St. Louis Blues 2, Wild 1; Where’s Gaborik?; Mojzis being sent to the minors
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 – 7:02 PMBy Michael Russo
Wild has dropped to 0-2 on this five-game homestand that sees Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom come to town Monday (Wild might catch a break because I see Mike Green and Alexander Semin aren’t playing tonight in San Jose).
Back-to-back regulation losses since last November for the Wild, and it’s only the second time that’s ever happened to Niklas Backstrom.
The Wild just can’t score. It’s that simple really. I was just reading over some of my training camp advances and my 10 questions heading into training camp, and this is exactly what I predicted (and that was assuming Marian Gaborik would be healthy).
The Wild lost Brian Rolston, Pavol Demitra and Mark Parrish. The team was mostly banking on bigtime offense from Mikko Koivu, P-M Bouchard & Gang, plus James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot to simply break out, Antti Miettinen to turn into a 25-goal scorer and Marek Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergeron to create offense from the back end.
But if you’re moving the puck up to forwards who can’t score, what does it matter? The Wild has scored a league-low 42 goals (2.3 a game), and remember six of those came in one game at Florida.
This isn’t just a slump. This has been a season-long problem that’s been masked by Backstrom and quality special teams. And it’s a problem that won’t be easily solved unless Gaborik returns or Doug Risebrough starts working the phones.
As Jacques Lemaire said after, now, the Wild can’t score on its power play (0 for 5 tonight) as well as 5-on-5.
Chris Mason was phenomenal tonight, making 31 saves to earn his first victory with St. Louis. But no offense to my pal Mason, either every goalie’s a superstar lately against the Wild or the Wild is helpless offensively.
The Wild has scored four goals in the last three games – vs. Dany Sabourin, Curtis Sanford and Mason. That’s not exactly Roberto Luongo, Marty Brodeur and Miikka Kiprusoff.
In the meantime, Gaborik is pretty invisible. He’s missed 16 straight games despite skating daily for the last few weeks before the team practices. Jacques Lemaire said he won’t worry about him until he sees him in practice.
“Right now, I can’t do nothing. I don’t know where he’s at.”
I hunted down Gaborik after the game. At first he didn’t want to comment, and then he said into my ear, “I’m not going to talk until I play. That’s what I’ve decided.”
I asked to see Tom Lynn after the game. He said Gaborik is “rehabbing and won’t practice until he’s 100 percent.”
I told him about the conspiracy theory on the message boards and blogs and my email inbox that alleges Gaborik’s either refusing to play or the Wild is holding him out as it tries to trade him.
Lynn said, “When there’s a theory of a crime, police often look for motive. I can’t think of a motive why the team wouldn’t want him to play or why he wouldn’t want to play. I really can’t.”
Stephane Veilleux’s goal tonight was the first even-strength goal for a Wild forward other than Mikko Koivu since Nov. 6 (361 minutes, 48 seconds).
Another bad sign? In the last four games, the Wild has given up a goal within two minutes of scoring. Tonight, Brad Boyes, who scored twice, tied the score at 1-1 within 46 seconds.
As for David Backes’ five-minute major for boarding Brent Burns, that’ll be reviewed by the NHL. Burns was definitely stung by the hit, but he returned to the bench with seven seconds left, so he looks OK.
On another note, Tomas Mojzis has been given his walking papers. He told me after the game he has a flight tomorrow to meet the Houston Aeros.
From Brian Stensaas, here’s quotes from the St. Louis Blues locker room:
Mason
These guys [Wild] work extremely hard and the last five minutes – they were really pushing the last half of the period there. The guys did a great job. We took a penalty at the end there and managed to kill it off with a couple of huge shot blocks. Time ran out, I was thankful for that.
Coming to a new team, it felt sometimes like I wasn’t going to get one here. The guys did a great job of letting me see the shots and cleared the rebounds when they were sitting there. It just feels good.
(1st period) Every time you come here, the first 10 minutes you have to – they come out extremely hard. We did a good job keeping it 0-0. That’s the kind of game – to beat the Wild, you’re not going to get many chances or many goals against these guys. They’ve got good goaltending and good structure. That’s the kind of game we were hoping for.
(Injuries have mounted but you’ve won 3 of 4 …) It’s great. It’s an opportunity for a lot of guys. Obviously you need your team to play a different way. We kind of understand we’re not going to be a run-and-gun kind of team. We have to play hard, simple hockey and the guys that we’ve called up have done an excellent job and have been huge contributors the last three games there.
Boyes
Anytime you win it’s always good. Came off a big one last night against Anaheim. It was good. We played solid. Mase made the saves when he had to. He was outstanding today.
(How much more important is production from you and guys like Keith with all the injuries?) It’s huge. After losing Andy especially, I definitely haven’t been producing like I should. We’ve had guys who have stepped up, which has been great. Tonight we got it done, and those are the things we need to keep doing every game.
(Won 3 of 4 with a new look crew) You can’t replace hard work. [But] guys have stepped up. Regier has played well with us. Crombeen can set the tone. Winchester has been great. You can go down the list. Cam Paddock has played well. The biggest thing that’s consistent with those guys is they’re working hard. And that brings energy to all of us.
(Really came back after that first period getting outshot pretty good) We fell behind a little bit with those penalties. Our penalty kill stepped up big time for us; we were on our heels a little it. Mason played phenomenal.
—————————————————————————————–
OK, same scratches as I told you this morning.
Niklas Backstrom vs. Chris Mason tonight.
I walked in with Mason, one of my favorite players I’ve ever covered. I was right about his fantasy football team. As usual, he said, he has the most points in his league. He’s got that running back from the Vikings. I forget his name.
284 Responses to "St. Louis Blues 2, Wild 1; Where’s Gaborik?; Mojzis being sent to the minors"
Adrian Peterson, and I’m still holding you responsible for our downfall.
