NHL FanHouse

Am I Excited For the Convention? Does an Elephant Poop on the Wild?

Jon — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:03:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, Wild, NHL General

Just over a month from now, the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota will play host to the 2008 Republican National Convention for four nights. Forty-one nights out of the year (and a couple more, depending on how hard they're willing to work in the Spring), the building serves as home ice for the Minnesota Wild. The mildly disturbing image above (via Wonkette) combines the two equally entertaining events (zing!) by poorly photoshopping the GOP's traditional mascot over (we think) Wild forward James Sheppard.

Since the NHL season won't open for more than a month after John McCain and friends leave town, there can only be one explanation for the inclusion of this picture in the confab's promotional material -- a subliminal campaign by the Wild to make newly re-acquired Andrew Brunette look like a decent skater by comparison. Well-played, Minny. Well-played.

Am I Excited For the Convention? Does an Elephant Poop on the Wild? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Wild Aren't Done Yet

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:40:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Wild, NHL Free Agency

Well, let's just say that Wild fans hope the Wild aren't done yet.

Free agency started Tuesday, and as usual, it's anything but free. The insane money being thrown around makes you wonder how the league's personnel people got their jobs ($3.75 million a season for Jeff Finger? Really?).

In Minnesota, the Wild have developed a reputation for fiscal conservatism. There's nothing really wrong with that, but there's a bit of a problem on the Minnesota roster as of right now.

That problem? There aren't many forwards. In fact, Jacques Lemaire couldn't field four full lines right now.

Not only did Brian Rolston sign with New Jersey, but Aaron Voros went to the Rangers, and Todd Fedoruk signed with Phoenix. Yes, the Wild signed Andrew Brunette and Craig Weller, but look at the roster on the Wild's official website. Ignore the fact that they still have Voros listed.

The forwards on the team right now? Eric Belanger, Derek Boogaard, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brunette, Marian Gaborik, Mikko Koivu, Mark Parrish, Benoit Pouliot, James Sheppard, Stephane Veilleux, and Weller.

(Bouchard and Veilleux are restricted free agents who are expected back.)

That's eleven players, and if you think Boogaard and Weller are each playing 82 games, you're crazy.

Unless the Wild plan on taking two more minor-league prospects to camp this fall (outside of Sheppard and Pouliot), general manager Doug Risebrough needs to sign (or trade for) at least two more decent forwards. Minnesota doesn't have enough quality players to fill two solid lines as is, and that won't cut it on a team expected to take another step toward a Stanley Cup.

The Wild Aren't Done Yet originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brunette Officially Returns to Wild

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Predators, Avalanche, Wild, NHL Free Agency

Back in 2003, this goal by Andrew Brunette accomplished a few meaningful things.

It gave Minnesota their first-ever playoff series win.
It ended the legendary career of Patrick Roy.
It cemented Brunette as the kind of player Wild fans would never forget.

After the NHL lockout, Wild general manager Doug Risebrough decided not to re-sign Brunette, who went to Colorado. The thought was that Brunette's lack of speed would hurt him in the "new NHL". Instead, Brunette tallied over 200 points in three years for the Avalanche. Oops.

Today, the 34-year-old Brunette inked a three-year deal with Minnesota, bringing him back to the place he made a name for himself as a pro.

Brunette scored 55 goals in his previous three-year stint with the Wild. Forward Brian Rolston is thought to be as good as gone, so the Wild will probably need more than that out of Brunette this time around.

The Wild also tried to bolster their defensive corps. They acquired Marek Zidlicky from the Nashville Predators in exchange for young forward Ryan Jones and a second-round pick in 2009. Zidlicky is a good offensive defenseman, but he doesn't bring much to the physical side of the game. The Wild are clearly upgrading the blue line with puck-moving players, but it appears they may be falling short of the physical presence they'll eventually need there.

Brunette Officially Returns to Wild originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Does Brunette Replace Rolston?

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:35:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Lightning, Avalanche, Wild, NHL Free Agency

It sounds simple.

Let one veteran forward (Brian Rolston) go. Sign another veteran forward (Andrew Brunette). It sounds simple, and it may be what the Minnesota Wild decide to do when free agency opens up Tuesday.

As Kevin Schultz reported, the Wild have traded Rolston's negotiating rights to Tampa Bay for a conditional pick. Common sense dictates that this is the final step in the process of losing a player who has scored 96 goals for the Wild in the last three years.

Michael Russo notes that the Wild and Brunette seem to have mutual interest in a reunion. There is no secret that Wild general manager Doug Risebrough has a tinge of regret over his decision to let Brunette walk three years ago. Evidently, Brunette has some similar regrets. Well, not exactly the same.

