach of the team, and I hope you are not a coach of any team, because if you are, poor players. Low offensive zone and shooting on net? Not a matter of shooting on net, but shooting where the goalie isn’t. Not always a lot to work with, and they are trying for tips, deflections, etc.
It must be a wonderful place, over there in your world, where AHL lifers are better than NHL players, nothing matters but what the voices in your head tell you, and the purple sky rains only gum drops. Does it ever occur to you that you are the only one who thinks you are right?
I was hoping to come on here and have Nuckleheads to argue with, and all I get is Dan. This night just doesn’t want to get better.
He’s the only one, I promise. And he’s terribly out of place there. How about we just buy each other beers and call it even.
Taylor Pyatt…another poster child for Canuckleheads everywhere. Cowardice at its’ finest. Shane O’Brien…classic definition of ‘goon’. Hope he likes Winnipeg in January. (And, for those of you who root for Team Cowardice, er, Vancouver, you notice who didn’t get himself in a fight tonight, because he stuck to playing hockey? Yep. Boogaard. And even JL said he had one of his better games this season.)
I don’t know what to think of this game. The Wild looked like they were the team who played last night at Madison Square Garden, not the Canucks. They looked a step off all night. And, again, Burns needs to go back to defense. He still looks like ‘Little Boy Lost’ out there on the wing.
St. Louis has lost 7 of their last 8. Let’s hope for better things on Saturday night.
Bedtime…
Lots of pinching tonight by Zids… especially when IJ was on the ice. Almost looked scripted. Probably was, eh?
Maybe we should try Zids at forward and put Burns back at defense.
Ms. Conduct, I don’t seem to recognize who we’re talking about.
So we’ll just have a beer together and settle the whole issue, eh?
I know Buddha. And I was hoping for a fight with the Nuckleheads too after the week I’ve had at work.
And ms.c, if you ever come to Austin we definitely need to have a beer with you and your better half.
<i.Buddha says:
November 20th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Dan - You are complete and total blithering idiot. It was not a complete poor effort. The third period, yeah. The rest was solid hockey.
Boogey being waived? Are you trying to make every tema in the NHL happy? They would LOVE to have him.
seriously, if there is an idiot to be had, it’s you sir. making a statement as idiotic as that shows that you, like Lemaire, are totally out of touch with the NHL.
I’d be okay with Boogey being waived, we can sneak a roster spot to one of those hockey playing bears someone posted earlier:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1970249/ice_hockey_playing_bears/
The skating and stick work looks familiar. Rawr.
WildinATX says:
November 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Well it was a beaujolais nouveaux party… not expensive, but still. I think the fact that it was a partner’s party is probably the key point there.
And Dan, you and I have a different opinion of what the phrase “poor effort” means. And you incorrectly used an apostrophe the other day (in the morning, so you likely weren’t drinking), so that annoys me too.
Until you start making comments that make sense with what I saw or what other people saw, then I’m disinclined to agree with you. Especially with nothing but your opinion to back it up. I’m certainly not going to address each of your points, but here are a few I found relevant.
Boogaard had some very nice plays tonight. Not overly skillful, but way above what people thought he was capable of and they lead to some chances. So waiving him seems like a bad call to me. But that’s just me.
From all the reports from Houston, Stoner is a career AHLer. If you have more occasion to watch him than Aeros season ticket holders then that’s terrific. I look forward to a game-by-game update from you.
Wild need physical d-man, not the pansy assed collection they currently have. Doug was too stupid to sign Kurt Sauer in the offseason, so Stoner will have to do. Johnsson, Zidlicky, and Bergeron need to be dealt away. None of those 3 are a fit here. They are advertised as offensive defensemen but none of the 3 score and they can’t actually play defense.
As for your other point, Boogaard turned over the puck a few times in the Wild defensive zone. If it weren’t for Backstrom saving him, the Wild get crushed. Boogaard simply isn’t needed on this roster or in hockey for that matter.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
seriously, if there is an idiot to be had, it’s you sir. making a statement as idiotic as that shows that you, like Lemaire, are totally out of touch with the NHL.
Wow. I mean, wow. Waiving Boogey?
And as far as the rest of your “rebuttal” goes… forget the fact that MAB and Zidlicky have both scored a few goals. Plus, the Boogey, Poolboy, and Nutterbutter line created the best scoring chances and got some good energy going.
seriously, if there is an idiot to be had, it’s you sir. making a statement as idiotic as that shows that you, like Lemaire, are totally out of touch with the NHL.
I am about to go to bed, but I have to say… Dan you are a freaking douche. I am soooo sorry I missed the part where Bettman named you God of All Things Hockey. You have YOUR OPINION, and we have ours. Don’t be such a dick.
You see things one way, that doesn’t make them TRUE.
No, here is what happened.
Your guy Reitz pushed our # 1 goal scorer, Kyle Wellwood to the ground in a vicious shove after the whistle had blown.
Taylor Pyatt (#9) was the closest to it and he wanted to step in and go after your man Reitz.
But as O’Brien told the media later, O’Brien jumped in and told Pyatt he would fight Reitz instead because that’s what he does, whereas he felt Pyatt needed to stay healthy as a forward.
Your man Reitz who initated the dirty hit then turtled and refused to take off his VISOR and refused fight like a man.
That’s what happened.
So Dan, I am an idiot like Jacques Lemaire?
I think that’s the nicest thing you have ever said about me. i would love to be called an idiot for thinking the way he does, and I appreciate that.
You on the other hand, post comments and blog posts with nothing except raw, baseless dribble. You throw a few hockey terms in to make inseem like you know what you are talking about, and hope you will fool a couple of the casual fans into thinking you are just so smart with your excellent solutions to the problems the Wild have.
I really think that you post here because it puts a link to your blog up a few times a day, hoping that you can generate ten hits in order to be able to brag to your friends about what a sweet blogger you are.
