Wild vs. Edmonton Oilers
Posted on October 16th, 2009 – 7:04 PMBy Michael Russo
Good evening from high above the Rexall Place ice, where the banged-up Wild face the banged-up Oilers.
GM Chuck Fletcher confirmed in an email earlier this afternoon what a Swedish web site was reporting – he has “loaned” Morten Madsen to MoDo of the Swedish Elite League. Technically, he’s signed, but since the Wild retains his NHL rights, he’s “loaned.” They’re waiting on a transfer agreement, but the Wild retain his rights but relinquish the ability to obviously recall him this season.
Not a big loss. Terrible camp in Traverse City and one of the first cuts from camp.
I’ll be back after.
223 Responses to "Wild vs. Edmonton Oilers"
No more Madsens. The great Mark is gone, the awful Morten is gone, what the hell am I supposed to do?
I have been very patient with the team so far. I said at the beginning of the season, I will give them until the end of October. Hopefully we will have a few guys back and the team will have some chemistry. I don’t like to be critical so early in the season but by November 1st……LOOK OUT. Go Wild.
[…] Russo’s Rants » Blog Archive » Wild vs. Edmonton Oilers blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wildblog/2009/10/16/wild-vs-edmonton-oilers – view page – cached « Clutterbuck, Bouchard updates; Boogaard in; Scott, Havlat out; Harding starting; Sifers at RW — From the page […]
Also, SODR is not dwelling on the past, so whatever moron started complaining about kj, shut it.
Ummmm, no. Until he shuts it, I’ll continue to rip him. Over and over we hear it. It’s fricking played out.
Burns, a superstar. Wow, we are not really that good are we?
Honestly, Minny fans have always been the bitchiest, quickest to fall off of and attempt to jump onto the bandwagon… etc. I was really hoping hockey folks were different, but its all the same. Minny whiney, not MN nice.
Honestly, all haters, get down off of your crosses, build a bridge and get over it.
The video feed on 45 is not that good tonight so far.
MY BOOGIE!!! I’m so happy….now if we could just win 1, not asking for much, just one game and some good effort.
Harding helping the Wild early
Hey everybody. Rexal place looks like ass. There is something with the lighting in that arena…
Its not HD but its not bad. The lights in the arena were a problem.
It’s the people.
Is a bad 45 video feed anything new kgopher? Just par for the course really.
Band: your Boogie and my Hards. Don’t know why I like the kid but I do (shouldn’t call him a kid as he isn’t that much younger then me). Not thrilled with his penalty though.
Nice PK early. Or terrible PP on the part of the Oil… either way good for the Wild.
No it isn’t new and it is a bit better now that the lights came up. They were weird and making the ice look green for a bit.
was it just me or did it look like we only had 4 players on the ice after the PK period ended for a close to 30 seconds until Schultz came. (Hnidy, Johnsson, Koivu, and Mittens)
I like Megan Newquist.
darkknight9 says:
October 16th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Honestly, Minny fans have always been the bitchiest, quickest to fall off of and attempt to jump onto the bandwagon
You sound pretty whiney and bitchy yourself. Welcome to the darkside…
SODR isn’t played out. His crap is still here.
Besides, I haven’t used it nearly as much as your pal mentioned Modano.
9+ minutes and no GA.
So far so good. We’re not down 3-rip.
So far so good. We’re not down 3-rip.
+1
hopefully they keep playing like this.
NIce scrum there.
Ahhh… I love that smirk Boogie gets when people push him around.
So far, I am liking Pouliot’s game. Maybe he did heed the call to step it up.
How did we end up a man short there?
now all he needs to do is score a goal sunshine.
This is the type of penalty I am saying just has to stop. Hnidy should sit
I think someone got a roughing call or something Greg.
MKIA-What was the penalty? I didn’t hear D & D’er say
Damn, the post is a hell of a goalie.
I think Hnidy got the call for boarding
That was a bit too close for comfort. We look better tonight.
I just looked on line. It was Hnidy for boarding which I say BS.
Coach has to sit HNIDY as bad penalties will kill the wild
Whoo — we got out of the 1st without being scored upon.
Greg, pull your head out. It was a blatant boarding or check from behind. Could have been worse than 2 minutes as well.
Gregory that was textbook boarding
I think the posts/crossbar are our goalie. Harding seemed a little sluggish.
Just flipped to the Panthers/Flyers game and Dvorak scored a beauty of a breakaway. He out muscled Pronger and took it home. Beauty.