Plus, if Brunette returns, all will be forgiven with his wife, Lorie.

"I don't think she's still gotten over leaving Minnesota," Brunette quipped.

Hey, Risebrough will take it any way he can get it. He needs a presence in front of the net, and he needs a presence in the locker room that can pick up some of the void left by Rolston.

And Rolston is gone. You can bet money on it at this point. Realistically, there are two major factors that blow up a Rolston re-signing in Minnesota. The first is that the Tampa Bay Lightning are clearly not screwing around. They signed Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts after obtaining the negotiating rights to both from Pittsburgh. They re-signed Vincent Lecavalier. Also, the Wild have had months to get Rolston to re-sign, and they had to know that he was more likely to test the market with every day they failed to extend his deal. If they couldn't get it done when they knew time was their enemy, then why would they get serious when Rolston has at least six to ten teams interested in his services? Minnesota has never been big on getting involved in bidding wars. I doubt that a 35-year-old forward seeking upwards of $6 million per year is going to motivate them.

However, Brunette only goes part of the way toward replacing Rolston's production. While it's easier said than done, the Wild have to find an impact player somewhere, whether it's from a trade or a free-agent signing. The free-agent pool is quite thin, and the potential impact players in it are likely to be severely overpaid. Expect Minnesota to be working the markets (both free agent and trade) to try to upgrade their offense.

With Marian Gaborik entering the last year of his deal, and with no assurances he'll re-sign without testing the market next summer, this season will be crucial for Minnesota. Coach Jacques Lemaire decided to come back after flirting with retirement, and one can safely assume that he won't coach this team forever. Risebrough has some pressure to produce a contender in 2008-2009, as the team could look significantly different the following season.

Does Brunette Replace Rolston? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh, the Irony: Islanders Draft Future Gopher

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, New York, General NHL, Islanders, NHL Draft

Minnesota Gopher men's hockey coach Don Lucia was not happy when the New York Islanders signed forward Kyle Okposo before his sophomore season was complete. Islanders GM Garth Snow wasn't happy about Lucia not being happy.

"Quite frankly, we weren't happy with the program there," Snow told the paper. "They have a responsibility to coach, to make Kyle a better player, and they were not doing that."

He continued, "[Okposo] just wasn't getting better - bottom line. And to me, that's the frustrating part. We entrusted the coach there to turn him into a better hockey player, and it wasn't happening. We feel more comfortable in him developing right under our watch."

"Whether it was Kyle or another player, until things change in that program we'd probably make the same decision," Snow told the Star-Tribune. "There should be a coach there that looks in the mirror. ... I don't think we'd be at this point if he was being coached properly."

The controversy was a hot topic in Minnesota hockey circles through the Christmas season, as people who love and hate the Gophers opined on Okposo's departure. Minnesota floundered on the ice for a time, but found a way to make the WCHA tournament championship game and qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Okposo went on to earn a shot with the Islanders late in the season, and it appears likely that he'll be on the NHL roster from the outset of the 2008-2009 season. The Islanders appear to have forgotten how incompetent they think Lucia is, as they picked incoming Minnesota freshman Aaron Ness in the second round of last weekend's draft.

Snow changed his tune Saturday, saying, he blasted the Gophers because in a Star Tribune article the day before, "there were three people that took shots against our organization, against Kyle, and I wasn't going to sit idly by.

"Every situation is different. We're happy we got a good hockey player, and we support [Ness] getting his degree at the University of Minnesota."

When I spoke to Lucia in January, he made it clear to me that he was moving on from Snow's remarks, but he was also still bothered by the fact that someone would criticize his coaching without seeing him conduct practice.

I was very harsh on Snow in a post on my blog, and I stand by those words. Snow is in no position to call out one of the most successful coaches in the history of college hockey, no matter how mad he got at things that were said. Lucia's words were carefully-chosen, and they merited a similar response, instead of the rabid rant Snow went off on.

As for Ness, he's a great kid and a super player. He's not the biggest defenseman, and his lack of size means he may not be ideal for every system. However, he has great hands, unreal vision, and seems to be a natural leader. He's also very intelligent, having accelerated his high-school education so he could graduate a year early and start his college career.

His puck-moving ability makes him an ideal fit for Lucia's system, which relies on more wide-open hockey than others, in part because Minnesota's home games are played on Olympic-sized ice. His lack of size means he is probably in need of at least two seasons of college before he's pro-ready.

(By the way, that's two "full" seasons, Garth. Just an FYI.)

By the way, there is still no new agreement between the NHL and NCAA, so players can still be signed to pro contracts during their college seasons, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.

