The Wild — a.k.a offensive juggernauts.

There’s no stopping this talented, offensive-minded, super-skilled squad.

So the team formerly known as offensively challenged has scored 11 goals in the first two games of this homestand — 10 at 5-on-5, which we all know is a coup, coming from 10 different goal scorers. And the goals are all pretty ones — I mean, turning defenders into pretzels. Remember, after the loss at Columbus, Jacques Lemaire bemoaned the fact that the Wild couldn’t beat anyone 1-on-1 after the Blue Jackets routinely beat his players 1-on-1.

And of those goal scorers, pretty much all of them were in major goal-scoring slumps. Last game vs. Phoenix, Mikko Koivu scored his first goal since Dec. 19, Andrew Brunette first goal since Dec. 17, James Sheppard first goal in 21 games. Tonight, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, first goal in 11 games, Eric Belanger first goal since Dec. 14.

So this is a very good sign.

Tonight went like most Wild-Oilers games — a couple goals early, a segment where it could go either way and then boom, the Wild scores again to finally trigger the Oilers to totally lose composure.

Cal Clutterbuck was the hero again, scoring his first career winning goal, taking on five more hits (152 now) and drawing three penalties. Bouchard had a goal and two assists, munching on the Oilers like he often does (career-high 8 goals and 26 points in 30 games vs. Edmonton).

Krys Kolanos, who officially snagged Benoit Pouliot’s job, scored a big goal after a great Antti Miettinen play, Brent Burns scored after Mikko Koivu walked around two Oilers defenders and I thought James Sheppard was awesome. He had the fight, which got Kolanos into the game for his second shift. Nine seconds later, Kolanos scored. Sheppard had several stellar defensive plays, including the one in the Wild end to initiate the transition before he set up Clutterbuck’s rocket of a winner from between the circles.

Sheppard hasn’t been a minus in nine games, he’s winning draws. We might have to wait for the offense from the 20-year-old, but if he plays this way, yes, he is contributing.

The talent is there. The patience is needed from all of us, including those of us who write about this team.

Sheldon Souray was one ticked off puppy tonight. He got hit hard in the first period by Craig Weller, and he was looking for him the rest of the game. Finally, when Souray turned the puck over for Bouchard’s insurance marker in the third, he looked for Weller for the final 11 minutes and finally got him to dance after a faceoff late.

If you’ve ever seen Souray with his shirt off, this is one strong dude. Ripped. Weller initially said no off the faceoff, but Souray gave him no choice. Ethan Moreau also wanted to fight Weller, but Souray called him off. And when Souray was done with him, Weller didn’t know where he was. Looked to me like Souray also punched him with his elbow a couple times. After further review, it looks like it’s the plastic wrist protector that Souray hit him with. Think the league suspends him? I’ve got an email into the league, but I’m sure it’s being reviewed.

Here’s the fight.

47.15Match Penalty - Any player or goalkeeper wearing tape or any other
material on his hands (below the wrist) who cuts or injures an
opponent during an altercation will receive a match penalty in addition
to any other penalties imposed including for fighting under this rule.
A match penalty shall be assessed to a player or goalkeeper who
punches an unsuspecting opponent and causes an injury.

Looked to me that wrist protector was at the palm.

Weller has a head injury that’ll probably keep him out for a little bit. Tom Lynn said the Wild wouldn’t label it a concussion until he’s re-evaluated after a couple days. But with three games before the break, the Wild may call up another forward (and no, not Pouliot). Or, Colton Gillies is still here too. Hey, and there’s always Brent Burns. Just a joke (hopefully).

Pouliot was finally sent to the minors. You knew this was coming. Kolanos has taken his job, Pouliot has played poorly and the Wild could surely used the $800,000 extra cap space that discarding Pouliot brings. The Wild now has about $2.6 million worth of cap space left. As I wrote, sources tell me he stormed out of the locker room during the game with all his equipment.

Too bad he didn’t show that oomph while he was here.

You also knew this was coming because Jan. 19 is one month since Kolanos has been here, and I believe, NHL rules dictate that teams have to let callups get apartments after 30 days.

Other notes:

– Backstrom is 10-0 against the Oilers with a 1.58 gaa and .935 save percentage in 12 starts. At home vs. the Oilers, he’s 8-0 with a 1.12 gaa and .953 save percentage. The 10 wins are his most against any team.

– Bouchard has a goal and seven assists in his past eight games. He scored for the first time since Dec. 20. The Wild is 27-3-1 since Dec. 23, 2006, when Bouchard has a goal. He tied a career-high with a plus-3.

– Burns tied a career-high with a plus-3.

– Nick Schultz will pass Marian Gaborik Saturday for first all-time on the Wild’s games played list (492). He was plus-2 tonight and is plus-39 in his career (tops among Wild defensemen).

– The Wild has won eight straight home games vs. Edmonton, outscoring the Oil 30-9 in those games. The Wild is 18-5-1 in its past 24 against the Oil.

– The Wild scored three goals in the third period for the second straight game, the first time that’s ever happened.

– Cal Clutterbuck has five points in his past four games and goals in his past two.

– Antti Miettinen tallied his 20th assist, tying a career-high. He’s the Wild second-leading scorer with 30 points.

– Marc-Andre Bergeron played in Game No. 300.

– Sheppard has points in consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 22-24.

– The Wild won consecutive games against the West for the first time since Nov. 13 and 15.

– First time the Wild has scored 11 or more goals combined in two home games since it scored 12 (6 and 6) in first two home games of ‘05, 6-3 W (CGY) 10/5/05 and 6-0 W (VAN) 10/12/05. The most goals the Wild’s scored in three straight is 15, I believe.

– Dwayne Roloson: At Xcel Energy Center, with Wild - 38-36-9, 2.20, .916 SV Pct. (has 11 shutouts here - most all time…Backstrom has 10). At Xcel Energy Center, with Oilers - 2-6-2. Overall vs. Wild with Oilers - 5-11-2.

Roloson’s 11 losses vs. Wild are tied with Roberto Luongo for most all-time (Luongo is 7-11-3).

That’s it. Stensaas on tomorrow as I work on my Sunday stuff.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 6:32 pm and is filed under Game coverage. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.