Does STL have anyone Boogie can fight?
Hem hem… as I was saying…
S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. NIGHT!
I think King is out.
Good start… score one.
Go Wild!
Listen to the Montreal fans whining and booing that Lucic won’t fight Laraque, who’s hounding Lucic all over the ice.
Nice on Russo…A.P. ONLY gets a tiny amount of attention:)
pretty good pressure and tempo
another pp
RG said pp…hehehehe….
I need a nap.
ouch
Blues commentators really don’t like the penalty calls against St. Lou
Hi. I’m new here… can’t even put together there was a new thread… good lord…
Especially since I told you there was a new thread Buddha, I announced food for all to see. Are you overly tired like me?
Just a bit. Baby up at 4am, worked from 8 until 6… no break. Fun times.
Ouch Buddha, long day for you. The dogs let me sleep in till 6:30, worked 8:30 - 5:30, but that 4 am stuff has to hurt.
I think Butch has two shots on goal already! He must have received the memo.
I wonder how long Buddha would’ve been posting on the last thread if I hadn’t given him a reminder.
Forever (KiPA?)… Was at work until midnight last night too. Makes it all the better.
Or until right now when the google reader undated, telling me Russo posted something new.
Yes.
Pushing the panic button in Pitt are we?
PEE-PEE again
Have I ever told you guys I like hockey? … I think work fried my brain today. We had almost 200 people go through the museum between 10:30 and 4 today, made for a long long day.
Boooring.. Boston and the Habs are on. Way better to watch.
Seeing as how we suck, yes.
Michael, I was thinking the same thing.
He he… pp.
What a boring period of hockey.
Fleury back yet?
No, but goaltending isn’t the problem.
First periods over, time for Nick to drink.
ATX I’m sorry you have to clean, hearing about people cleaning for company this week makes me glad my sister does Thanksgiving.
I thought the boys looked pretty good. Good legs under them. Now they just gotta finish. Definitely not exciting… but it could be going a lot worse.
KiPA, as someone who watches all Sid’s games, is he more hype and hope then substance thus far?
The Dallas/Anaheim game is pretty feisty. Four fights in the first period.
Baby hasn’t taken her eyes of the game…
Oh, and KiPA- she is wearing one of those one piece baby suit things… big penguin on it.
He’s been worth it except for this year.
The Mr is losing it. He just came up to me with his fuzzy Twins blankey over his head and said, these are not the droids your looking for. He needs help.
Yeah Bandgeek, it sucks. Whatta gonna do eh?
Ha. Lucic scored. Montreal’s been booing him all night for not fighting.
LOL Bandgeek
We thought the Wild offense was putrid of late, which is has been, but it could be worse. You could be a fan of the Goofer football offense. Ish.
Why do the MTL fans boo every time Chara touches the puck?
Lucic hurt his hand last night blooding up Boynton. Most likely he’s been told not to fight tonight.
I’ve read the story somewhere ATX… having a brain cramp though.
Yeah Deep Breath, 27-0 at halftime, I guess Brewster might not be the second coming.
There just bringing a fitting end to the Gopher era in the Dome DB.
He has been, Dan, not just because he busted his hand but because he’s a better player than Laraque.
The Wild may never score 5 on 5 again.
This is really sad. Bordering on un-watchable.
KJ, there’s a big wall on that border.
Not sure any of these are true, but some funny answers here, ATX:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080410162006AAmt2ae
Couple you tube clips here may explain it:
looks like the Wild remembered the Blues are the team that played a long emotional game last night.
haha, thanks Buddha. Funny stuff.
SRV!!!!
WOO! SRV!
SRV! SRV! SRV!
WOOOOOOO!!!!! SRV!!!!!
What a shot!
Nice. I guess switching things up helped out. Looked a bit soft though.. but I will take it.
hell of a shot…
why can’t he do that more.
5 on 5 not Koivu.
SHat.
Upon further inspection.. that was a nifty angle shot. Just squeaked it in there.
Miettinen’s fault. he skated past Boyes when he should’ve flattened him.
WTF? WTF? WTF?
Bloody friggin’ heck.
Why are we #1 at giving up a goal 10 seconds after we score? It’s like the plauge with this team and that crap.
BURNSSS….AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Burnsie denied… again.
The Burns shot looked in to me. I thought I saw net.
Come on boys, time for a goal.
Lets go PP!
hahah.
DOH!!! That looked in!
Anyone see Oldin jump out of the crease just then, pretty funny.
Damn. What a good PP, but no goals… FINISH!
I really like Johnsson’s game these days.
Aggghhhhh…..
Frustration.
How did that not go in!!!
Grrrrr….
Dude, Cal looks tiny next to Boogie… of course, most people look tiny next to Boogie. My Boogie’s a big boy.
What happened to waiving off icing when they rule it was a errant pass? Did that just go away because the linesmens arms hurt or what?
Nice hit… too bad thats interference…
he may be big but he serves no purpose and needs to be set free. wild need scorers, not 4 minute a game talentless goons.
We all heard you the first five times you said that Dan. Give it a rest.
Dan’s here?
Solid D there…
Ugh. Garbage.
SOB
Wow, way to fall for the pick there Zids.
Backstrom’s fault. Skoula went low, Backstrom didn’t need to butterfly on that.
Okay Dan… I am so glad you are here to tell me whose fault it was.
Nope. Just the result of letting a true finisher like Boyes get free in close.
That ball was too high. I mean, it was way too high.
What do you mean it was too high? It’s gone…
But it was too high… you know? Too high.
Sign Him.
What a nice group of saves there. come on defense, take some of that pressure off Backs.
This is starting to look like the canucks game. My BP is going up. I think I’ll take a pill and a drink.
AustinTXwildfan says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Okay Dan… I am so glad you are here to tell me whose fault it was.
I’m right, you’re wrong, deal with it.