Oh, the Irony: Islanders Draft Future Gopher originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rangers, Devils After Wheeler; Wild Denied

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, New York, General NHL, Devils, Wild, NHL Free Agency

Oh, to be a 21-year-old free agent in the NHL.

Granted, former University of Minnesota star Blake Wheeler can't break the bank when he signs his first NHL contract. His earning power is severely limited by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, to the point where he could have made much more money by signing with Phoenix, who had his draft rights.

As of July 1, Wheeler is free to sign with any NHL team. He's been free to talk to teams since June 1.

Since teams can only offer him so much money, Wheeler can shop his services and find the best fit. He's apparently at work on that. Larry Brooks of the New York Post says he met Wednesday with the New York Rangers, and he also stopped by the Devils facilities for a chat.

Certainly, the Rangers present an interesting potential match, and there will be other earning opportunities readily available for Wheeler in New York City if he can play well. New Jersey's organization has been quite kind to college players as of late, with Zach Parise (North Dakota) and Brian Gionta (Boston College) serving as prime examples.

Meanwhile, Michael Russo reports that Wheeler isn't keen on signing in Minnesota.

"He loves Minnesota and loves living there, but we're looking elsewhere because I think he wants to get a different life experience, explore a different part of the country and grow and mature and experience new things," (agent Matt) Keator said. "The Wild has shown plenty of interest. They've been great."

Hard to argue with that point. I love Minnesota, but there isn't a ton to do or see here compared to other places.

Rangers, Devils After Wheeler; Wild Denied originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyotes Fail to Sign Wheeler

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:05:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, Phoenix, General NHL, Coyotes, NHL Free Agency

A month ago, we told you that University of Minnesota forward Blake Wheeler had withdrawn from school to turn pro. Wheeler was drafted four years ago in the first round by the Phoenix Coyotes, who had 30 days to sign him.

Those 30 days have come and gone, and Wheeler is still unsigned. Therefore, Wheeler is now an unrestricted free agent.

"We offered Blake a contract which was both commensurate with his draft position and far exceeded any guaranteed contract he can receive, under the current CBA, with any other team. He has decided, however, that becoming a free agent is in his best interest," said (GM Don) Maloney.

"We are very happy with the compensatory pick we will receive for Blake not signing, which will be the fifth pick in the second round. This is a very deep draft and we now have five picks in the first two rounds, which is very exciting."

This is a bit surprising in one way. Why would you let player you drafted fifth overall become a free agent? One possibility is that Wheeler will sign with the Coyotes, anyway. Phoenix gets their player, and they still get the draft pick compensation.

However, the Coyotes also run the high risk here of losing a player they coveted four years ago. Yes, Wheeler had a somewhat disappointing career at Minnesota. His size and skill set, however, should make him a coveted player on the open market.

As Maloney notes, the entry-level contract Phoenix offered him was higher than what he can get as a free agent, as he's now subject to the CBA rules enacted after the lockout. Those rules will restrict the amount of money he can make.

(Memo to Wild GM Doug Risebrough: Sign him. Thank you.)

(Tap of stick: Mirtle)

Coyotes Fail to Sign Wheeler originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 29 May 2008 22:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jacques Lemaire Will Coach Wild in 2008-2009

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Wild

The incomparable Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports Minnesota Wild head coach Jacques Lemaire has decided to return for another season.

"When you are younger, it's a lot easier to make a decision,'' Lemaire said in a statement released by the team. "At the end of the year, I said I wanted to ask questions of Doug (president and general manager Doug Risebrough). I wanted to make sure my boss is happy with the work I am doing and with the way I manage the team. This is what we talked about in our meetings. I am reassured of my work and I want to coach again. My satisfaction behind the bench is getting the team to play the best it can, individually and as a group. Success will come with that.''

Lemaire is the only coach the Wild have ever had. At age 62, he sounded after the season ended like a man who knows he won't be doing this coaching thing forever, but he didn't sound like a guy ready to hang it up.

Now the work begins. General manager Doug Risebrough may end up retooling the roster, as the Wild have 13 free agents. They had 14, but Petteri Nummelin has already decided to play in Europe.

Such a high number of contract-year players may have led to some selfish play during the regular season, but Russo has noted a couple different times that Lemaire was pleased with the team's effort during their first-round playoff loss to Colorado.

Jacques Lemaire Will Coach Wild in 2008-2009 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 10 May 2008 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gaborik Has Hip Surgery

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:46:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, Wild, NHL Injuries

No one is making excuses for Minnesota's poor performance in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were putrid offensively and average defensively, and lost in six games to Colorado.