I think the issue is that he went head first into the boards. That’s dangerous. If it wasn’t head first, then no penalty.
Nice to see you agree with yourselves MKVN.
I’ll agree with you guys, I only saw it live from across the room and it didn’t seem awful.
Greg, I didn’t think it was a bad hit either. I think they only gave the penalty because homeboys head was the first thing to hit the board. It wasn’t late or anything like that.
You must have missed the frontal shot. The Oilers player went head first into the boards. From the side shot, it looked like an innocuous hit.
Mister Know it all is seeing the game he predicted. We are seeing the value of Boogy in the lineup
Ok, got teary over the little kid passing away from cancer.
ATTN: darkknight9
I know you have a crush on Andrew Brunette, but thinking he’s sin-free is an example of successfully jumping on a bandwagon.
Like I said sunshine… ” think they only gave the penalty because homeboys head was the first thing to hit the board”. If he wasn’t off balance he wouldn’t have hit his head and there would not have been a penalty. Clean hit gone wrong due to the guy being off balance.
0-0 - not even close to earned, but wth.
i heard bieksa from VAN call one of their victories at the X last year a “greasy road win” - maybe we can get one of those tonight.
i like mittens tonight. he knocked that guy down behind the net, took the puck and fed it in front. knocking down is not what i’m used to seeing from that guy…
Someone on the Wild needs to step up. This period. The Oil are ready to roll over, they just need a bit of a push.
Who will push the Grease over the edge?
Austin Texas, you must be smoking crack and drinking hamm’s beer. Better look at the hit again G dawg
Not so much Silver. If the dude wasn’t off balance, it would have been just fine. It definitely wasn’t a dirty hit.
Damn.
Poo.
Can you say I remember you ignored me… Mike Comrie
Ok, they got a goal. Just 1, let’s not open the flood gates. Let’s shake it off, keep fighting, and not roll over.
Just so we are clear here… I am not saying the penalty was not warranted.
“Hello out there! We’re on the air,
It’s Hockey Night tonight!”
Ok, just put my little people to bed. Anything noteworthy happen so far?
Love those Oil throwbacks.
Liking Hilbert as a call up.
Not much 2244. A few good hits by the Wild. A goal by the Oil. And I agree on the jersey thing… throwbacks are money.
Thanks Austin. Boogie seen much action so far?
hey let’s see if we can not have a terrible PP tonight. THe PP against the Duckies was awful.
Someday our team will be old enough to have a throwback jersey.
2244, I have noticed him out there quite a few times. Not sure what his TOI is though.
Hehe… ATX said PP…. I should have napped earlier, my brain is already shutting down.
Band: +1 on the nap & brain shutting down. I think mine is already down and not going to power up until I get some good sleep.
Are you Texans watching the Wild or the Oiler’s feed?
It’s actually the Wild feed tonight for a change.
Sorry to hear that…
shep needs to get his nose dirty.
liking the “new system” it’s nice to see pinching d and longer forechecks.
o’sullivan - one of the tradedawaytalents
Mother smurfer
Dang. Easy one timer there.
sorry guys
o’sullivan must have sensed my post and wanted to rub it in… nice pass…
Ugh.
Yep, I blame you Ted. 
Who was suppose to cover Penner?
Burns -2 for the night.
I used to work with a guy named Ted, I always blamed him for what went wrong, it usually was his fault anyway. Maybe it’s part of being a Ted?
Pouliot is again playing focused hockey
Boogie looked kinda quick chasing down that icing… maybe he worked on his skating a lot in the off season?
Woot! Benny??
Poolboy!!!!
Its paid off for Pouliot!!
no surprises by Pouliot scoring
POOL BOY!!
If Benny played like this every single game, I would be all for keeping him around.
It is a sad state when Pouliot looks to be our best player on the ice.
Pool boy. Yes, the comeback is on it’s way.
Poohbah!
I give him credit, he’s playing well. Burns needs to take his head out of his you know what
That’s exactly why Benny is such a tease. He’ll show you something every once in a blue moon to think, “Hey, maybe he’s starting to get it.” 20 games and 3 pts later, he’ll make you wonder if YOU get it.
Can we get some more skill with Pouliot
I am really liking that fact that Benny jsut goes right to the front of the net almost every time he gets into the O-zone.
benny!
friend from australia told me once that to him, a ‘ted’ was short for shi + t(h)e(a)d… (if you can decipher that…)
liked how the whole thing starts with a very non-lemaire-esque pinch by schultzie…
i also have to think about how good this type of aggressive play would look if we had butch, sykora, havlat and clutterbuck back…
Pisser
Son of a B…
Ugh
Come on, Harding!