The fact that you would rather bring up Stoner than have Johnsson or Zidlicky shows how little you know, and how out of touch you are with the NHL.
Wow AJ, were you there? Because I was. Find me a replay of Reitz with any kind of vicious anything. If you can find it, I’ll streak naked through Vancouver.
Then Pyatt stepped in and turned into a sissy and let someone else fight his battles. Your guy didn’t pull his lid off either so you can save the take your helmet off crap. What does everyone think a visor does? Nothing. I have fought guys wearing visors, probably hurts them more than it ever hurt me.
I love Nuckleheads who pull the dirty play card. Just love it. Every team in the NHL’s fans talk about how dirty the Nucks are. No one other than Nuckleheads talk about the Wild being dirty.
At least Ohlund didn’t break anyone’s leg tonight, and Burrows didn’t spear anyone, and…
Ha ha I am watching the 10:00 sports news right now and they JUST this second showed the replay of Reitz shoving Wellwood to the ground. Get ready to strip!
I’m watching it on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvMJvAWPw2A
Harly vicious, NOT after the whistle, and why doesn’t Pyatt step up and fight then?
And Reitz never turtled, he stood right there and fought. Burrows on the other hand could be the main character for racing a rabbit.
Hardly vicious that is… my R does not want to work…
Dan - if I recall correct you had a post yesterday where you were complaining about certain football players (Chad Johnson, TO, etc.)egoistic and selfish SOB behavior.
I don’t know, call me crazy, but the way your sound in your posts I’m reminded of that exact same pompus behavior.
If you call that hit vicious, I’m done arguing with you, because you are high on Orcha kool aid.
Buddha, don’t feed the trolls
Night people.
Oh please! You guys wouldn’t have stepped in after a shove like that??Pyatt wanted to fight but O’Brien stepped in and offered to fight in his place. And by the way, your visor comment is totally bizarre. Everyone in the hockey world knows that it’s bad form to fight when you are wearing a visor. Even the commentators are commenting on that fact. And bash Burrows all you want, but he scored 2 goals yesterday including a short-handed breakaway.
I’m going to bed. The one Nucklehead they send to argue is about as smart as Dan, and I am tired of arguing with the mentally askew.
AJ- Post something somewhere Nucks fans gather… send someone who can argue intelligently, please?
Dan - Well, just go on being you. It is good to know the first ammendment still works. Every idiot has his say.
LOL - Buddha, Orcha Kool aid - Priceless!
Speaking of kool-aid, why is anyone a troll for disagreeing with you? This website is like a cult. On this website, if you don’t blindly agree with each other and sing Kum-ba-ya, you’re a troll who should be “ignored”? Is Mike Russo actually Jim Jones from the People’s Temple?
Great response Buddha. You didn’t have an answer for my comment about visors, Burrows or the fight so you call me untelligent? You seriously want to make the argument that fighting with a visor is the more acceptable way to fight, and I’m unintelligent? Fine, go to bed. Sorry I upset you for disagreeing with the Cult. Call me stupid instead of answering my points.
We will bash Burrows, and so will everyone else in the NHL. He’s a hack. three, four year career, tops.
Would I step in? Sure I would. But I wouldn’t call the hit vicious, and I would have stepped in and handled it, despite some other chump wanted to take my dance.
Bad form to fight with a visor on? Bah. Bad form to fight with helmets on, yes. They should BOTH have removed their helmets. Your guy didn’t either. And until you’ve seen what fighting a guy with a visor does to the guy with the visor… I wouldn’t argue too much about it. Used a guys visor to cut his face wide open once.
WildinATX says:
November 20th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
seriously, if there is an idiot to be had, it’s you sir. making a statement as idiotic as that shows that you, like Lemaire, are totally out of touch with the NHL.
Wow. I mean, wow. Waiving Boogey?
And as far as the rest of your “rebuttal” goes… forget the fact that MAB and Zidlicky have both scored a few goals. Plus, the Boogey, Poolboy, and Nutterbutter line created the best scoring chances and got some good energy going.
apparently you don’t actually watch Wild games. The best scoring chances come on the powerplay and when Koivu is on the ice. Last I checked, Boogaard has no chance of ever playing with Koivu unless it’s totally accidental, Pouliot is on the PP, and Clutterbuck, while he can play with anyone, he’s stuck with a non productive goon and a super skilled kid (Pouliot) that doesn’t get nearly enough ice time.
OK, I’m going too. But you are wrong on two points, you clearly don’t watch much hockey…Wellwood was the guy who got hit. His buddies wanted to step in for him. What difference does it make which teammates steps in to defend him? You’ve never seen a guy step in to defend a teammate? That’s how practically EVERY FIGHT starts. And the visor thing, I don’t care if it hurts the guy with the visor, hockey “etiquette” says it’s bad form. You are just trying to play devil’s advocate.
you want an argument, here it is.
People complain about fighting with a visor on. No one tells you why. Someone somewhere decided it was bad form, and so it just is? The bad form comes in the code for fighting with a helmet on, yet they do it everyday. Visors are simply a piece of plastic, covering half the face, and genrally not even that in a fight.
Takes about two seconds in a fight to rip the helmet off another guy anyways.
Sorry agains better judgement:
AJ - that Jim Jones comment was actually pretty funny unless you had any relation to those poor souls in the People’s Temple.
Seriously, there is plenty of disagreement on this blog but for the love the Gr8 one please use some solid agruments and not mindless dribble to make a point or state your opinion.
Clayton Stoner? Really? Can someone please give Dan back his medication. I’m starting to get worried.
Buddha says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:14 am
Dan - Well, just go on being you. It is good to know the first ammendment still works. Every idiot has his say
clearly, you still get the opportunity to post here when nothing you’ve ever said as any validity to it at all.
Don’t watch much hockey. Almost every game every day. Play it too. Have since I was four. Been writing about for about ten years now too.
