Wild Hang Up Jackets (Again)
Mark Christopher, Sophomore Writer
Following a 4-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday, in which all their goals were scored on the power play. the Minnesota Wild hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center in downtown Saint Paul.
Saturday marked the second (and last) time Columbus will play at the "X" this season, as the Wild edged the Jackets 2-1 back on October 25th. Owen Nolan scored the game winning goal and added an assist while Niklas Backstrom recored 25 saves in that game to improve Minnesota's all time home record against their expansion rival to 11-3-1, with nine of those contests decided by one goal.
Columbus came into Saturday's game 4-1 in their last five outings, having defeated Buffalo 6-1 on Friday, which was their first five goal road victory since 2003. The Jackets also downed Calgary 3-1, Montreal 4-3 (SO) and Edmonton 5-4 in that stretch dating back to November 5th, while losing to Phoenix 5-2 on Wednesday. Rookie netminder Steve Mason was in net for 4 of those games (except Buffalo) posting a 3-1 record with a 2.96 GAA and .896 SV%
---on a brief side note, Marian Gaborik (lower body) missed game number 13 of the season, and while there's no merit to it the big rumor around the Al Shaver Press Box prior to the game had Toronto trading Nik Antropov to Minnesota for Gabby sometime in the next two weeks. Should this turn out to be true, entering Saturday Antropov in 9 years has played 463 games with 111 goals and 149 assists for 260 points but only has one 20+ goal season. On the other side Gaborik (487 games in 8 years, 207-208=415) has five 30+ goal season and one 40+ goal season last year. It's not usually mine, or this websites style to comment on something like this, but this rumor had a few unnamed individuals in the press box frothing at the mouth and angrily sending text messages---
On the ice it took 17:36 before the games first goal as Benoit Pouliot tipped in a power play goal off a rebound to give Minnesota a brief 1-0 lead. Columbus scored just 2:00 minutes later in the periods winding seconds. Derick Brassard fired a shot from the right face off circle that Niklas Backstrom stopped, and layed down thinking the puck was between his back and the ice, but it went just outside the crease to Kristian Huselius who had an open net to shoot at and tie the game at 1-1.
It wasn't until 1:48 of the third period that the tie was broken when Erik Reitz, a sixth round draft pick by Minnesota in 2000 who had played 363 games with the Houston Aeros of the AHL, scored his first NHL goal to give the Wild a 2-1 lead. That goal by Reitz snapped a streak of 191:52 in which Minnesota scored it's last even strength goal, November 6th in Colorado, as each of their previous five goals came with the man advantage.
The 2-1 lead only lasted for a few minutes as Rick Nash picked off a pass in the zone, just outside the left face off circle, and beat Backstrom on a one-handed-back-handed shot to tie it 2-2 at 7:20 for Columbus.
Both teams skated a scoreless rest of regulation and in overtime to send it to the Wild's first shootout at home this season.
Andrew Brunette was unsuccessful on his attempt in the "Skills Competition", but Marek Zidlicky and Antti Miettinen converted on their chances as the Wild won the Shootout 2-1, and the game 3-2.
With the win Minnesota improves to 12-3-1 against Columbus at home, having won the last four in a row against the Jackets, establishing a franchise record against their expansion counterpart.
Up next for the Wild is a nationally televised game at Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Three Stars of the Game (Picked by Doug Johnson of Lets Play Hockey):
1--MN--Marek Zidlicky
2--MN--Erik Reitz
3--CBJ--Rick Nash
Post Game Notes:
Goalie Niklas Backstrom improved to 11-0-3 with a 1.54 GAA and a .945 SV% in his last 14 home starts. He's 40-8-10 all-time at Xcel Energy Center. Backstrom also improved to 2-0 this season in shootouts, after going 4-10 in his first two NHL seasons.
Minnesota's power play goal was it's first against Columbus in the last six meetings, having gone 0-for-24 in the last five games versus the Blue Jackets. The Wild went 1-for-3 on the man advantage. Minnesota's penalty kill, ranked first in the NHL, was successful on it's lone attempt. At home, the Wild is an NHL best 23-for-24 (95.8 %) on the PK.
Centre Benoit Pouliot scored his fifth goal of the season - one off the team lead. Pouliot scored his third goal in the last six games - including two on the power play.
The Wild improved to 2-0 in shootouts, while Columbus is 1-3.