Harding seems lazy out there. That’s a downer after Pouliot’s goal.
Harding Harding Harding- Coaching again
Shultz, you need your pee pee slapped.
That’s not coaching. Its a back-2-back. Harding had to start either tonight or tomorrow night.
That’s just mental error.
Must be a full moon- I actually agreed with Greenlay on something. No way any attackers should have been anywhere near Harding. Zidlicky rolled out the red carpet in our slot.
I hope Fletch tries to pick up the toughness level on the blueline. Opposing teams will see video of that last goal and be licking their chops at the thought of being able to crash the net without getting some lumber upside their head.
New system or no new system, there remains the fundamentals of hockey and the Wild just don’t show it here (and haven’t at least consistently)… Sloppy play in front of the net, passes too hard or too soft. Compare with detoilet where it seems everyone on the whole team makes tape-to-tape passes…I can’t blame richards for that..these guys should know how to make basic hockey moves. A new system can’t make you forget fundamentals.
Harding is a JOKE! Has he ever played a good game for the Wild??? Not that I can remember…we definetely need a #2 goalie…Harding is hardly any trade bait, as Russo once described him. Teams like Chicago would be shooting itself in their you know what by trading anyone for this ’secret gem.’ And please, stop glorifying Boogard…that guy has been absolutely worthless over his career with the Wild and it just horrifies me seeing FSN or 45 glorifying this niemand by showing his face on pregame video clips and ads. I feel sorry for Richards trying to make Coke (contender) out of water (Wild talentless).
harding’s gotta do better if he wants to get traded to a contender at the deadline.
Isn’t that why Hnidy was signed — to be the tough guy on the blue line?
Was going to hold off before making any comments until the end of the game. All I have to say…rookie coach, rookie GM, lack of talent…leads to a 1 and 5 start. Going to be a long year boys and girls. Hope you like football. Even the Gopher hockey team is getting killed in ND.
What is that 9 goals in 5 periods for the Wonderkid goalie that eveyone on here thinks we can get a first liner for? 9 goals in 5 periods?
Ish.
Can’t blame Harding….he has NO support up front.
actually, i’ll bet if you polled nhl gms, players or anyone more wise than dopey blogtrolls like us, harding would rank among the best back-ups in the league. kind of like how shep sucks, but if he really sucked that bad, they’d send him to houston with confidence that no-one would claim him. in moments of rage, i have to remember that there’s a reason i’m not running an nhl front office…
I think the only really blameless goal was the 2nd one. Blame that one the defense/forwards for leaving Penner all alone out there.
You can’t put all the blame on Hards. Our defense has been in the toilet since the season started.
sunshine: That was Nathan Smith who was responsible for Penner, IMHO. Burns was going with Zanon for the puck carrier at that time. Smith should have been on the opposite side, playing the man.
We’re lucky he’s only let in 3…he’s had at least 2 pipes!
Should be 5-1. He stinks! P.U.
Shultz, you need your pee pee slapped.
+1
He kinda knocked the puck away from Harding on that goal.
Shultz, you need your pee pee slapped.
+1
He kinda knocked the puck away from Harding on that goal.
Huh… sorry about that. I dunno how I posted that twice.
Burns was going with Zanon for the puck carrier at that time.
There in lies your problem.
deja vu
How about a better PP this time guys? Please?
So when is this new system going to generate more goals. So far the only thing it had done is allow more goals. As the season progresses, the more I admire Lemaire.
Guess not. PP continues to struggle pretty badly.
I know you dont want to overlook backstrom playing back to back but the Wild have 4 days off before the next game. Its obvious you have to win and if your watching your goalies in practice is not it obvious ?
nother PP chance. Come on guys.
The way it’s going, boy, is Wild capable of winning 25 this season???
turnaround backhand…wow
Woo! Finally! Damn Bruno with yet another tap in. Heck yeah.
Love Bruno’s backhand. Its one of the strongest backhand in the league.
BRUNO!!!
Brunette Nice ! Now if the coach plays Backstrom we would be winning
CrazyB, that was a hell of a shot eh? Gotta love Bruno. The dude has a nose for the net down low.
Again, this is not entirely on Harding…
Please Harding be sharper. To the guys in front of him, please be sharper defensively.
