Vancouver Canucks 2, Wild 1
Posted on October 18th, 2009 – 9:29 AMBy Michael Russo
Good morning from Vancouver, where I finally have a flight home today.
To use the old Brian Rolston line, “It is what it is.”
There’s not much more I can say about this road trip. The Wild returned home after Saturday’s 2-1 loss with a 1-6 record, an 0-5 string on the 11-day trip and an 0-6 road record this season.
If you watched the game, it’s obvious what happened. Wild was outshot 39-18. It lacked any sort of energy after the first period. It seemed everything (the road trip, the fact they are so depleted with so many injuries, the fact they had to kill three penalties in the first 30 minutes) caught up to it and the energy was just drained.
No legs. They’re forwards, especially. The Wild couldn’t get on a forecheck and got into severe chip-it-out, change mode. The one time they couldn’t chip it out and change was when fourth-liners Nathan Smith and Derek Boogaard got trapped on the ice with dmen Greg Zanon and Marek Zidlicky.
And sadly for Nik Backstrom, as good as he played (he was unbelievable and would have been annihilated if not for him), Ryan Kesler’s shot from the side of the net caromed in off his pads because he was covering the far post with his stick. He said if he had his stick in front, no chance the puck gets in.
Then, James Sheppard took a roughing penalty, and Mikael Samuelsson scored the winner on an early third-period power play. It wasn’t a very good penalty by Sheppard. I always find merit when you clear guys in front of the net, but two problems with this clear: 1) The puck was nowhere near the front of the net. It was in the corner. 2) He punched him three times in the back of the net and finally to the ice.
It’s nice to see Sheppard get a little mean on the ice, but you’ve got to pick your spots, and the spot wasn’t with the puck not around the net.
For instance, Benoit Pouliot took a roughing penalty earlier in the game. The big difference? To me, it was a good penalty. Maybe Pouliot got a little overly aggressive, but three Canucks were swatting at a loose puck in front of Nik Backstrom. You’ve got to clear bodies. Pouliot did the way players do it umpteen times a game. He just got nailed. The Wild killed the penalty, and like I said, from my standpoint, good for Pouliot. He’s played two real good games in a row because he’s skating, parking in front of the net in the offensive zone and being physical.
But the difference between Sheppard’s penalty and Pouliot’s was there was no scramble on the Sheppard penalty. No puck. In other words, he wasn’t protecting his goalie on a scoring chance. He just wanted Bolduc out of the crease, which is again OK, but not with the puck not there and not by repeatedly punching him until he falls.
It was mistake, and regardless of the power-play goal though, the Wild had three cracks on the power play to tie it in the final 16 minutes and couldn’t.
I’m not sure exactly when the Wild got its 10th shot, but it had eight at least through the first few minutes of the third period.
So, again, no legs. Now what? I don’t know. Hopefully the team gets Marty Havlat and Petr Sykora back Wednesday. Both skated earlier Saturday.
The team took a day off Sunday. Then, back to the drawing board with Colorado — red-hot Colorado who also is on a very difficult road trip only the Avs actually won games — coming to town.
I am off until Wednesday thank goodness. I need it after 11 days away. You’ll hear from Rachel Blount on Monday and Tuesday.
31 Responses to "Vancouver Canucks 2, Wild 1"
Glad to hear Benny is contributing positively these days.
ms.conduct how’s it going there is it warm? are you playing yet?
Profound, that Rolston.
Time to practice and get healthy.
We’ll see what happens on Wed.
Time to get off the slushy Southern ice. Hopefully their families recognized them when they walked in the door. Time to concentrate on things Purple today.
Nothing purple on Thunder Island.
Where is thunder island?
lemaire is looking better every day…he was able to compete with scraps
mmmmh… I still want to take a positive look. It’s a little neurotic attitude, but it must be the sunny Sunday morning.
The way I (want to) see it, they still look bad but they’re looking a little better every time. Pouliot was good, and the defense didn’t look as clueless as it did 5 games ago. It looked as if they knew what they were doing, but without the energy.
Also, under the tag “things we already know / things we have already heard / why is someone saying this crap in this blog?”, Backstrom was incredible and I think if Koivu had been named captain he would be playing better.