Ten of the 16 meetings between the teams at Xcel Energy Center have been decided by one goal.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
November 13th
Wild Tame Coyotes
Mark Christopher, Sophomore Writer
After a 2-2 road trip and following their first shutout of the season, 2-0 to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, the Minnesota Wild returned home Thursday to host the Phoenix Coyotes.
Thursday's game marked the beginning of a stretch in which the Wild will play 10 of the next 12 games at home, and was just their sixth game at Xcel Energy Center this season. Only Edmonton (3) has played fewer home games this season.
This wasn't the first meeting of the season between the two clubs as back on November 1st in Phoenix, Minnesota beat the Coyotes 3-2. Niklas Backstrom recored 25 saves and improved his lifetime record against the Coyotes to 7-0-0 with a 1.29 GAA and .957 SV%. On the other side Ilya Bryzgalov is 0-5 with a 3.28 GAA and .894 SV% in six career games versus Minnesota (5 starts).
Both goalies were sharp early on as Bryzgalov made 13 saves and Backstrom 5 in the first period, with both teams skating a scoreless first frame.
Marek Zidlicky broke the scoreless tie 3:47 in the second period on the power play off an assist from Marc-Andre Bergeron to put the Wild up 1-0. Minnesota added another in the second at 15:43 with a two-man advantage as Andrew Brunette scored his sixth of the season and the Wild took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
Minnesota again started the third as they did the second period, getting a a power play goal in the periods third minute, 3:11 to be exact, from Eric Belanger who had a two point night (1-1=2) to put Minnesota up 3-0. Right on the faceoff Cal Cutterbuck of the Wild and Keith Yandle of the Coyotes dropped 'em.
"(Right on the faceoff) he (Yandle) came up to me and asked if I wanted to go" Said Cutterbuck who was fresh off the bench and decided why not. "I was excited, it's been a while since I fought anybody and it's always good to get that monkey off your back, it's almost the same as scoring a goal. You don't fight for awhile and you start doubting yourself".
The Wild added another third period, and their fourth power-play, goal at 18:53 when Zidlicky scored his second of the game as Minnesota won 4-0 to defeat Phoenix for the ninth straight time, which ties the Wild record for the longest winning streak against one team as Minnesota defeated Chicago in nine straight meetings from January 20, 2006 to January 11, 2008.
The last time the Coyotes defeated the Wild was almost two years to the day on November 14th 2006 at Jobing.com Arena.
With the Win Minnesota improves to 9-4-1 and Phoenix drops to 8-7-0, and the next meeting between the two is on December 11 at Jobing.com arena in Phoenix.
After a day off Friday, the Wild will host the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night with the face off at 710pm.
Three Stars (Picked by Wally Shaver of Lets Play Hockey):
1--MN--Marek Zidlicky
2--MN--Andrew Brunette
3--MN--Eric Belanger
Post-Game Notes:
Goalie Niklas Backstrom improved to 8-0-0 against the Coyotes, his second best record against any team. He is 9-0-0 versus Edmonton. Having posted his third shutout against Phoenix Thursday, it marked Backstrom's ninth career shutout at Xcel Energy Center - two off Dwayne Roloson's team record.
Minnesota went 4-for-7 on the power play (57.1%), after going just 5-for-43 (11.6%) in the previous 10 games, and 1-for-21 (4.8%) in the last five contests.
Thursday was just the seventh time in team history the Wild have scored at least four power-play goals. The Wild record for PPG in a game is Five (2/7/06 vs LA and 10/7/06 vs Nashville).
Defenceman Marek Zidlicky notched his third career two-goal game and first since February 11, 2006 vs. Columbus. Zidlicky also added an assist, tying a franchise record for points in a game by a defenceman done on eight other occasions, last by Brent Burns, who tallied three assists vs. Dallas on January 3, 2008.
Centre Eric Belanger added a goal and an assist, his first multi-point game since scoring two goals in the season opener Oct, 11.
Defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron registered a career high three-assists.
Left Wing Andrew Brunette scored his sixth goal of the season and his 31st all-time goal at Xcel Energy Center, tying Antti Laaksonen for fifth place on the all-time list.
Left Wing Owen Nolan, activated off injured reserve just before game time, registered two assists, notching his first point since October 27th (an assist against Chicago).