When did I say I have never seen a guy step in?
None at all Dan. Nope. you win, you’re the champ.
You can bash Burrows all you want, but people who know hockey aren’t. In the New York game, TSN analysts, all of them hockey guys were showing clips of the little things he does and how far his game has come in a short time. So go ahead you can write him off all you want, but people who know hockey see how far his game has come in the last couple seasons.
So because Boogaard doesn’t play on the PP, he has no purpose?
You said “I would have stepped in and handled it, despite some other chump wanted to take my dance.”….So you are essentially saying why didn’t Wellwood step in to defend himself. And I’m saying defending your teammate happens in every game.
Russo’s Evil Twin says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:21 am
Clayton Stoner? Really? Can someone please give Dan back his medication. I’m starting to get worried.
you are right, I am wrong. having a Clutterbuck type guy on defense would be terrible. it’s enjoyable watching these patsies pretend to play defense. I forgot that checking has be banned from the NHL. I wish I would’ve remembered that tonight because I was getting frustrated the Wild defense didn’t clear out Bernier or Sedin so they got easy goals. If only I would’ve remembered you’re not allowed to check anymore, my frustration with the group of non physical pylons known as the Wild defense corps would’ve been non-existent.
Buddha says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:25 am
So because Boogaard doesn’t play on the PP, he has no purpose?
he has no purpose and he doesn’t play on the PP.
They say the same things about Rutuu, Cooke, Avery, and Ott. They do the little things, look how far they have come…
And then they go out and try to hurt someone, spear them, run them, hit them high, take out a knee… and then no one is to be seen because your boy runs to the bench, or picks the smallest guy on the ice to fight.
Buddha says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:27 am
They say the same things about Rutuu, Cooke, Avery, and Ott. They do the little things, look how far they have come…
And then they go out and try to hurt someone, spear them, run them, hit them high, take out a knee… and then no one is to be seen because your boy runs to the bench, or picks the smallest guy on the ice to fight
that entire list of players has offensive skill. boogaard is nothing but a goon. he’s a weak skater, a terrible passer, has no shot, all he has is fighting, which other then when he kills fedoruk, he sucks at. he’s a useless cog in the broken wild machine.
I’m done Dan. You win. I am nothing compared to the great hockey mind that is you. Please, dear master of all hockey knowledge, allow me to bask in the glow.
It really means nothing in the scheme of things, but you now go on the list with MKiA. Posts from you will no longer even be read.
I’d care, but since you’ve never made a valid point among any post you’ve ever made, I’m not worried about it.
Hmmm. Well, maybe if you guys had an agitator like most teams, you wouldn’t have what is universally regarded as the most boring team in the league. If Lemaire added a little pest to his team, maybe doctors wouldn’t prescribe Wild games as an alternative to Nappien (sleeping pills).
We should get an agitator? You mean the people that are everything that is wrong with hockey? Nah. I’ll pass.
And the Wild’s style of play may be boring, but it works, and the only reason you call it boring is because your sheep-like mind has read it is.
Can you even describe what the system is?
AJ - come on, an agitator would make us more fun, exactly how?
Universally? Says who? Is that why your new coach is trying to play more like us?
adding an agitator to the team wouldn’t do anything. you can’t win if you can’t score and the Wild has scored all of 2 even strength goals in the last 5 games. For the season, the Wild have scored all of 26 even strength goals in 15 games. (I’m not counting the pit goal as even strength since pit scored on their own net). 26 goals in 15 games when it’s 5 on 5 is pathetic at best.
maybe if they did fight all the time it would hide that the team is offensively inept.
No, of course you know your team better than I do. I won’t insult you by dictating to you what your system is. But I don’t understand you, you just contradicted yourself: you call the Wild’s system boring and then say that I only call it boring because that’s what I read somewhere. Huh? So is it boring or not? I know that the whole Shut’er-Down approach after leading 1-0 is effective, the Wild are a good team, but the NHL is also a sports franchise about entertainment and boring hockey is not entertaining. And I’m sick of the Wild’s holier-than-thou attitude towards the other teams in the league. Almost every game there’s a high stick or a shove or some sort that Wild fans ignore while only focusing on the allegedly dirty opponent. You are clearly not watching Burrows this season if you think he’s just a pest.
Whew, that was a long post.
While your attempt at the political attack by saying I called it boring is admirable… I did not. I said while it may be boring it works, referring to the fact that YOU called it boring.
I rather enjoy it. I also enjoy baseball games that end 1-0. I hate basketball because the games involve scores like 102 - 99. Too much offense is just as boring as not enough, even more so to me.
And you won’t describe the system, because I’m guessing you can’t. So the team is boring because what, it doesn;t score five goals a game? As countless numbers have pointed out, it is not the Wild’s job to entertain, it is to win.
If you would read some of the past strings, you would see that Wild fans will also call out our own players for being dirty, and disown themquickly when they stoop to it.
AJ says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:41 am
No, of course you know your team better than I do. I won’t insult you by dictating to you what your system is. But I don’t understand you, you just contradicted yourself: you call the Wild’s system boring and then say that I only call it boring because that’s what I read somewhere. Huh? So is it boring or not? I know that the whole Shut’er-Down approach after leading 1-0 is effective
did you see the Wild game tonight? they went to teh “Shut’er-Down” approach after they were down 3-2 in the 3rd. they don’t know what offense is because they are taught it.
Interesting. I haven’t seen Wild fans call out Wild players here or on Wild.com and I’ve read these boards a lot (well, usually only during Canucks games). At least it’s never said when it is against a Canucks game.
If I ever see a Wild fan criticize a Wild player for something he did during a Canucks game, maybe I will streak nude through Minneapolis in mid-January.
You may think I call the Wild’s shut-down system boring only because I read it somewhere, but if you google the words “Minnesota Wild boring style” (which I just did), do you know how many hits you get? Not just from fans but links to media articles too? Is everyone wrong?