That ball was too high. I mean, it was way too high.
What do you mean it was too high? It’s gone…
But it was too high… you know? Too high.
*applause*
Dan I hate your guts. All your comments and your blog are worthless. I would rather read mindless drivel from Mister Know it All for an entire day rather than listen to you cry a freaking river every day.
LOL ATX
That last goal was Dan’s fault. It doesn’t matter that he wasn’t in the building. I say it was Dan’s fault, and I’m right 100% of the time.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Anytime…
Tie it up here boys…
no time awareness by Bouchard. unacceptable if you’re in the NHL.
AustinTXwildfan says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Dan I hate your guts. All your comments and your blog are worthless. I would rather read mindless drivel from Mister Know it All for an entire day rather than listen to you cry a freaking river every day.
am I suppose to care? I don’t, but I would like any reason why I should.
I’d like to vote Dan off the island…
Dan:
You are a veritable genius. I would just like to thank for for gracing us with your presence lately. I find myself wondering exactly what went wrong on every play. When you aren’t around, I am lost. Thanks.
Every now and then there is this weird buzzing noise from the blog, and certain posts show up as squiggles. I sure hope that person isn’t saying anything important. It’s like I see that person ‘talking’ but all I hear is “blah, blah, blah, I’m a dirty slut.”
Did you try out for pee wee hockey and get turned down or something? Your negitive attitude is annoying as hell. If you are such a great hockey mind, why aren’t you playing or coaching in the NHL? It probably has something to do with the fact that you are not as smart as you think you are.
LOL Bandgeek.
Bandgeek…it sounds like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons.
Wahhh wah wah wah wah waaaaaaahhhh.
Glad you like it RG, it’s one of the Mr’s favorite lines. But neither of us can remember where it came from.
Bandgeek, probably South Park?
These are some damn long commercial breaks. Is anyone else watching the St. Louis feed?
Blah blah blah, I’m a dirty tramp is from Mr. Deeds. Is that what you’re thinking of?
WILDATX, I was thinking the same thing.
I want to say Colbert Report ATX.
BG- Anchorman?
Iowa 41
Minnesota 0
RG, were you getting the weird blips of the announcers chatting about nothing? It was bizarre.
While reading these threads tonight, I smelled a foul odor. It smelled like bullsh*t. Was that you Dan?
Iowa 41
Minnesota 0
I don’t watch the Gophers at all… but DAMN that was a beating and a half. Boy I do hate the Iowa Hawkeyes though…
This color commentator on the HNIC feed is hilarious. Tremendously thick French-Canadien accent but speaking English.
RG- Really?
Ouch. Guess the bandwagoners can jump off now, eh?
Ric Renner (FOx intermission guy for Dallas) has the worst hair I’ve ever seen. Wow, that’s just bad.
That Iowa Minn game is only in the 3rd quater. Its pathetic.
Where has the Buttertruck been? I have only noticed him on the ice once I think.
The Mr just remembered, ‘Mr. Deeds’ is the answer. Deed’s mom says it.
Haha, I wrote that a while ago.
There’s Clutts!
Yeah Ands, I like that name. He just announced himself.
C’mon… let em go!
Boarding? Really? Sounds like 2 minutes for being Boogey
Taking too many strides before a hit is charging… come on Greenlay
the circus clown just couldn’t help himself so he had an awfully late and dangerous hit on Winchester.
It’s bad enough he plays at all, but when it’s the 3rd period, and the Wild are losing, he has no business being on the ice.
Yeah, my Oregon State Beavers just won on a last second field goal. We beat Oregon in the Civil War game next week and we’re in the Rose Bowl!
Yeah… wasnt me… anyone else able to tell that?
Somehow I have a feeling that Buddha didn’t say that.
Heh, Eric Godard was one of the best Penguins in the third period today.
No business being on the ice. None at all. fourth on the team for + / -
Butch crashed the net… shoulda had one there. Mason is playing well.
Ands, I told my Mr what you had said and he went to look up quotes from Mr Deeds. You get props for being the catalyst to get the Mr off his butt for the first time tonight.
Really is impressive how the Wild make bad backup goalies look good it’s it?
Mason is not a bad backup goalie.
Dan, if that is you impersonating Buddha, know that you can get IP Banned for that crap.
Thanks for continuing to post with my info Dan.
I’d like to see more of that from Sheps.
Nice move by Shep
Who’s #51? Oh, Sheppard. there’s hope for this kid yet.
These announcers say the strangest things. Not super annoying though.
I tried to reserve my judgment on the Blues commentators but I am ready to commit: They’re huge homers.
Gotta like all that pressure the boys are putting on. Now if they could just finish it. You got them on their heels… now Sweep The Leg!
It would be nice if someday soon DR would bring in a power forward, or someone willing to stand in front of the net. Way too many point shots taken, way too many point shots blocked, the Wild deserve to lose this game and undoubtedly they will while Vancouver pulls away in the division.
RG - they’re not as big of homers as the Nuks announcers the other night. Or the Wings announcers.
Buddha was that you?
I want Ralston back. DR needs a kick in the head. Mittens and Brunette aren’t doing it. Bouchard is scared to shoot. Nolan isn’t doing anything. I’d much rather have Voros back. Shep is hot and cold, but mostly lukewarm.
Aren’t there any forwards on this team with a decent shot? Everything is run from the point, and mighty unsuccessfully at that.
WATX, true. But I’m still annoyed.
The jury is in. MAB and Zid are great additions to the team. Reitz adds a little needed grit.
Booger is looking more like a liability.
Nope.
Zids had a beauty coast-to-coast run there… It will be tragic if the Wild lose this… they deserve to win this one. They have outplayed the Blues on almost ever level… except scoring obviously.
the jury is in…MAB and Zid are great additions. Reitz adds some needed grit.
Booger is looking more like a liability.