With two goals in the second period, the Wild has outscored its opponents 15-7 in the second period this season.
Mark Christopher, Sophomore Writer
After a 2-2 road trip and following their first shutout of the season, 2-0 to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, the Minnesota Wild returned home Thursday to host the Phoenix Coyotes.
Thursday's game marked the beginning of a stretch in which the Wild will play 10 of the next 12 games at home, and was just their sixth game at Xcel Energy Center this season. Only Edmonton (3) has played fewer home games this season.
This wasn't the first meeting of the season between the two clubs as back on November 1st in Phoenix, Minnesota beat the Coyotes 3-2. Niklas Backstrom recored 25 saves and improved his lifetime record against the Coyotes to 7-0-0 with a 1.29 GAA and .957 SV%. On the other side Ilya Bryzgalov is 0-5 with a 3.28 GAA and .894 SV% in six career games versus Minnesota (5 starts).
Both goalies were sharp early on as Bryzgalov made 13 saves and Backstrom 5 in the first period, with both teams skating a scoreless first frame.
Marek Zidlicky broke the scoreless tie 3:47 in the second period on the power play off an assist from Marc-Andre Bergeron to put the Wild up 1-0. Minnesota added another in the second at 15:43 with a two-man advantage as Andrew Brunette scored his sixth of the season and the Wild took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
Minnesota again started the third as they did the second period, getting a a power play goal in the periods third minute, 3:11 to be exact, from Eric Belanger who had a two point night (1-1=2) to put Minnesota up 3-0. Right on the faceoff Cal Cutterbuck of the Wild and Keith Yandle of the Coyotes dropped 'em.
"(Right on the faceoff) he (Yandle) came up to me and asked if I wanted to go" Said Cutterbuck who was fresh off the bench and decided why not. "I was excited, it's been a while since I fought anybody and it's always good to get that monkey off your back, it's almost the same as scoring a goal. You don't fight for awhile and you start doubting yourself".
The Wild added another third period, and their fourth power-play, goal at 18:53 when Zidlicky scored his second of the game as Minnesota won 4-0 to defeat Phoenix for the ninth straight time, which ties the Wild record for the longest winning streak against one team as Minnesota defeated Chicago in nine straight meetings from January 20, 2006 to January 11, 2008.
The last time the Coyotes defeated the Wild was almost two years to the day on November 14th 2006 at Jobing.com Arena.
With the Win Minnesota improves to 9-4-1 and Phoenix drops to 8-7-0, and the next meeting between the two is on December 11 at Jobing.com arena in Phoenix.
After a day off Friday, the Wild will host the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night with the face off at 710pm.
Three Stars (Picked by Wally Shaver of Lets Play Hockey):
1--MN--Marek Zidlicky
2--MN--Andrew Brunette
3--MN--Eric Belanger
Post-Game Notes:
Goalie Niklas Backstrom improved to 8-0-0 against the Coyotes, his second best record against any team. He is 9-0-0 versus Edmonton. Having posted his third shutout against Phoenix Thursday, it marked Backstrom's ninth career shutout at Xcel Energy Center - two off Dwayne Roloson's team record.
Minnesota went 4-for-7 on the power play (57.1%), after going just 5-for-43 (11.6%) in the previous 10 games, and 1-for-21 (4.8%) in the last five contests.
Thursday was just the seventh time in team history the Wild have scored at least four power-play goals. The Wild record for PPG in a game is Five (2/7/06 vs LA and 10/7/06 vs Nashville).
Defenceman Marek Zidlicky notched his third career two-goal game and first since February 11, 2006 vs. Columbus. Zidlicky also added an assist, tying a franchise record for points in a game by a defenceman done on eight other occasions, last by Brent Burns, who tallied three assists vs. Dallas on January 3, 2008.
Centre Eric Belanger added a goal and an assist, his first multi-point game since scoring two goals in the season opener Oct, 11.
Defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron registered a career high three-assists.
Left Wing Andrew Brunette scored his sixth goal of the season and his 31st all-time goal at Xcel Energy Center, tying Antti Laaksonen for fifth place on the all-time list.
Left Wing Owen Nolan, activated off injured reserve just before game time, registered two assists, notching his first point since October 27th (an assist against Chicago).
With two goals in the second period, the Wild has outscored its opponents 15-7 in the second period this season.
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