Well, this has been tedious.
Good night fellas.
Buddha says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:47 am
If you would read some of the past strings, you would see that Wild fans will also call out our own players for being dirty, and disown themquickly when they stoop to it
huh? it’s well known that the Wild have never committed a dirty act in the history of the franchise and even when dirty players join the Wild they play clean. you must’ve been left out the loop.
AJ says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:54 am
Interesting. I haven’t seen Wild fans call out Wild players here or on Wild.com and I’ve read these boards a lot (well, usually only during Canucks games). At least it’s never said when it is against a Canucks game.
If I ever see a Wild fan criticize a Wild player for something he did during a Canucks game, maybe I will streak nude through Minneapolis in mid-January.
You may think I call the Wild’s shut-down system boring only because I read it somewhere, but if you google the words “Minnesota Wild boring style” (which I just did), do you know how many hits you get? Not just from fans but links to media articles too? Is everyone wrong?
the Wild aren’t boring because they play too much defense, the Wild are boring because when they are on offense they have no clue what to do. all it is, is an expo on how to make too many passes. they never shoot.
Reitz laid a shot on Wellwood. Pyatt steps in but probably thinks the better of it knowing Reitz will hammer his sorry a$$ so he waits for O’Brien to waddle across the ice and jump in. Reitz dropped the gloves first, but best I can tell is that O’Brien precipitated the fight by jumping in from out of nowhere. What is Reitz supposed to do? You can’t blame him for not taking off the visor if O’Brien is the one getting in his face and he isn’t willing to shed his helmet.
I don’t know what it is about giving up a goal to Cooke last night and then having to watch Burrows tonite. Shootin’ off your mouth on national TV about Bouchard tends to obscure any talent Burrows may have. What will remain to be seen is whether he is getting that much better or is he just playing on lines that make him look better. He could be the next Gretzky, but he is still a classless punk and he even admits to that. Said he didn’t care what anybody thought of him as long as his teammates liked him. A real ambassador for the sport.
ha ha ms. conduct. this has been “tedious”. you have said about 5 words in 3 hours, not contributing anything to the discussion. yes, how tedious for you!
“Said he didn’t care what anybody thought of him as long as his teammates liked him.”
What a strange thought!
Ever heard of Chris Simon? Derek Boogaard?
I’m sure they are desperate for the approval of the league.
Stoned on the Breakaway says:
November 21st, 2008 at 12:57 am
Reitz laid a shot on Wellwood. Pyatt steps in but probably thinks the better of it knowing Reitz will hammer his sorry a$$ so he waits for O’Brien to waddle across the ice and jump in. Reitz dropped the gloves first, but best I can tell is that O’Brien precipitated the fight by jumping in from out of nowhere. What is Reitz supposed to do? You can’t blame him for not taking off the visor if O’Brien is the one getting in his face and he isn’t willing to shed his helmet.
I don’t know what it is about giving up a goal to Cooke last night and then having to watch Burrows tonite. Shootin’ off your mouth on national TV about Bouchard tends to obscure any talent Burrows may have. What will remain to be seen is whether he is getting that much better or is he just playing on lines that make him look better. He could be the next Gretzky, but he is still a classless punk and he even admits to that. Said he didn’t care what anybody thought of him as long as his teammates liked him. A real ambassador for the sport.
say what you want about Burrows, but at least Burrows is making an impact on the Nucks. Bouchard hasn’t done a thing this year except disappear. He is terrible and needs to be moved elsewhere. If the weakest groin in the history of mankind ever gets healthy, dump him and Bouchard off onto someone for some finishers. Wild have way way way too many assist men and 0 finishers.
I’ve got an idea. Dan……what say we trade you to the Canucks message board for well let’s see…..nothing heavy…..how about future considerations! Yeah that’s it. With that crafty trade, the average hockey IQ of both message boards will instantaneously increase by 50%. I am sure you will be much happier amongst your intellectual peers.
Burrows scored twice in yesterday’s game and has 5 goals this year, the same as Mikko Koivu.
Boogaard hasn’t scored in, what 128 games?
Now who’s more effective? An agitator
pisses off the opponents, is fun to watch AND can score?
Or a thug who gets :36 seconds of ice time per game and hasn’t scored in 2 seasons.
Who would you rather have?
Please be honest.
Why do people feel compelled to makes excuses for Sheppard? You can’t say “sophomore slump” when he only managed 19 points in a full rookie season. He’s just not ready for this job.
AJ:
An agitator is not what we need. We need scorers. Burrows is a scorer on your team. Boogaard is not a scorer, neither is Clutterbuck, nor is Veilleux, or Sheppard at the moment.
Let’s start with getting these guys to pop in a few goals before we talk about agitators.
Clutterbuck is suppose to be the agitator.
Is Boogaard the player that Burrows is?? Well duh Homer I don’t think so. But that is not his role. The mere presence of Boogaard plays a significant role in what transpires on the ice for the Wild whether he is on it or not.
I think agitators give the game a bad name. You don’t. I can agree to disagree on that.
AJ says:
November 21st, 2008 at 1:03 am
Burrows scored twice in yesterday’s game and has 5 goals this year, the same as Mikko Koivu.
Boogaard hasn’t scored in, what 128 games?
Now who’s more effective? An agitator
pisses off the opponents, is fun to watch AND can score?
Or a thug who gets :36 seconds of ice time per game and hasn’t scored in 2 seasons.
Who would you rather have?
Please be honest.
you forgot to mention that 2 of those goals for Burrows are shorthanded.
sunshine says:
November 21st, 2008 at 1:21 am
AJ:
An agitator is not what we need. We need scorers. Burrows is a scorer on your team. Boogaard is not a scorer, neither is Clutterbuck, nor is Veilleux, or Sheppard at the moment.