Looks like after twenty minutes of monkey f’ing a football quality effort he may finally have figured out he was posting as me though…
Yeah, I didn’t think so Buddha. Didn’t sound like you.
I have a feeling the X is going to rain down some boos on the boys tonight…
Who is the lame announcer for St Louis? Not the play-by-play… the other guy that sounds like he has a walnut stuck in his throat. He’s terrible. His first comment of the night on the first penalty, “Let’s hope we don’t get the reffing that we seem to be getting with all of these, you know, these calls we get during the game.”
That’s classic. It’s the ref’s fault…
I don’t think they should boo the boys tonight.
MN in AL says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I want Ralston back. DR needs a kick in the head. Mittens and Brunette aren’t doing it. Bouchard is scared to shoot. Nolan isn’t doing anything. I’d much rather have Voros back.
NJ wishes they had Rolston too. He’s been out a while with an injury.
Am I the only one not surprised Miettinen isn’t doing anything? The guy played 13 minutes with Dallas, contributed almost nothing, and now he’s playing 20 minutes a game with much less talent around him, and he’s still doing nothing. it’s not a surprise.
Bouchard isn’t scared to shoot. His shot is so awful that he can’t shoot. It flutters and it’s very weak.
Voros has 3 points in his last 15 games, do you really want him back?
IJ with the power face off win
PP
Kill him. Kill him NOW
And again, whining about the hook.
That was dirty
Ugly hit. Send Boogie out to get some justice.
NONONONONO!! Don’t hurt Burnsie. Bad hoser. No hurt Burnsie.
Hey NHL… whay was that about shots to the head?
Send Boogie out next time, for now lets get a freakin goal!!!
Jeez Backus is a Bull. From Spring Lake Park, MN by the way. He made Burns look like PMB.
5 minute major… should carry a match penalty, auto suspension.
Oh wait Colin Campbell still in charge. Never mind.
Send Boogie out to get some justice.
Down one and about to go on a major power play? Great idea!
Bouchard, shoot that puck!
ARRRRRRRRG!
terrible, just terrible. there hasn’t been a team in the history of the game that misses the net as much as the Wild. it’s pathetic.
GDMNMUTHEREFFER!
Okay, sorry, PMB. That was going to be blocked.
Why is there no one in front of the net?
Boy, good shot by Koivu, so close.
Koivu instead of Belanger on the face-off? WTF!?!
This is like a nightmare that won’t end. Eff Mason.
Nolan hit that on net out of mid air. AWWWWWWW!
Mason played a very strong game.
That’s a horrible toss on Koivu from the faceoff. That linesman didn’t have the other center put his stick down, and Koivu gets tossed?
Hey Dan. Please tell me all about who’s fault this is, and what went wrong.
an 0-5 goalie, with a 4+ gaa against the Wild over his career, comes into the X and gets the win.
What a terrible team.
Can you say “FIRE SALE”.
Another miserable game. I hope someone starts riding DR in the newspapers. Hard. I’m sick of this 1 goal per game crap.
Tragic. They should have won. I am outta here before I go braindead from reading The Hockey Jesus’ (a.k.a Dan) comments. Have a good night guys… except Dan, I hope you dream of RIAC.
Actually, it’s all my fault
Havent been following along with the comments tonight, but there is one and only person to blame for tonight’s loss. And that man is Doug Risebrough.
Bloody hell, I’m going to go dig out my stash of chocolate. Later!
Thanks for summing it up Dan. Night all.
Buddha says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Hey Dan. Please tell me all about who’s fault this is, and what went wrong.
Simple, 2 people are to blame…
1. Risebrough for being an incompetent GM everywhere he’s been, especially here, with his inability to draft and/or sign scorers. You can’t win if you can’t score. simple as that.
2. Lemaire. His “style” doesn’t work, his players don’t work, and it’s getting more obvious by the day that not only should he be removed as head coach, but the players are tuning him out.
D.R makes Kevin Mcfail look good.
Buddha- been saying this for several years. I feel ya. Can’t put a square peg in a round hole.
There it was. I was waiting for the ” A few bounces.”
5 minute penalty with less then 2 minutes to play needs to be a penalty shot automatic 3 game minumum suspension and the potential 5 minute power play.
The league needs to deal with these situations, as they are not only potential injuries but also pathetic ways for teams to try to finish off games.
Wow. From the last few comments you’d think the Wild lost to the Panthers by 10 goals. Hm. Guess some people were watching a different game than I was.
Good night all!
5 minute penalty with less then 2 minutes to play needs to be a penalty shot automatic 3 game minumum suspension and the potential 5 minute power play.
Why, because you didn’t score on yours?
I’m with you a bit ATX. I’m completely unsatisfied, but in the AM I might be happier about the chances. Maybe…
Not a good night for sports in this town!!!
Why aren’t my posts being added? I sent a take on the pathetic performance, again, 2x, they both got deleted.
Yes um… TS+G4AO… that is how this works. The rules didn’t suit us, so we should change them.
Right?
Though now there will be more talk about a suspension, but Burns wasn’t seriously hurt, so Campbell won’t do anything.
Because (Whoever posted that under my name) the blog is messed up, has been for weeks.
He should be suspended. He won’t, but he should.
Sleep. Must sleep.
All posts after this point will not be me. Just FYI.
Enjoy the board the rest of the evening. I’m sure it will be just chock full of wise advice, optimism for the future, and sage hockey wisdom.
No because we didn’t as much as get two minutes to try to score. Why call the 5 if it’s no worse then the 2.
Or we can just decide in the last two minutes it’s a free for all, and if you commit a two you might as well throw there head into the board fur the hell of it.
the only silver lining to this un-polished turd of a game is that Sheppard showed signs of life.
The wild looked good in the 1st. They sucked hind teet in the 2nd and 3rd.