Two noticeable things from the Wild articles in the Strib and Pio. “Worst start in Wild history.”
Its hard to believe that this team with more talent even with the injuries couldn’t muster an extra point to match the castoffs and an 18 year-old Gaborik in the 2000-01 season.
The silver lining: The Wild has three games to surpass or tie 00-01’s first 10 game record (1-6-3= 5pts).
Michael: thanks. Enjoy your days.
Go figure MN and CO are swapped in the conference standings compared to my initial pre-season estimates.
Any word on when Russo Rants switches format as well as cost for access? Also is twitter not working? Couldn’t access the Don’s account.
Nope, it’s cooled off here. Really beautiful out. Doors open, mosquitoes not biting. I play hockey all year. A little burned out at the moment, to be honest. Need to try and find a way to have fun tonight at practice.
Yeah, Twitter isn’t working for me today.
I think Twitter is down. It’s been like that for a couple of hours.
MsC: how is the roadtrip room mate thing going? Does Mikko get kind of grouchy after a loss? j/k. Is Gillies back with the team? Here’s hoping he has a terrific year.
You know he does.
Gillies is everything I hoped he’d be. I’m really proud of him. Yeah, he’s back, wearing a full cage still, but playing very well. Who isn’t impressing me is Weller. Occasionally he does something that says “NHL” to me but the urgency doesn’t seem to be there.
Sunshine good points
My problem with the wild as I have made very clear is….
Leipold bolting on the foundation that was laid out in front of him when he purchased the team. Example the compass which was developed to guide the organization with its decisions it would make with the players it chose and how the team would act as a team
I don’t care that a style of hockey was part of the plan of leipold and his new hire flecther because every coach does some things different etc.
With the short pre season and the circumstances the wild are living with I will allow them some time before giving up on richards
I do believe this team should be a playoff team
I don’t look forward to seeing havlat unless he is going to play the way the wild need to play, russo says he hopes he is back but did he forget he was on the ice for 3 goals the last time
So I guess I didn’t miss much not being able to watch the game last night.
Of course TR isn’t as good as lemaire!
JL is a HALL OF FAME coach.
A rookie head coach will NEVER be at that level….not even scotty f@#&$#@ Bowman was! Not even JL himself was a hall of fame caliber coach on his first nhl team
To blame TR is unbelievably stupid this early in the season with this many injuries, and this little talent in the fold.
if in January we still had these same issues, then the coach can get some of the blame…..
lets see what CF can do in the next offseason with kimmy coming off the books…..and with more players that fit what he wants….
then and only then can the berating begin….
sheesh guys….instant gratification at it’s worse.
*first season…*
Well BG, Gamecenter (online) closed off the game before the end of the second period, so as far as I’m concerned, its still a tie. 
Encrimson’d & kj: when/where are the next music gigs?
Even healthy they are not a cup team..They would be playing as a unit if injuries had not ruined camp.I thought Pouliot has improved each game. Last nite he took a couple of bodies, fought for pucks,drove the net and camped in front. If he continues to grow he may be a 2nd line center or power forward. On the othe hand Shep is not improving. At the end of last season he was fighting and winning puck battles on the boards not this season. Continue rebuilding……
Maybe this is one of those years where we need to lose 50+ games so we can get a high draft pick
MisterBeast, this team is a good hockey team and should play good. I am not saying Richards does not have his hands full. Last years team had same injury concerns at this stage of the season as well
Jon, If the Wild can make the playoffs and have momentum heading in, they can make the cup. This teams talent is not bad + a deal on the horizon will be happening that may add a center and his name could be Mike Modano.
I am generally positive Mister Beast. I think Leipold is ?????
I like Fletcher and I dont have a real strong opinion of Richards either way
I seen some real stupid looking hockey for the Minnesota Wild in the first 5 games but when the Wild got the injuries they started to get smarter
I am not crazy about Havlat and his games intensity
Ben: are you on the blog roll?
GOOD FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[…] than a goal and a half per game. Russo says the team hopes to have both him and Petr Sykora(notes) back for Wednesday … but c’mon, it’s Martin Havlat’s groin we’re talking about […]
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