Let’s start with getting these guys to pop in a few goals before we talk about agitators
Clutterbuck could be if he got to play with some real players and not a skill less goon like Boogaard.
Stoned on the Breakaway says:
November 21st, 2008 at 1:31 am
Is Boogaard the player that Burrows is?? Well duh Homer I don’t think so. But that is not his role. The mere presence of Boogaard plays a significant role in what transpires on the ice for the Wild whether he is on it or not.
I think agitators give the game a bad name. You don’t. I can agree to disagree on that.
Boogaard is an agitator/goon. he isn’t a real hockey player that’s for sure since he has no hockey skill.
Boogaard is an enforcer. You’re not a real writer Dan, but that lack of skill doesn’t keep you from posting on message boards now does it?
Stoned on the Breakaway says:
November 21st, 2008 at 1:58 am
Boogaard is an enforcer. You’re not a real writer Dan, but that lack of skill doesn’t keep you from posting on message boards now does it?
last i checked, i have never claimed to be any sort of writer at all. however, my matter of fact manner is due to the fact that i’m right 99.77% of the time. you can disagree with me all you want on what ever the topic may be, but in the end i am always proven right.
Gotta say, you flatlanders are very fine fans. Reality is lately that until things get ugly again[give it two more games] our rivalry will be fairly tepid. We’re just glad that Curtis stood tall and some Pavel guy wanted to stick it to his old team. Things will boil stinky in time, for now I just deeply hate the AVs. I know it doesn’t matter, I just hate them. I hate them. Pointless of me…Scum.
Chin up. I might hate you yet. Long season.
You wish you had Burrows.
Can someone please help me understand why Skoula is still at Jacque’s tete and continues to play more minutes? And how Boogard is at a +3 and not on the ice more than Skoula?
Why? Why? Why?
Dan keep up the good work. I don’t always agree with you (Boogard is a goon but I still want him on my team) but this blog doesn’t need more cheerleaders.
I am not a writer, never claimed to be a writer. I do believe that Boogaard is not a hockey player either. He plays a role on a hockey team, a very limited role. He is an enforcer that can only catch other enforcers. His lack of speed and innate stick handling ability limit his career in the NHL. Boogaard is 679 out of 690 players with 4:58 TOI/G. Others in his category are Riley Cote, David Koci, Jesse Boulerice, and Andrew Peters. Most of these players have 0 goals or assists, but lead in the penalty category. Burrows has 16:00 TOI/G, 6 goals, 7 assists for 13 points.
Hockey players score, assist, play defense, and add value to their team.
Eric Reitz is closer to a hockey player than he is a fighter considering the last two beatings he took.
Clutterbuck is a hitter and a slows down the opposition, but can bring more to the game if given the chance.
As of yet I haven’t seen much more than those two things either one of them brings to the game.
Let me followed up after reading more of the older posts. I do not care for Burrows as a player, but he brings a different game to the NHL.
It would be nice to have Rolston and Voros back.
Disappointing to lose the game last night, but the team still has 6 of 7 at home, with the only road game in Nashville. Plus, the 4-game roader that follows this home stretch takes the team to Nash, Phoe, LA and Ana. Just have to bounce back.
A few things, though:
1) If Boogey is gonna get minutes, even scant minutes, he has to play the body more. He needs to start bringing some energy to the ice and he will only do that by throwing his size around.
2) The more I watch Reitz, the more I wish JL would move Ingelwood Jack back to the blue line. IJ seemed to get more offensive chances while he was on the blueline anyway and I just haven’t been that impressed with Reitz’ play in the defensive end, espeically last night.
3) Somebody needs to shake something loose inside PMB’s head. He seems to be in a rut of biblical proportions. Anyone else grown tired of seeing PMB go up the ice with th e puck and into the offensive zone, only to peel away toward to the wall and try a backhanded flip pass to a trailer only to see the opponent sitting there waiting for the puck? Someone send PMB a map and compass so he knows where the net is.
4) As big of a rut that PMB is in, he is simply on fire compared to Shepp. This kid is flat out lost. Can only imagine how tightly he is squeezing the stick or how much he is thinking on the ice right now. He looks plain awful.
Anyway, just some observations. No need to go postal because the team lost to the Nux, again, but there are some areas of concern that should be addressed.
too many tripping penalties, didn’t win enough puck battles, had a hard time keeping the puck on the stick. That seemed to be the problem last night.
JL said when you don’t have speed, you don’t draw penalties. that is a problem too.
the important thing is how they bounce back tomorrow.
Rolston are you kidding me, give me Bergeron who can keep the puck in the zone when we are on a power play, then feeding Zidlicky any day over the one shot wonder who is nothing without Bouchard to feed him.
is that the real Deep Breath or is voice of reason posting as Deep Breath?
Scary, isn’t it, when I have to be the voice of reason. I was as disappointed as anyone after last night’s game, but you just have to realize what the Wild is: a defensive team, which has benefited from outstanding play from it’s goalie and speical teams and has taken advantage of a weak early season schedule to be near the top of the divison. The problems the team has are nothing new. They have/had one line that is producing with Franchise/Mittens and Bruno. That just seems like a recipe to put WAY too much pressure on the goalie, as well as the special teams. If we can count on being the top PK unit all season and if we can count on Backstop being ungodly all season and if we can count on having a decent PP unit all season, then the team should be fine. If, however, any of those areas goes into any kind of a slump during the season, the struggling could get out of hand.
- Why are Nuk fans obsessed with trying to prove that players on other teams are “dirty” too?
- If the Wild are “boring” the Nuks are too:
Goal for last year:
MIN - 2.68
VAN - 2.52
Dan, I don’t know which is worse…your arrogance or your ignorance.
I suppose I am the only one that feels that way though… 
Demitriage had a nice assist, but his goal was garbage. Yeah, it counts. But it proves the old adage…better to be lucky than good.