One of the major factors in Minnesota's early exit was the struggle their star player went through. Marian Gaborik didn't score a goal and tallied just a single assist in the series, after scoring a franchise-record 42 goals in the regular season.

Gaborik elected not to play in the World Championships for Team Slovakia, citing a hip injury. We learned Friday that he has undergone successful surgery on that hip.

The surgery was to repair a torn labrum and relieve some pressure on Gaborik's hip. The injury will keep him from playing for Slovakia in this month's hockey world championships.

Gaborik, who is entering the final year of his contract, will spend 10 days to two weeks in Colorado and then return to the Twin Cities to continue his rehabilitation, Wild general manager Doug Risebrough said.

Risebrough went on to say that Gaborik had issues with the hip all season, but it didn't affect him during the playoff series. It does make you wonder what the guy can do when both hips are healthy.

This doesn't sound too serious, but when you consider Gaborik's injury history, it does bear watching.

Gaborik Has Hip Surgery originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 02 May 2008 20:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's Next for the Wild?

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Avalanche, Wild, Stanley Cup, NHL Free Agency

Expectations were higher.

Even after Kurtis Foster was injured and Nick Schultz went under the knife, a first-round exit was simply not going to be tolerated.

Especially like this.

Minnesota lost Saturday to Colorado, 2-1, dropping their first-round series in six games. The Avalanche simply outworked and outhustled Minnesota for most of the series, using their forward depth to wear down Minnesota's depleted defensive corps.

It's the fifth straight year that the Northwest Division champion has failed to get past at least the second round of the playoffs. It's not a stat with a lot of meaning, as two Northwest teams (Calgary and Edmonton) have made the Stanley Cup Finals in that stretch, but it shows that a division title means nothing but lame t-shirts for the fans and pointless banners in the home arena.

The Avalanche await their second-round opponent, while Minnesota tries to find a teetime. The Wild were slightly better during the regular season, but were undone in the playoffs by Colorado goaltender Jose Theodore, who backstopped the Avs to at least two of the four wins they picked up in the series.

(He stole Game One and Game Five for them, while Colorado won the other two games by being the better hockey team.)

This site shows what lies ahead for Minnesota. It's a lot of uncertainty, and possibly the most significant offseason in the short history of the Wild franchise.

Based on NHLNumbers and Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, the Wild have some decisions to make. The following players are listed as restricted free agents this offseason:

Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Stephane Veilleux
Aaron Voros
Kurtis Foster

Frankly, I think general manager Doug Risebrough would be an idiot to let Bouchard go. He's the best playmaker on the roster, and he has enough goal-scoring ability to be a factor as a "create his own shot" kind of player. He's not big, but he's not afraid of the tough areas, either. The effort can be a bit inconsistent, but his talent is too much to ignore.

The Wild need to bring Foster back. Whenever he's ready to return from his broken leg, Foster's big shot is an asset on the power play. He's also improved dramatically as a defender.

Veilleux and Voros are grinder types who will mix it up when necessary and also go in the tough areas. The Wild can't improve their playoff performance without them, even though both played like blockheads at various points in the Colorado series.

The list of unrestricted free agents is longer and perhaps filled with more drama:

Pavol Demitra
Brian Rolston
Branko Radivojevich
Matt Foy
Todd Fedoruk
Chris Simon
Steve Kelly
Keith Carney
Petteri Nummelin
Sean Hill

Demitra's gotta go. He made $4.5 million this year, and he didn't seem to mesh well with Jacques Lemaire's system. To make matters worse, Demitra pulled off quite the disappearing act in the playoffs. Also on the outs should be Simon and Nummelin, who are practically useless.

Carney and Hill are interesting cases. If one of them can handle only playing 35 games and perhaps only getting regular time in case of an emergency, I'd be okay with that. But having Hill out in this series as much as he was didn't help. It looked like both he and Carney wore down the more they played.

Fedoruk is a classic Lemaire player. He'll do more playing for Jacques than he ever would playing elsewhere. Bring him back. Same for Radivojevich. He's a character guy, and he was missed in the final four games of the series.

Rolston drove me nuts against Colorado, because it didn't seem like he had a clue when to use his big slapshot and when to just throw the puck at the net. However, he's a 30-goal scorer who can be a leader and works hard enough defensively to keep Lemaire happy. You don't break the bank for a guy like this, but you keep him if you possibly can.

The Avalanche opened a lot of eyes in this series. Not only did they (and especially Theodore) play better than a lot of people thought they would, but they also showed that Minnesota may have indeed used some smoke and mirrors to win the Northwest.

What's Next for the Wild? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybe Kiszla Was Right?