O sullivan reminds me of Steve Larmer
Lots of goals to be scored for anyone tough enough to set up shop in front of the goalie like that…
Gotta love what Bruno brings to the table night in and night out.
Yes, Phil Esposito made a living in front of the net. Wild need these mudders. Too bad John Scott doesn’t have scoring skills.
Again, this is not entirely on Harding…
We don’t agree on much, but you are right on here.
BP….sigh
Pavol Demitra and the Canucks? Wow! When did Demitra supplant Luongo?
Demitra hasn’t played yet. Still out after shoulder surgery. I laughed at that one too;
Is it the low definition broadcast on 45, or does Pouliot actually look like he is getting better? Harding looks slow and lost at times….
ok again can we get Pouliot with maybe Sheppard. I can see the synergy with Bellanger yet we need a goal to get this game tied up
The reason why Richards wont do it is because Pouliot is a defensive liability so he has two good defensive players with him
Naughty, no cookie for you, go sit down
I think BP has played better over the past couple of games, but every now and then he will make a bonehead play.
FTP, it’s Pool Boy.. it won’t last. Hopefully he proves me wrong. But I imagine he will be back to his usual coasting self in the next game.
The new coaching staff deserves credit for Pouliots play
And Harding is slow tonight.
Why do you say the new coaching staff deserves the credit for BP’s play?
Because he is MKIA… just let it go CB.
Any TV shots of T.R. looking sick behind the bench tonight??
Crazy: When you see him focused and getting confidence that means the management is doing the right things
This has been a pretty good third period. Pretty fun to watch.
So when Harding plays bad..at least according to you, who is to blame?
Seems as of late the Wild get off to a horrible start, and have to play catch up. They play better as the game progresses, but just can’t seal the deal due to the early hole.
Penner should have a guy COVERING HIM!!!!
Was that Zids that let him just walk on by him?
Harding looked silly there!!
Saw that coming.
Zids was late.
No, not Harding….ZIDLICKY was the goat.
Harding looked silly there!!
Don’t be stupid. That was ALL ZIDS.
Zids did not take his man. Thanks alot Zids.
I see my Captain thus far and his name is Bruennete
Zidlicky not good
Burns has played horrible tonight
I don’t like Mikko thus far for a captain. He is not leading the charge
That was UGLY. you gotta control the puck there. Poor Harding.
Well. Our defense needs work in front of the net. Not much more you can say.
Come on. We pay the guy to stop pucks….he isnt doing it.
Was that goal on Zids to?
So have I missed anything tonight?
Terrible play by Schultz. No one was there for him to pass to either. Just an all around crap play.
Burns again. And Harding, put the paddle down to cover the five hole.
No, but my god you NEVER let a man go uncovered in the slot….Hockey 101.
Schultz did lose the puck but Burns left the front of the net.
Was that goal on Zids to?
That was on the entire team. Terrible play by everyone on the ice there.
Oh, guess not. Bob K just said going from bad to worse with a penalty and down even more goals than three minutes ago.
Dont forget to Vote for me when its time!
Where’s #9?
Fire Don Lucia:)
Well… expletive deleted…. I’m going to call it a night. Nighty night all.
Garbage…plain and simple
Um….so I guess at this point I shouldnt worry about making 2010 playoff tix deposit?
NIght BG.
TT, he seems invisible lately eh? Koivu needs to find his game.
This team is Turrible. Just turrible.
#9: now or the whole night? Now — in the penalty box. The whole night — seen flashes.
I guess next year when Johnsson is gone and salary cap space frees up, maybe then we will get some talent on the team. But…I don’t think 2010 playoff tickets will be necessary.
“I wish Jacque was still here…..then I wouldnt be playing right now and our best goalie Backs would be in the net, and we’d probably be winning! What is Todd Richards thinking playing me so much! I gave up 6goals in my last game…..not a smart coach!!”
Cheer up folks, at least Gophers played we–, I mean they played ha–, I mean they showed up in Grand Forks and had a nice tour of the building.
I haven’t been able to watch much before tonight but he sure hasn’t done much that I’ve seen. Maybe he needs the C to play better…/sarcasm.
These goals have nothing to do with injuries
Players not ready to play i.e Brent Burns
A coach dressing the wrong goalie
ok finally pouliot and shep
Hey Johnsson was solid tonight. He like Pouliot heeded Richards’ call to step it up.
Sheppard, Koivu, and Burns — not tonight.
Is it possible we have the SOFTEST defenders in the entire league?