It is simply amazing to me that no one on the Wild (other than Koivu and our 3 defensemen) is even a threat to score.
Even Burns is gripping the stick a little tight. I’d say that they need a 4 or 5 goal game tomorrow night, but I am afraid they would be shut out the next 4 games.
I’ve grown tired of the ‘Bouchard Circle of Turnovers’.
Clutterbuck - though he hasn’t been a threat to score, has made Weller into a popcorn chef. I hope he keeps it up. If he puts a couple of chances away, he’ll be an NHLer for a long time.
IJ back to D. He stepped back there breifly to fill in for a D who got caught up ice and looked good. I say throw caution to the wind (JL never would) and do the following:
Bruno - Koivu - Mittens
Nolan - Pouliot - PMB
C-buck - Bela - Mojzis
Gillies - SRV - Boogaard/Weller
Shultz - Johnsson
IJ - Skoula
Zidlicky - MAB
Sit Shep and Reitz
Yep, that means SRV plays center but I think he can handle it even though he won’t win many faceoffs.
Oh, and before the game tell PMB if he circles, he sits. Carry the puck around the D or shoot it! Then at least we’d have a chance for a goal rather than turning it over almost 100% of the time!
And on the PP, tell Zidlicky (right hand shot) and MAB (left hand shot) to switch sides (Zidlicky plays left, MAB plays right) so they can work the one-timers on the D to D passes!
I too am tired of bouchard and dont want to give hime more time. He reminds me of Rolston except he dosnt shoot.
My opinion here, boogaard is not a hockey player, I am in the camp that thinks he brings nothing to the table. To slow to do anything, sure he had A nice shift last night but, not enough to have a roster spot and I dont buy anyone fears him. Not enough “heavy weights” around anymore to need him, and he cant catch any “agitators” nor will they fight him. Theres my 2 cents on that.
I dont miss Rolston at all.
I do like Clutterbuck.
No fact behind any of this just my opinions.
Can someone please taughted me on the IJ reference? Why is Burns referred to as Inglewood Jack?
<idue to the fact that i’m right 99.77% of the time. you can disagree with me all you want on what ever the topic may be, but in the end i am always proven right.
This is just the most hilarious thing I have ever read. The hockey Jesus has spoken people!! Listen up! This team is total garbage!
OMG…IJ = Inglewood Jack.
Go to YouTube and find Samuel L. Jackson’s clip of Jules Winnifield coaching hockey.
but you just have to realize what the Wild is: a defensive team, which has benefited from outstanding play from it’s goalie and speical teams and has taken advantage of a weak early season schedule to be near the top of the divison.
I would only add to DB’s Voice of Reason like comments that without Gaby or his trade value replacements, the season to date results are at least slightly better than any of us could have hoped.
As for Gaby, assuming any sort of faking or lack of desire to play is BS, I honestly think that at this point the Wild is going to be best of keeping him this year and holding him at the deadline if the playoffs are well within the team’s grasp. Given Doug Smugsborogh’s track record it is hard to say this but I think he will get the right players with the right contracts with Gaby’s cap space next summer. Burns, Mikko and Backs are going to help bring players into this team and JL can do enough to make a good playoff team a contender. I know all it takes is one GM but I honestly don’t think the Wild is going to get enough in trade value to make the trade worth it.
After last night’s string of idiocy, I am not sure what to even post.
Boogey is not the problem. Let me say that again.
Boogey is not the problem.
Fans are all worked up about the lack of scoring, so they turn to Boogey and ask, why give him a roster spot? You give him a roster spot to keep people like Burrows focused on hockey. Last night, Burrows only had the one cheap move, which is a grand improvement.
Regardless of if he can catch them, Boogey scares the living daylight out of people like Burrows.
I wonder what the perfect game looks like to people who want the heavyweights to go away “in favor of scoring.” I can tell you what that game looks like. 6-5, with three players off with concussions, and one out with a broken rib from getting the butt end of stick in the corner.
If we want to cast blame (if blame is needed right now), it needs to be on Mittens, Bruno, Nolan, and a great deal on Butch.
I read complaint after complaint about the shots from the point. These are what the Dmen are being paid to take. If no one is else is going to shoot, why not them? The question then becomes, where is Nolan? Why is he not in front for the deflection, or hey… why not try to bounce a few off of Boogey? Clutts would work ouot there too.
OMG: In the Sammy Jackson video on when he was Chris Chelios’ hockey coach, he demonstrates how to go “Ingelwood Jack” on somebody, meaning, throwing hay-maker uppercuts against an opponent. I referenced that when I called Burns IJ last year after the Wild beat the Nux 4-rip at the “X” and Burrows and PMB had another dustup. During the maylee that ensued, Burnsie grabbed hold of someone, I forget who, and landed at least 4 hay-making, right uppercuts in perfect correlation with Sammy Jackson’s “Ingelwood Jack”. The nickname has sort of stuck. That being said, the Wild need to move IJ back to the blue stripe and let Reitz catch his breath a little bit. He is starting to make too many mistakes in the defensive zone.
Buddha-I think you got me wrong here, if your comment was in response to mine. I like the defensive system the wild uses, in all my years playing we played a similar style of defense first hockey and I dont want to see a high scoring game (being the goalie I was). I just dont buy that anyone in the league is afraid of boogey. I would rather give his spot to an Nolan type player who will stand up when needed but can contribute in other ways.
Completing the thought…
The lack of scoring is nothing new. It didn’t just magically happen. There was a lack of scoring last year, the year before that, etc.
Here is my opinion, without being able to get the guys to actually admit it, it is hard to prove, but here it is:
The boys expect Mikko to do the socring, just like they used to expect UM to do it, or Rolston to do it. I’m not sure there are very many players out there who feel they are the one who is supposed to shoot, and so they don’t.
If only we could get inside the heads of the boys to see what it is that is going on.