My boy B Pol must have broken out the skull bong in the locker room after the first because he was invisible in the second and third.
Well if you had scored in the 1:12 of 6-on-4 you’d have had more time in overtime with the man advantage.
Poultine was non-existant.
The Wild make every goaltender look good. Because they suck offensively.
This is gonna be a long year.
KiPA:
I took your advice and Pavelski scored a goal for me. I forgot to look at goalies.
I wouldn’t have been mad at you if it was Bergeron that scored. I was indifferent to either one and your JT comment weighed more heavily than the Bruins hot winning streak.
Forgot - Thank you.
You’re welcome, though two things: Theodore didn’t even start, and Pavelski only scored because a Caps defenseman put the puck in his own net. Pays to be lucky I guess.
Ok, I am one of the most optimistic around here but having gone to the game tonight all I can say is that I may be joining the jump off the bridge crowd. We really cannot score. This is so damn frustrating watching them keep the puck in the other teams zone and yet only score one goal. Maybe I will feel better tomorrow but I doubt it. You have to beat the Blues in your own arena.
They changed it from Pavelski’s goal to Clowe’s now. Oh well….
Easy come, easy go…eh sunshine? 
woodcock…it’s funny, they’ll control on the periphery and whenever they try to create a chance, it usually ends up in a deflected pass and boom…out of the zone.
I’m thinkin the NHL has a book on how to defend the Wild: Be patient, collapse to the hash marks and wait for the turnover.
Oh, and he doesn’t even get an assist now eh? Ouch. Well, two periods left, and they’re shooting 60% so there may be more goals.
Juat a few thoughts from this uber-snoozer of a NHL game…
1. Put Burns back on Defense. He looks so lost out there, he could be his own TV series…oh, wait, there is one called ‘Lost’, isn’t there?
2. Pouliot really needs to be near the Gulf Coast Seafood Co. for a while. Maybe Ms. C could slip him some limes or something…anything…just get this boy on track.
3. Anyone on the Wild roster ever hear the phrase, ‘Put the biscuit in the basket’? The way this bunch is playing, the answer is…
…I don’t THINK so!
4. This is the second consecutive year the Wild have lost their first home game vs. St Louis. Last season, they lost 3-2 in a shootout. The Wild will play the Blues again at home a week from Wednesday night, then again at St. Louis Dec. 20 and March 15 (Free Food game).
kj, that’s kind of what it looked like tonite.
At least Pavelski is not a minus at the moment. I don’t need more of those.
Hmm….
Can we have Clutterbuck on the point for a PP?
He has a hard enough shot and could make a defender cough it up instead of clearing it with his checking. I’m just tired of seeing the D-men out there playing “pass with no urgency.”
Pouly isn’t getting my limes. Though I’d gladly buy him a few margaritas.
Sounds like a tough loss for both my teams tonight. Haven’t watched the Wild game. Is it even worth watching?
No, Ms. C, I highly recommend that you don’t watch the game. Its one game where you want to delete from our tivo as soon as possible.
Ms.C, if you want to watch the Wild hold the zone for minutes at a time and miss the net a lot, then it is worth watching. They played a decent game, they just couldn’t finish any chances off.
Dan boy, lose three one goal games and already “the season is lost and time to fire the management”???
Unless you really expected the team would go through the season with no gliches I think it is about par.
Even those Red Wings that get annointed as the all time greatest have their bad days.
Team is well led.
Alrighty then. Perhaps we’ll just wave goodbye to that game. One disappointment tonight is enough. Though my big John Scott got a goal tonight. That’s only slightly less rare than Boogie goals, so it put a big grin on my face.
I will take more offense over being well led at the moment.
MisConduct, it always depends on what you expect to see whether it is worth watching.
I would say yes.
St Louis got the bounces on both ends and the Wild were a goal away from a tie to the last tick of the clock.
Lots of pipes and near misses for us and for the Blues they got what they needed.
You have a right to your opinion Sunshine but the number of cups between DR and JL says they are winning leaders over the long haul.
How many Cups have you won? How many NHL games have you played?
So how y’all been? Long time, no?
Anyway, I’ve been busy trying to find a goal. Anyone seen one?
Russo and his article on Melrose being fired
(1) The owner hired a coach whom has coached before, and he hired a GM whom has never been a GM before.
(2)Melrose I dont think is known in history to be a great coach. One assumption one can make is that Melrose would be a better coach because he is older, and he probably felt he was ready to give it another try.
(3) It is more then obvious to me that because Tampa Bay starting losing, the finger pointing began to happen. From the players and from Lawton. Melrose is a natural target because he started coaching in an unconventional way (NO VIDEO), and he is a coach that does not command respect on day 1(HISTORY)
(4)Do you think Lawton will do everything possible to do a good job ? How do you think a GM in a position like that would work with a coach with the Circumstances melrose had ?
(5) Lawton and ownership were not happy about how little rookie Steven Stamkos and free-agent pickup Radim Vrbata were playing.
“Every day it was a constant battle. Every conversation was about it, and I wouldn’t do it,” Melrose told the St. Petersburg Times. “I’m a big believer in you have to earn your ice time. If you’re not one of the best guys, you don’t deserve to play, no matter who you are or how much you make.”
(6) A Coach needs the support of a GM/owners. You dont believe me, just ask Lemaire. He would not be here if Riseburough was not the GM. If you have managed before and dont ave the support of the owners/GM, your life is miserable. The people you manage dont listen to you becasue they dont have the confidence to buy into what you are saying
(7) The final straw came Nov. 12 at Florida. Melrose called a team meeting to discuss the team’s lack of consistent effort, in particular its terrible first periods. It got heated, both from him and the players, and there was a mutual decision that Melrose would not run practice because both sides needed a break from each other.