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Denver, Minnesota, General NHL, Avalanche, Wild, NHL Fights, Stanley Cup

Tuesday, I was very unkind to Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla. He wrote a column in Tuesday's edition that I wasn't terribly fond of. Neither were many Minnesota fans, but I didn't expect them to be.

Kiszla isn't exactly popular in Denver (read the comments, and realize that not all of them came from Minnesota fans), so I'm sure even some Avalanche fans were mildly annoyed. Perhaps they'd prefer he hung around Rockies games.

Anyway, part of Kiszla's column focused on Minnesota's style of play. The point was made that the Wild were playing a very physical brand of hockey, and the Avalanche weren't allowed to play their beautiful, free-flowing game.

Based on what happened in Tuesday's Game Four, Kiszla was prophetic. Minnesota took over 100 penalty minutes, including six ten-minute misconducts (two on Derek Boogaard) and a fighting major (Stephane Veilleux, who should have been thrown out of the game for a brutal hit on Paul Stastny). The out-of-control Wild were pounded, 5-1, and bring a tie series home for Game Five Thursday.

Minnesota has to be ashamed with their performance. They were lazy on defense, stagnant on offense, and then once the outcome was decided by Colorado's superior play, the Wild turned into the second coming of the Broad Street Bullies (or, for younger fans, the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks).

Cheapshots, late hits, chirping, and attempts to goad the opposition into fighting were the feature attraction in the third period. It's a style that has worked for a few Cup winners in the past (Anaheim wasn't afraid to hit anything that moved, and they took their share of bad penalties), but it's not one that Minnesota is particularly good at, especially when all they do is take penalties without drawing any. A fight can only happen with two willing participants, and after Colorado quickly made the point that they weren't going to partake in the Wild's goon show, it should have stopped.

Kiszla's point, which was meant to incite a fanbase, found a home for one night. We congratulate him. But that's where the fun ends. The facts still fly in the face of what Kiszla wrote, and one game isn't changing that.

Anyone who watched these teams during the regular season is well aware that neither is full of Lady Byng candidates. Amazingly, Colorado actually had more fighting majors during the regular season (48) than Minnesota (46). The Avalanche aren't afraid to mix things up, nor should they be. They have some big boys who can take good care of themselves on the ice.

My only hope is that we've seen this happen for the only time in the series. I'm guessing we have. These teams are too closely matched to produce many blowouts either way, and the Wild are too well-coached to let that happen again. Jacques Lemaire will have his team ready Thursday, both to play better defensively and to show more discipline.

Maybe Kiszla Was Right? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Something Wild and Slightly Tone-Deaf

Greg Wyshynski — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:09:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, Wild, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

The Minnesota Wild have this wonderfully goofy nostalgic streak, from their defiantly garish fashion sense to their official team theme song. What, you haven't heard the Wild Anthem, which is played inside the arena during home games and "is a continual reminder of the pride we have in the game of hockey and the communities and lives it touches throughout" the state of Minnesota? The song that gave the world lyrics like, "The game's in our blood/And our blood's in the game/Lay us down under/A frozen pond?"

Presented correctly, the Wild Anthem is a rather majestic and moving tune. Presented by the Wild fan below, it's about as majestic as a Derek Boogaard left hook to the chin. I'll give him points for energy, some more points for knowing most of the words, and a few extra points for fantastic use of props (both gloves and hat); but he gets a big fat demerit for even attempting to hit a high-note.

Something Wild and Slightly Tone-Deaf originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PuckToons: So Much For Home Ice

Earl Sleek — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Devils, Penguins, Wild, Sharks, Stanley Cup

Every Thursday, Earl Sleek will conspire with his pen and scanner to bring you another installment of PuckToons. Hopefully you will find these amusing, relevant, well-drawn, or you're a person who is tolerant towards mediocrity.

Last night, on the opening day of the playoffs, the Minnesota Wild, the San Jose Sharks, and the New Jersey Devils all lost their home ice advantage, something they had battled all season to earn. The Pittsburgh Penguins were the only home team of the four to start their series with a win. The most surprising result, perhaps, was the Sharks' loss to the Flames, in a series where very few liked Calgary's chances. Kudos to Matt at Battle of Alberta for staying optimistic.

Of course it's still early, and momentum can turn over the course of a seven-game series. I should point out one aspect of last year's postseason, though -- in all 15 series, the first team to lose three games ended up eliminated. There's certainly time for game one losers to rebound, but it needs to happen quickly.

Which game one loser(s) do you think will take back their series? Perhaps more importantly, though: which comeback would make for the best cartoon?