I’ll stop now. I just really feel like blaming Boogey for doing his job is not very productive.
MiG- It was not directed at you… well, not only you.
I am just weary of reading that heavyweights don’t have a role, that his spot on the roster, given to someone else, magically fixes the scoring problem.
And if you want proof that people are still afraid of Boogey, read some opposition blogs. His name still comes up everytime. “experts” still list him in the top 5 fighters in the legue, and when he lands a hit the boards shake so bad I fear the will come apart. It’s got to hurt, and players know it hurts.
The fighting is not always his strongest tool. The hits, and his ability to take up space should be accentuated.
kj, I think OMG, was inquiring as to why we call him IJ. Maybe he wanted to know where IJ comes from too?
OMG, I think IJ popped up after the brawl with the Canucks last year following Burrows’s spear of Bouchard.
I appreciate the whole, “Boogey is a controller of all things dirty”, talk, but would somebody please remind me whom Detroilet’s enforcer is? I would venture the team doesn’t have one since they are dead last in fighting majors this year. Ever since the instigator rule was inacted, the enforcer has become less and less relevant to the sport. Give me a roster of skill players and I’ll take my chances in a 7-game series any time against a team loaded with players trying to “intimidate”.
I also dont want the heavyweights gone its part of the hockey I know, but until every team dresses one I just dont see the point.
I agree with your 7:33 post Greenstar. Puck control was a problem in they lost it before they worked to a great scoring opportunity.
I’m with you there DB, but Detroit also doesn’t play in the NW division. Chi,Nash, Columbus, or St. Louis really play the same style game as the Flames, Nucks, Avs, and Oil.
If the Wings get in a situation, they have Kronwall.
for the person that asked about the linesman, he has a foot injury…will do his next assignment.
Buddha says:
November 21st, 2008 at 8:58 am
The boys expect Mikko to do the socring, just like they used to expect UM to do it, or Rolston to do it. I’m not sure there are very many players out there who feel they are the one who is supposed to shoot, and so they don’t.
Buddha, I agree 100%. You see this all the time in amatuer leagues. The guys figure out who their best player is and try to always force the puck to them instead of taking/making their own opportunities.
It makes it ‘easy’ for the other team. All they’ve got to do is shut down that one guy and not worry about the others so much.
“Jacques Lemaire flipped Mikko Koivu and James Sheppard tonight so Koivu could play on the checking line with Stephane Veilleux and Antti Miettinen and match up against Demitra and the Sedin Twins.”
THAT WAS SHEPPARD PLAYING OFFENSE?! That makes me really depressed…
I don’t think JL is using Boogey to intimidate anyone, either. He is riot police. The Wild do not have a guy like Kronwall. They don’t have the tough guy, physical player, and so it is all bundled up in Boogey.
I think Clutts could be that guy, but he has a ways to go still.
If the Wild had Nolan in his hay day, or a guy like Kronwall, I start to see Boogey being replaceable. Right now though, they have no one else to keep Butch from being murdered. (Not that that is doing much good either though)
Thanks for the update Russo.
Demitra’s comments following the game:
When asked about similarities between the Wild and the Canucks, Demitra stated “it’s not even close. We’ve got a lot of freedom on the ice. Everybody has to be defense and offense, while in Minnesota the center always played defense. We got a lot of criss crossing and a lot of freedom on the ice and we can skate anywere we want and just get open.” Demitra said he liked the offensive freedom in Vancouver’s system in addition to playing with the same player for many games.
I would like to see JL leave the lines alone. If I had any complaint that I would take to him, given the chance, that would be it.
Hockey is a game of chemistry, and you can’t have that when the lines change seventy five times.
But hey… I think we may have already beaten that particular dead horse…
Demitra’s problem is that he didn’t like JL’s authority and challenged it. So what, the Center has the defensive responisbility big deal. Doesn’t mean he cannot score just have to be more aware of where he and the rest of the players are. The wings will still support on defense but it is the centers responsibility. You need to trust your wingers is what it comes down to.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Weller in for Boogaard for a few games. I know people have said he seems lost out there, but I wonder if that isn’t because JL has wanted him playing more like a ‘regular’ wing and less like a throw hits, stick up for guys and if you happen to get the puck do something wing (like Boogaard’s role).
I think he’s got more hockey in him than Boogaard yet still seems to throw ‘em pretty well.
CLUTTERBUCK SHOWED EVERYONE HE HAS OFFENSIVE SKILL. HE EVEN GOT THE THIRD STAR I BELIEVE.
When Gaby gets traded, I’d like to see Doug either get a center in the deal, or preferably get something else worthwhile and call up Kolanos. Then we can move Pouliot to wing and bump him to a higher line.
sooo…who’s Johnson ended up being the longest last night, boys?
I know we’re starved for goals like it’s nobody’s business right now, but I would be all for Butch getting some time in the popcorn room.
Either that or rig him up so that Tremblay can administer a low-grade electrical shock to Butch’s nipples every time he spins his way out of a rush and leads to a turnover.
Luckily, we have him for this season plus 4 more.
on Boogaard: bear in mind when you’re longing for him to channel Bobby Probert that DB was a 7th round pick who doesn’t have a single season with more than 2 goals or even double-digit points on his hockeydb.com page.
Speaking of which: Did Probert’s parents really name him Robert Probert? Like, Robert P-Robert? What’s his middle name? Rob?
I think PMB has psyched himself out. He is obviously frusturated. I have seen him shooting more often, but until one of those shots goes in everyone will call him out for his ‘peel away’. Granted, I do see him peel back when he should be driving the net at least two or three times every game. I think he is just looking for the perfect pass all the time. Just fling it at the net and good things happen… I mean hell, look at Demo’s garbage goal last night for proof.
Nice, Nick, nice.
The whole time last night, I’m thinking to myself… why keep arguing. I just couldn’t help it.