(8) When he was fired. This is a result of a coach fighting an up hill battle with GM/Ownership and players at this point. If Melrose had the support of the GM ownership, he would have had the strength to finish the practice and very likely would not have been fighting with the players to begin with
Bottom line,I am not buying whats in Russos article
Signed Mister Know it all
I am going to bed… but This quote from Russo’s update is interesting: On another note, Tomas Mojzis has been given his walking papers. He told me after the game he has a flight tomorrow to meet the Houston Aeros.
So, why would the Wild send down a popcorn maker for no apparent reason? What happens if someone gets injured? Is there a 2 for 1 Gabby trade in the works? Is Gabby coming back? Seems fishy to me.
We will have to disagree then.
Right now leadership is not what this teams need. If they have all the leadership they can get from DR to JL to Koivu, then why are they losing to teams playing backup goalies, teams coming off a second back to back game, we having the day before off, and a team more decimated by injuries than our own?
These guys need to find their inner survivalist instincts instead of looking for leadership from other players or from JL or DR. They need to find in themselves the the drive and ability to do everything possible to win a game. JL has given them the tools, its up to them.
Friday night, JL has said that against the Canucks 7-8 guys weren’t ready to play. Tonight, three Wild players said that they didn’t have that extra gear to get a win.
How are they going to get goals if they aren’t working hard enough or playing only parts of periods? Its not leadership. Its within themselves to get those goals.
So yeah, at the moment, I would like to see more goals than leadership.
Just got done watching on the DVR and reading Russo’s Gaby article. I was starting to hope Gaby could be the scoring savior as on the glass half full side of things, adding a new option up front and putting Burns back at D should help a lot. Unfortunately, I think that reading into Gaby’s distance from the team that Russo pointed out is evidence that he is done with the Wild. Hopefully, his decision to announce that he will no longer talk to the media before he is playing again is a sign that a deal is close so we can move on. It seems like in both baseball and hockey, uncertainty can wreak havoc on a team.
- Good catch ATX, he was sent down to quick to even have the decision be a sign that Burns is going back to D. However, it could also be that they don’t want him collecting dust in the press box as an injury on D could send Burns back to D and free Weller from the Mark Parrish suite at the Keith Carney JL dog house.
Oh yeah - welcome to last week MKIA 
You guys read too much into that little Mojzis announcement.
Why pay Mojzis an NHL salary to sit in the press box when they could pay him less money and give him playing time in Houston? They are not bringing him along slowly as they are doing to Gillies.
It just means that he is not needed because Reitz has played serviceably and allows the team flexibility to call up another player if need be without putting someone waivers or on IR. See Harding/Schaefer/Mojzis scramble as prime example.
6GS: You read that because Gaborik doesn’t hang out around the locker room before and after practices, it means he has given up on the team? Russo saw him in a towel tonight in the locker room. He changes in the locker room to get onto the ice before the guys do. And according to Parrish, these guys get to practices very early.
Does the media get anytime access to the locker room? Aren’t the players made available only after practices and after games or by request and for a limited amount of time from what the Wild’s blog has said.
Also since Gaby has said that he will not talk to the media until he is playing, why would he be in the locker room when he knows that the media will be around for interviews and ask him questions?
Foster knows there is no rush for him to get back onto the ice so he can take it a little easy and be more relax. He gets a cheer for just getting onto the ice or riding a bike.
Gaborik gets no quarter. He is expected to heal quickly and get on the ice ASAP because his team needs him.
Anyway, I’ve been busy trying to find a goal. Anyone seen one?
Hey toivo!
Think I found a couple behind Backstrom…
And for the record: no, everyone. I’m not ripping on (MVP) Backstrom at all.
sunshine - you are probably right about Mojzis and I definitely agree that sitting that deep on the bench doesn’t do the team or the player much good. On Gaby, I hope you are right but my intuition tells me Russo’s story has more to it. Again, I hope I am wrong - most likely a productive/committed (for him) Gaby is the best cure for what ails the Wild’s offense. A trade will bring part of puzzle that will have to be completed with another trade or July 1 acquisition.
Meanwhile, “Shooter” has this - I think he should join the blog
Add the New Jersey Devils among teams with rumored interest in trading for injured Wild star Marian Gaborik. A Wild-Devils deal likely would have to include New Jersey’s Zach Parise, son of former North Star J.P. Parise.
We also know that Gaby is not the best player to be around when he is not scoring goals. Since he is not playing at all, he must be a bear around. I would venture that Gaborik is not happy, smiley like Foster sounded tonight. If he was, I would be livid.
And according to Russo, Gaby can’t even watch any of the Wild games when he was injured 2 years ago, why would his teammates want him around before and after games, especially if they know that he is feeling frustrated because he can’t be out playing with them? I say its a good thing he’s not around to be a distraction.
If he was, I would be livid.
Solid point.
Russo a week or two ago posed the question Gaby who? Now, he wants to know where Gaby is. Its not like he doesn’t know — in Lemaire’s press conference tonight, he says that Gaby has skated every day for the last few weeks.
If Russo believes something nefarious is going on, why doesn’t he asked the players or his insiders? A good 8-10 guys were on the team when Gaby was injured two years ago. They know his demeanor. Why not ask them if Gaby is acting the same way when he was out then?
Again, why would the team re-iterate tonight that Gaby is injured if a trade is imminent like Bob McKenzie said? If the Wild want to trade him soon, they would have implied that he was healthy so it signals to the other team that hey, he’s good to go so we are ready for a trade. No GM who wants to keep their job is going to trade for a healthy player for an injured player.
Hi gang - Just home from the X, and I don’t know that I’ve ever been more discouraged. And for a point of reference, I was much higher on this team out of camp than most others were, and had a lot of optimism. Most of the time I qualify as a DR/JL koolaid drinker.
But right now I feel horrible. It’s not just that we’re not scoring - every team goes through a little patch where goalies are great, shots hit crossbars, etc. - but not only are we not scoring, we’re not generating more than 3-4 quality chances a game! I’m afraid this isn’t just a dry patch; There’s just a lack of offensive talent here and no change of “system” is going to make it better.