PuckToons: So Much For Home Ice originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avs-Wild Game One to Overtime

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:40:00 EST

Filed under: Denver, Minnesota, General NHL, Avalanche, Wild, Stanley Cup

We have our first overtime of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche will play an extra session after a dramatic third-period rally by the homestanding Wild. Despite the comeback, Colorado had the better of the play down the stretch in regulation, so it will be imperative for Minnesota to regain momentum in overtime.

After a scoreless first period, Colorado struck early in the second. Joe Sakic fed a wide-open Kent Sauer in the slot. Sauer, a native of St. Cloud, Minnesota, pushed a shot past Niklas Backstrom for just his second career playoff goal. The Avalanche added another goal later in the second period for a 2-0 lead, as Ryan Smyth tipped in a Jeff Finger point shot on the power play. Even though the Wild outshot Colorado 20-9 through two periods, it was the Avalanche that held a 2-0 lead.

The Wild showed life immediately in the third period, and it paid off early in the period with their first goal of the playoffs. Three minutes into the period, Mikko Koivu flipped the puck toward the slot from the right wing, and it hit Finger in front of the net and got past Jose Theodore. The goal injected life into the capacity crowd of over 19,000 in St. Paul. It also gave the Wild a ton of energy, and they parlayed that into the game-tying goal just over three minutes later. Petteri Nummelin fed Todd Fedoruk in front, and he made a great move to get Theodore to commit before flipping the puck past him to knot the score. The crowd was its loudest after Fedoruk's masterpiece.

Colorado's Joel Quennville called his team's timeout after Fedoruk's goal, and it worked to get the Avalanche playing better. They had the better of things for some time after that, including having a David Jones goal waved off when it was ruled he kicked the puck into the net. The replay showed Jones trying to get up, and it appeared he accidentally knocked the puck in with his skate.

The Avalanche were awarded a penalty shot with 2:27 left after Minnesota's Keith Carney covered the puck in the crease on a scramble in front. The problem with that, of course, is that Carney is a defenseman, and defensemen aren't allowed to do that. Ryan Smyth took the penalty shot, but he was stoned by Backstrom on a backhand attempt. Colorado hit two pipes in the third period, but the game stayed tied.

Shots on goal are 28-19 Minnesota entering overtime.

Avs-Wild Game One to Overtime originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Theodore Sharp Early for Avalanche

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:48:00 EST

Filed under: Denver, Minnesota, General NHL, Avalanche, Wild, Stanley Cup

Click here for more NHL playoff coverage.

While Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom was largely untested in the first period of Game One against Colorado, his counterpart did play very well.

Jose Theodore was undoubtedly one of Colorado's question marks entering this series, but he is off to a good start. The game is scoreless through one period.

Theodore stopped all 11 shots he faced in the first period, including a couple nice stops during Minnesota's two power play chances. The Wild came up empty on the power play in the first period, but had seven of their 11 shots during the man advantages.

The Wild outshot the Avs 11-2 in the first, and Backstrom could almost have slept through the period without any damage being done. Minnesota came out with more energy, and they looked like the more skilled offensive team (not to mention how well they played defensively).

In case you're wondering, Wojtek Wolski and Ryan Smyth were credited with Colorado's only shots on goal in the first.

Theodore Sharp Early for Avalanche originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Little Loud in St. Paul

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:58:00 EST

Filed under: Denver, Minnesota, General NHL, Avalanche, Wild, Stanley Cup

Greetings from St. Paul, where the Minnesota Wild open the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Colorado.

Good thing I don't have to hear anything. Former Minnesota center Wes Walz did the "Let's Play Hockey" thing, and I'm not sure how any of these 18,000 or whatever people have any throat left. It's an incredible atmosphere for a playoff game.

I'll be checking in throughout the evening with updates from this game, which promises to be a very intense battle between division rivals that have already played eight times this year. Hey, what's seven (maybe) more?

As for the Wild, Derek Boogaard and Todd Fedoruk are in the lineup to help protect the skill players in case anyone from Colorado tries anything funny (see: Laperriere, Ian). Chris Simon warmed up for Minnesota but is a late scratch.

A Little Loud in St. Paul originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wild (3) vs Avalanche (6) Playoff Preview

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Denver, Minnesota, General NHL, Avalanche, Wild, Stanley Cup

For all the rest of our previews, click here.

The Minnesota Wild have come quite far in the last month. Minnesota only had four regulation losses in their last 19 games (10-4-5).

The Colorado Avalanche have also made a good amount of noise lately, as they finished 13-5-1 over their last 19 games.

The Northwest Division rivals meet in the Western Conference Playoffs for the second time in five years, with Minnesota looking to pick up another playoff win over Colorado.