“Hey guys, Midnight Madness is on ESPN right now….you could change the channel and not watch me let another goal past….I’m a Black Hole, a vacuum, and I just suck, I just suck, I just suck!”
What? Shep is a -3…and so is Burn-terrible….what game are you watching?
If Backs was in net, we still lose. The blame is more on the defense, and not the goaltender, unless you are watching a different game than I am.
I guess the mgmt should start really monitoring the talent pool at the upcoming draft, Wild should get a very high choice.
I think we would still lose but Backs would’ve stopped some of the goals. It would be 3-2 Oilers.
Josh you are correct- you should have been a man and took yourself out and put us out of your misery
Okay it’s time to go. Later guys and gals. And Harding4MVP put a sock in it troll.
Honest question, the Isles won only 26 games last year….will the Wild WIN LESS this season?
Come on guys, Edmonton is THE highest scoring team in the league and has been for quite some time. #99 is the best player ever to play. We’re lucky to only give up 5 goals. Dynasty.
Well, good thing I had beer in the house.
The question is will Russo call out Burns in the blog tonight?
5 goals on 19 shots
g’night ATX.
Yes, defense played terrible.
And boy o’ boy, Richards is quickly playing away what marginal trade value we had in Harding. We’d be lucky to get ice shavings from another team after these 2 putrid performances.
Problem is sunshine that the team does not play the same way when the goalie looks like crap.
This is the worse thing that could have happened to Richards because he does not have a history of success as a coach and now the players question him as maybe they should
We have a local coach and an aggressive system, now a few gopher retreads and Minnesotans will be in hockey heaven
Entire team played terrible. Back to basics for this squad.
Harding’s not helping his trade value.
You sound pretty whiney and bitchy yourself. Welcome to the darkside…
I’m heavily medicated. I’ve been a door greeter off and on for darkside parties for years…. LOL
“Whats Adam Hauser up to these days?? Maybe he wants my spot??”
I love to stir the pot. haha
If you look at the upcoming games, you will notice that we have 2 more sets of B2B games (next weekend and the week after). So expect Harding to start more often.
The last week of October, the Wild will play 4 games in 6 days with B2B against the Rangers and Pens. He might get 2 starts that week.
As easy as it is to rail on Harding, seriously now, how much worse could our D be playing right now? This is almost laughable how bad thus far!
Fritchies math teacher- Very true about the defense- however the defense looked worse when they were trying to get the game tied up and time ran out. The first half of the game they played decent
I think its safe to say that Richards and Co. have effectively dismantled Lemaire’s defensive system. Now, they are playing with almost a free-for-all system.
Defense wins Championships!
Most of the league is playing this wide open style. I am thinking this is like a league mandate Sunshine
The Wild can still play good in its own end and play responsible hockey and keep their forecheck
Most of the teams that play wide open style have more talent and that is why this will not work until we upgrade and get rid of dead weight. Lemaire and his system was designed to win with less talent and it is just not the case anymore. Very painful to watch but am not suprised by their play so far.
No, most of the teams that play a wide open style also plays DEFENSE.
Sure, we are not as talented or have the speed but we should be able to compete if we play some semblance of DEFENSE.
We are bad this year. Not “we’ll get ‘em next time bad”. More like “when will we win again bad?”
Brodziak and pouliot are players. Harding is useless.
Time to look forward to the 2010 draft. Taylor who?
Oh yah, lemaire is an f’ing hockey genius for extracting what he did out of these ham and eggers. Or TR is a sausege. You’re call.
I missed tonight’s game. Didn’t miss much, eh? Time to bring back Skoula. Will this start the folks or have we just got too much to complain about. Where is JL when we need him.
Its not always about Lemaire vs. Richards when we are talking about defense.
Too many defensive breakdowns. There were breakdowns under Lemaire too but now, we are seeing it more and more and more.
Richards need to do a DEFENSE 101 for all the players.
sun, if you’re right about needing 101 then it is a sad commentary on the state of the Wild. Under ANY system you still need to play defense, make crisp passes and show sound judgment.
The Wild are doing all but 3 of these things and I don’t see how TR can make them do what they should instinctively know, particularly if they’ve been playing hockey since they were “three”.
The herd has learned that anything multiplied by zero equals zero. I’m going to have some oak-matured mead to celebrate.
What I noticed on this game is smarter pinching in by defensemen. Hardly any odd-man rushes.
Now, clean up the rest of the defensive breakdowns.