I’ve loved P-Marc since day one, but apparently he was only good when he could set up Rolston. I thought Nolan had a couple good years left, but clearly the legs aren’t really there anymore. We’re asking Mikko to do everything, and he’s trying, but he’s just one guy.
And meanwhile, the Canucks are racking up seven out of eight points on a road trip that should have been brutal for them.
I’m going to sleep, hoping things will feel better in the morning, but I don’t see how. This team is almost unwatchable right now, and I haven’t felt that way since they came to town.
Again, why would the team re-iterate tonight that Gaby is injured if a trade is imminent like Bob McKenzie said?
All he has to do is play one game - since Gaby’s injury isn’t straight forward like a broken bone he could be close - hell he has been skating with Foster forever now. Plus, wasn’t it two weeks ago now at PHX that there were reports that Gaby could join the team on that road trip? So its possible that the trade talks are deep despite the fact that Gaby is still on IR.
But he has to play one game and until he does, nothing happens. I am not saying a trade isn’t happening. I am just saying that a trade won’t happen. Any trade deal is shelved until Gaborik is healthy and playing again.
No, Stensaas said that there was a rumor Gaborik was suppose to join the team practice on Wednesday but it turned out to be false. Gaborik flew down to the Stars game but he didn’t practice with the team. He went probably because Paul Kelley, NHLPA, was holding a player meeting for the Wild down there.
sunshine - your memory is rock solid. On Gaby’s health it just seems like he should be getting close as he has been skating regularly and I think all he has to do is play one game to get a deal - if there is one - done. For me, I would still rather have him back in the lineup for 10 games and re-evaluate from there but again I just get the feeling that the divorce is final.
He’s skating but he might not be skating for long periods of time or strenuously. I remember Lemaire said that Gaborik only skated 10 minutes a week or so ago. If he can’t skate more than 10 minutes, he isn’t going to last 50 minutes of hard skating.
I just read Shipley’s article on Gaborik. He seems to know where Gaborik is — injured and rehabbing.
Re: Shipley and Russo on Gaby
So what’s up with the controversy over a specialist? Probably just the usual secrecy but it is just another factor that makes me think the bitterness between the sides is through the roof. Again, I hope I am way off.
Wild Road Tripper says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Juat a few thoughts from this uber-snoozer of a NHL game…
2. Pouliot really needs to be near the Gulf Coast Seafood Co. for a while. Maybe Ms. C could slip him some limes or something…anything…just get this boy on track.
no, Pouliot just needs more ice time. Since Pouliot is currently the most offensivel gifted player on the roster, 15+ minutes a game is a must. He should be playing with Koivu.
OldManWinter says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Dan boy, lose three one goal games and already “the season is lost and time to fire the management”???
Unless you really expected the team would go through the season with no gliches I think it is about par
has nothing to do with this season, this season just magnifies it. Both Jacques and Doug should’ve been let go post lockout.
OldManWinter says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
You have a right to your opinion Sunshine but the number of cups between DR and JL says they are winning leaders over the long haul.
hockey is a team game and the majority of those rings were won by awesome Montreal teams. a ring is a ring, i get that, but how many rings has Doug won as a GM or Jacques won as a coach? I believe the total is 1.
AustinTXwildfan says:
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
I am going to bed… but This quote from Russo’s update is interesting: On another note, Tomas Mojzis has been given his walking papers. He told me after the game he has a flight tomorrow to meet the Houston Aeros.
So, why would the Wild send down a popcorn maker for no apparent reason? What happens if someone gets injured? Is there a 2 for 1 Gabby trade in the works? Is Gabby coming back? Seems fishy to me.
I just hope that means Kolanos and his 9 goals in 10 games gets to come back up here and play some hockey. Wild need goals and Krys is the guy to score them.
Six Goalie System says:
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 am
- Good catch ATX, he was sent down to quick to even have the decision be a sign that Burns is going back to D. However, it could also be that they don’t want him collecting dust in the press box as an injury on D could send Burns back to D and free Weller from the Mark Parrish suite at the Keith Carney JL dog house.
keep weller in the doghouse. the guy shouldn’t have been signed anyway. there is already a talentless goon on the roster, they didn’t need another.
there is already a talentless goon on the roster, they didn’t need another.
Sheppard? 
What? ::runs and hides::
I want to correct an error. In my statement:
[And according to Russo, Gaby can’t even watch any of the Wild games when he was injured 2 years ago, why would his teammates want him around before and after games, especially if they know that he is feeling frustrated because he can’t be out playing with them}
It wasn’t Russo who wrote that article but a Pio writer. I don’t want to get called out by Russo for incorrectly attributing something to him.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
1. I could pick a corner and put it in the net before Owen Nolan ever finds the back of the net. I have stopped counting up how many up close shots he’s had that either completely missed the net or went straight into the goalie, pick an area to shoot where theres a hole for gods sake man. If he doesnt start doing something, this could the worst signing of the offseason.
2. I am proud of Shepp, he actually played good for once, well besides getting any points. Veuillex got a solid goal, itd be nice to get some offense from him every few games. Where the hell did Mittens go?
3. SWITCH BENNY UP TO TOP TWO LINES, HELLO?? Hes got what 6 goals on the fourth line? Maybe that would be a lot more if he was playing with other star playmakers besides Boogard and Weller. Lemaire hates him. I guess scoring isnt allowed here in Minny
4. Seems to me Burnsie gets some chances at scoring but they never go in. They will start falling sometime hopefully sooner than later.
5. THIS GAME WAS UNACCEPTABLE. How in the world do you get outhustled by a non playoff team thats coming off back to back games and desimated by injuries? I want to start the panic officially.
maybe this was posted above, but did anyone else hear Roy talking about wishing he and Tremblay had cleared the air after Brunette ended his career?