In case you're wondering, the Wild went 5-2-1 against Colorado this season. I'm not sure why that would matter, but at least you know now.

Offense: Colorado has talented, experienced players mixed with talented youngsters. It would be silly to think that Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg aren't important just because they're not as young as they used to be. Forsberg has 12 points in his last five games, and Sakic's shot is still lethal. Milan Hejduk and Ryan Smyth also bring a ton of experience. They're supplemented by youngsters like Wojtek Wolski and Paul Stastny. Stastny missed 16 games, but still led the team with 71 points. He's a dynamic player and a great competitor. Despite all this talent, the Avalanche only averaged 0.05 more goals per game (2.73) than Minnesota (2.68). The Wild have 40-goal scorer Marian Gaborik, 30-goal scorer Brian Rolston, and plenty of other guys who can bury the puck. In fact, nine Wild players reached double-digits in goals. Among them is playmaker Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who set career highs in assists (50) and points (63). Both teams are balanced across their lines, but the Avalanche get a slight edge because of their high-end talent. Plus, Forsberg is deadly right now as long as he's healthy. Edge: Colorado

Defense: Minnesota takes a huge hit with Nick Schultz out for the series (appendectomy) and Kurtis Foster out for the season (broken leg). However, the cupboard isn't bare. Brent Burns set a franchise record for defensemen with 15 goals and 43 points. He's been great on both ends of the ice, and he was second to Kim Johnsson in ice time (Johnsson's 23:26 beat Burns out by :21 per game). They'll both be asked to do a lot in this series, as will veterans Martin Skoula, Sean Hill, and Keith Carney. Petteri Nummelin, who played just five games from January on, will be asked to help with his speed. He's not a physical defenseman, but he's smart and fast, and he'll help on the power play. The Avalanche have a bunch of tough defensemen who may not contribute much on offense, but they'll take care of their zone. John-Michael Liles is probably their best offensive blue-liner, and he only scored six goals. The Avs are deeper on defense because of the injuries Minnesota is dealing with, but it's tough to argue that they're noticeably better. Edge: Minnesota

Goaltending: Niklas Backstrom's numbers aren't as good as they were last year, but he's still been very good. He finished 7-1-1 with two shutouts in his last nine starts, so he's playing well heading into this series. Colorado starter Jose Theodore has much more playoff experience, but he's been generally shaky the last few years. While he finished 5-0-1, he hasn't been as sharp as Backstrom, and there are many more questions about his ability to perform in the playoffs. Backstrom was very good for the Wild against Anaheim last year, but he was done in by a lack of support in front of him. I don't expect that to happen again in this series, but even if it does, Backstrom is better-equipped to handle a barrage of quality chances than Theodore is. Edge: Minnesota

Prediction: While Minnesota won the division, the two teams were even in total wins (44). Minnesota has a slight edge in regulation wins (35 to 33), but the teams are pretty even in the end. Minnesota gets slight edges in defense and goaltending, and a bigger edge in special teams. In the playoffs, every goal means so much more, and it's hard to pick against a team that's as good on special teams as the Wild are. Pick: Wild in six.

Wild (3) vs Avalanche (6) Playoff Preview originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wild's Schultz Has Appendectomy

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:20:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Avalanche, Wild, NHL Live Blogging, Stanley Cup

This isn't good news for the Minnesota Wild.

A team that is not very deep on defense as is just lost one of their best defensemen for an indefinite period of time. The appendectomy that Nick Schultz underwent in the Twin Cities Monday would likely be an easier pill for Minnesota to swallow were it not for the injury to Kurtis Foster in March.

Foster's broken leg has him out for the playoffs, and Schultz is now out indefinitely after successful surgery. An appendectomy isn't going to be a short-term absence for Schultz. Even a speedy recovery will probably keep him out for the first round.

That's two defensemen out of the Wild's top six that won't be on the ice for Minnesota Wednesday night. Colorado has talented, experienced forwards all over their lineup, and the task of slowing them down is tough enough when your team is at full strength.

For a silver lining, Jacques Lemaire is still Minnesota's coach. If anyone can guide a team through something like this, it's Lemaire.

What will the lineup look like? Well, the Wild don't have many options. Veterans Keith Carney and Sean Hill , who have been healthy scratches more than a few times this season, will be expected to play a lot more minutes. Speedy Petteri Nummelin, who should have already been a safe bet for more ice time, will get even more now. Nummelin will be an asset for the Wild power play, too.

Brent Burns, who has had a fantastic season, becomes the unquestioned best player on the blue line. The much-maligned Martin Skoula will also shoulder some of the load, as will Kim Johnsson, who has played much better as of late.