I was having so much fun. Sometimes you just have to throw the kids a bone, you know?
I’ve done it myself, Buddha. No worries.
oops…should have been “whose” Johnson, not “who’s” Johnson.
Waking up after the Wild lose to the Canucks is like having a hangover. I hate those turds and their stupid fans who come in here talkin’ trash. Never in my life would I go to another team’s spot and post. Dicks.
My hockey comment for the day:
PMB needs to shoot/hit the net more or bulk up and take a hit. You can’t have it both ways.
“It’s the way she goes boys, it’s the way she goes.” -Ray
My hockey comment for the day:
PMB needs to shoot/hit the net more or bulk up and take a hit. You can’t have it both ways.
+1.
Extremely well-said.
Additionally, I don’t post in here as much as some people, so I won’t act like i’m making rules BUT the Jim Jones/Kool-aid comments are exhausted, lame, stale, over, doneski.
The (epic?) fail of the AM:
From illeaglcurve.com: “The Thrashers felt like they probably deserved the W last night versus Atlanta, writes Mike Knobler.”
So the Thrashers thought they deserved the win… against… themselves?
Ah ray ray… don’t take away our cliches… please?
NiNY- no, no, my friend- you rule.
BDS: Playing center on JL’s system is probably unlike any other system in the League. Centers in JL’s system are referred to as “third-man high”, meaning their creativity can be quashed because they have more defensive responsibilities and need to be able to get back quicker. That is why you rarly see JL’s centers camping out behind the net trying to make plays. Not saying you won’t find the center down low, but more oftem than not, you won’t. That is what frustrated Demo so much. He felt playing the center position pretty much killed his creativity. Playing 3rd man high just isn’t his game and he was least effective when he was at center. Not sure why everyone roasted him for it. Many folks will state “Hockey is hockey, just play the position and shut up.” I would want those people to ask a professional second baseman if moving over to the play third base would cause any problems. Playing different positions can affect players in a much different way. Look at IJ, he gets moved up to forward to create more offense. He was more effective offensively when he was on the blue line. Not really apples to apples there, but playing the wing and center isn’t apple-to-apples either.
NiNY and Buddah - I do think some serious break throughs happend late last night. Dan actually agreed that the Wild doesn’t need an agitator and that he now only is correct 99.77% of the time.
Hey, I started and quickly retired the “hotdish” signing bonus. I only bring it out when the time is right.
These things come in increments BDS. One game at a time.
Ah… cliches… they taste as good as pork chops wraped in bacon and slathered with pork fat dipped in bacon grease.
MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmm…..
DB - I really don’t want to start this because I think we only will end up trying to splitt hairs, however, it is hockey we are talking about not Baseball. The two sports are very different.
Secondly, you are correct that the center is playing much higher in the slot in JL’s “system” then others but this doesn’t mean he cannot be creative. Demo just did want to listen to how JL wanted him to play. He wasn’t buying into the system because he didn’t want to listen and didn’t think he could or wanted to learn a slightly different way to play then he is used to. Frankly, my feeling is he didn’t want to work that hard when he could play the way he always has and keep scoring goals.
Then we can move Pouliot to wing and bump him to a higher line.
I have been for Benny at wing since the get go - look at it this way: if Demo hates playing C for JL, why would Benny be able to do it effectively and consistently? - but they didn’t do that much when Kolanos is up so for me, its all the more reason to get a C in the Gaby trade because Shep needs to be the 4th line C and second option on the PK and play up to scoring line opportunities.
I hate those turds and their stupid fans who come in here talkin’ trash
I think the collective karma that is the Vancouver Canucks speaks for itself.
too continue, you are absolutly correct that playing out of ones natural position can create “issues” for a player in the ajustments they will have to make. On the other hand this uneasiness can actually help a play grow and unlock cetain abilities they previously didn’t know they had.
Obviously this theory doesn’t always work, see PMB.
All in all, DB, we are in agreement, in a perfect world each player will perform the best by playing in it’s natural position.
Well, you got to admit that the Wild at the moment seem to lack any type of creative offensive.
I don’t think we starved for goals until late in the year - specifically more evidence in March. It might have been because there was depth in offense and that we were getting scoring from all different lines.
This year, we only have scoring from one line. Doesn’t instill lots of confidence on scoring.
Food
I agree with the butch and rolston comparison. Its frustraiting watching butch just spining and trying to set up players that arent there…
He when he wants to be is a sniper with a slapshot and he can wiggle thru D men and roof pucks…I keep waiting for Nolan and Butch to put this team on their backs or at least combine for some points out there…sheesh
shep needs to watch some games from the russo section. Even If these guys arent getting pucks in the net if they step up the intensity in the O zone they will draw penaltys especially Butch.
There is no excuse for losing that one boys, since Luongo was on the bench. Thank jeebas for Mikko and Backs! Oh and whats up with getting our Gaborik update from Foster last night Russ?
Rayraydavies says: “Never in my life would I go to another team’s spot and post. Dicks. ”
This is what pisses me off.
THIS IS NOT THE MINNESOTA WILD TEAM PAGE: http://WWW.WILD.NHL.COM IS.
This is the website for a newspaper. Let me repeat that in caps: NEWSPAPER.
The last time I checked newspapers were about freedom of speech and diverse thought.
It says that this blog is for: “a wide-ranging hockey-centric discussion with readers”. It says “readers” not “fans”. Well, I’m a reader.
If you want a Wild love-in, form a fan page.
THAT’S WHAT FAN PAGES ARE FOR.
Please go form the website “www.WeLoveTheWild.com” if you only want fans to comment. Otherwise, it’s free speech. Deal with it.
Thanks.
Seldom do you find playes as whiney as Demetra … he did not like the practices, he did not like his assignments, etc.
A room full of those kind of people means you have no team at all.
Though he was given five shots and an accidental goal, I did not sense he was a big contributor to the Canucks win.