After watching the game last night and then reading the comments, it still strikes me a curious as to why so many folks are surprised that the Wild can’t score goals. This is the team that Ballgame has put together: try to win every game 2-1. Look at the current roster. Right off the top you take away, Belanger, Boogaard, Cluttercheeks, Gillies, Poo-Bah, Shepp, SRV and Weller. These guys have all proven that they can not and do not score so as a team could count on it. Now look at what was brought in: Olden, Bruno and Mittens. Nolan was a legit offensive threat, 17 years ago. Bruno was steady a year ago playing in a more wide-open Colorado system and with far more offensivly gifted players. He cannot create on his own, not anymore. Mittens was doing nothing for the Stars getting 15 minutes a game with again, far more offensively gifted teammates. So were we to expect bigger and better if he gets 20 mins per game with inferior offensive talent around him? That leave you with Franchise, Butch and Gaby. Nobody could have expected the injury. Franchise has been solid in the offensive zone and PMB might as well play without a stick. Those are the forwards Ballgame has committed this season to. I don’t think anyone should be surprised the Wild can’t score goals, because that’s the kind of team Ballgame has put together.
The one thing I agree with out of all the complaints from last night is that Poolboy needs more ice time. He has shown flashes of what he is capable of. Put him out there with PMB, Koivu, or Nolan and see what he can do. He is not afraid to stand beside the net and chip in dirty goal. I know he is not the answer to the team problems (and I know he tendencies thanks to Ms.C), but it sure couldn’t hurt anything to give it a try!
If he can’t skate more than 10 minutes, he isn’t going to last 50 minutes of hard skating.
name one game, one…where a player got 50 minutes of ice time.
They don’t skate ‘hard’ during warmups, they skate enough to get a little sweat going.
Gho$t may be injured or not, but he’ll be back whenever DR & Compnay decide to play him.
UM’s comment to Russo makes perfect sense. Nothing (from his point of view) to talk about. And if he really wants out, why would he sabotage it by saying he’s healthy and the Wild won’t put him on the ice?
My fear is that we as fans are looking to gaborik to get healthy and start scoring and winning games and make everyone else play better and pull this team out of the funk …
But what gabby are we going to get when he’s on the ice again? I suppose the plus is that he wants to get paid like some eastern conference superstuds so he will have to rack up the points just for that reason alone.
I agree with the pouliot comments, I want to see him on the top line once just to see what he can really do.
Why does boogaard get to play so much? Its not like he is out there hitting everything like clutterbuck. Anyone seen the you tube vid of derek putting someone right through the glass in the minors? I kinda wish that he was our own version of pronger, talented blueliner that is gritty. Not the clumsy forward that wins most fights every 10 games or so.
kj:
We were talking about practices not games. Practices are about 50 minutes long and it does involve hard skating.
Huzzah! re: Mosey! Wonder if he’ll play this afternoon. We could use some fresh meat down here.
You hit the nail on the head Deep Breath. The blue line looks much better this year, but that’s who they are moving the puck to. I like this team, but where are the goals going to come from? Risebrough should have been asking this question during the summer or earlier, not now.
DR thought Gaby would be healthy and would sign an extension or that he would have trade value - looks like three strikes to me. The Wild are fortunate to be where they are.
sunshine…that wasn’t clear from your comments. At least to my feeble brain…
My logic was if Gho$t is really healthy, then he could jump right in and play.
If he is hurt (which all indications point to) then he would need to prove to JL that he could play - i.e. practice.
No matter…he’s not going to suddenly improve the offensive prowess of Pee Wee, Poultine, Molden, etc.
I recall someone commenting on the Wild’s penchant for early season success being attributed to JL’s system and the fact that it is ingrained into everyone’s play.
I think the ’swoon’ can be traced to other teams ‘catching up’ in team systems. And, that the Wild has a fragile psyche with offense. They are easily frustrated. Their puck possession in the O zone is usually away from a scoring area. And, usually, when they try to attack, there’s a forced pass or low percentage shot that is followed up by transition out of the zone.
Tell me you haven’t seen this over, and over, and over again…
not reading prior comments so if this has been mentioned, oh well…
is it possible to criticize the wild’s lack of offense and still say the opponent’s goalie was fantastic? they seem to be contradictory.
would there be the same stories of no offense if benny doesn’t miss that open net thursday or burns hits the net not the crossbar on his break away?
I think the boys are fighting the puck a little. nothing looks smooth or natural. pucks are jumping sticks. passes are getting blocked or in skates. passes are on the wrong side, there were more than one pass that if it were on the forehand side of the cat cutting to the net it would have been a goal but it was on the backhand side.
Twice last night a blues player went down to block a shot from the point before our guy wound up yet we still wound up and fired it right into them.
I don’t know what you do to correct this but they need to do something. definately need some confidence.
I noticed that reitz didn’t play much, if at all, in the 3rd. either did benny, or clutterbuck. probably time to move burns back to D
Anyone hear anything on Luongo?
This is the best I have seen so far:
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said the severity of the injury won’t be known until Luongo undergoes an MRI exam Sunday in Vancouver, but it did not look like Luongo will be playing anytime soon.
….
Luongo said he has never had a groin injury
>>there is already a talentless goon on the roster, they didn’t need another.<<
Were we talking about the Wild or this message board?
Someone get Gaby’s phone number to Luongo. Getting Bobby Lu tied up in the same rehab black hole may be our only chance at saving the season.
Yes Deep Breath we all knew this lack of offense was going to be a problem. Personally, I think Smug did this purposely to aggravate you and you alone because you pi$$ed him off calling him b***game all the time. He has publically stated that he doesn’t like that moniker.
What? There certainly is potential motive for “the one of whom we do not speak” to not play. You guys really believe that spin?
food