(H/T: Mike Russo, superstar, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Wild's Schultz Has Appendectomy originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quit Fakin' That Broken Femur

Greg Wyshynski — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Wild, NHL Injuries

It was one of the most horrific moments in the NHL this season: Minnesota defenseman Kurtis Foster shattering his left femur on the end boards, after the Sharks' Torrey Mitchell gave him an extra shove while the players chased an iced puck. The Pioneer Press caught up with Foster recently; here's a cringe-worthy excerpt:

"I remember the knee taking everything," Foster said by phone Tuesday from his Twin Cities hospital room. "I landed on my knee pad and felt it all in the knee. When I pulled out of the scrum, I tried moving my left leg. I remember in my mind, my foot was moving, but when I looked down, it wasn't ...That's when I was pretty sure my leg was broken."

But since it's clear Foster will play again in the NHL, most likely by the end of 2008, there can be a little levity in this otherwise dire situation. And it was provided by his lady:

Stephanie Bosch was watching on television when her fiancé, Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster, collided with the end boards and broke his left femur into four pieces. Initially, she didn't think much of it. "I thought he was faking it," she said. "I thought he was trying to draw a penalty. He has scared me like that before."

"I thought he was faking it?" A shattered femur? What is he, the Daniel Day Lewis of drawing penalties? If so, does that make Sidney, like, Brando or something?

(h/t The Hockey News)

Quit Fakin' That Broken Femur originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Wild Are a Mess

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Minnesota, General NHL, Wild, Western

Jacques Lemaire prides himself on coaching quality defensive hockey. Since he showed up in Minnesota, the Wild have been among the league's strongest teams in terms of keeping the puck out of their own net. That's important, because outside of Marian Gaborik, this team hasn't shown any ability to score consistently.

This year is no different. In terms of the offense, that is. The defense has been leaky at times and downright terrible every now and then (see: Monday night's first period at Edmonton). Overall, Minnesota is allowing .4 goals per game this season. Not terrible, until you consider that Minnesota's 2.65 goals per game scored is their lowest average since before the lockout.

Bottom line: They're not very good. They flash brilliance because of Lemaire's system (and Gaborik's sick talents), but their offensive talent barely goes two lines deep, and the defense isn't nearly as good as you'd expect from a Lemaire team.

Because the offensive talent is so thin, Lemaire has been prone to dressing too many players who lack discernible offensive skill. Lately, a lineup that includes Chris Simon, Todd Fedoruk, and Derek Boogaard has been seen. Won't score many goals, but could probably scare the bejeezus out of most teams.

Heading into Wednesday's game against Edmonton, Lemaire has some decisions to make. Not much worked in Monday's loss to the Oilers. The defense was leaky, hanging goaltender Niklas Backstrom out to dry and helping him allow three goals on four shots. Offensively, they couldn't get anything consistent going. They were thoroughly outskated and outhustled by the smaller and quicker Oilers.

Shouldn't that dictate a lineup of skillful skaters against Edmonton in the rematch?

Nope.

According to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, it looks like young forward Benoit Pouliot (two goals Saturday at Calgary) is out tonight. Pavol Demitra (leg) and Pierre-Marc Bouchard (flu), who missed Monday's game, should be able to play. Fedoruk and Boogaard are expected to play, while Simon will sit.

Russo says veteran Mark Parrish definitely will not play. He didn't sound as certain about Pouliot, but indicated he would be a scratch.

If this is the case, it's incomprehensibly stupid, especially for Lemaire.

Pouliot has played very well since being called up, getting his first two NHL goals and holding his own. He might not be the strongest defensive player, but sitting him so Boogaard can give you six minutes of ice time and get in a fight if he can find a willing opponent doesn't make sense.

At some point, you have to see if the kid can play. Yes, it's a playoff race, but which of Fedoruk's four goals in 64 games would make you think he's going to help you more than Pouliot? Just because he's a veteran doesn't mean he's a better player.

I'm not sure what will happen down the stretch, but I do know that the Wild can't afford to enter another offseason with so many missing pieces on offense. Pouliot may be the answer to at least a few of Minnesota's issues, but we'll never find out for sure if he spends the stretch run sitting in the press box.

Entering a big game against a skating team, it's a curious move at best, and it shows how much of a mess the Wild are offensively right now.

UPDATE @ 8:15pm ET: Parrish is playing for Stephane Veilleux, but Pouliot is out. I still think that's dumb, but the Wild do have a 1-0 lead on an awesome play by Gaborik. Fed Branko Radivojevich in front for a tap-in goal when Edmonton goalie Dwayne Roloson overcommitted to Gaborik.

The Wild Are a Mess originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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