Minnesota Wild faces off against Western Division Rival Anaheim Ducks

One of the Minnesota Wild’s biggest rivalries is definitely with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Both times Minnesota has made the NHL playoffs, they were eliminated by Anaheim, thus causing some definite frustration.

Last year, Anaheim squashed Minnesota in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not only winning the series, but physically they took some shots at our Wild players that got the blood boiling. In Game 4 of the series, Minnesota defenseman Kim Johnsson suffered a head injury when Brad May sucker-punched him during a skirmish between two other players during the final 2 minutes. Then, during the pregame skate leading up to the Game 5 clincher at Anaheim, Ducks enforcer George Parros scuffled with Minnesota counterpart Derek Boogaard after Boogaard skated past Chris Pronger at center ice and allegedly elbowed him in the back of the shoulder. The Boogaard incident was so lame that Boogaard and Coach Lemaire refused to shake hands with the Ducks at the end of the series. There is no doubt that the physical tension between the Mighty Ducks and the Minnesota Wild will be felt for many games to come and all four match-ups this Wild season should provide a few good fights along with some great NHL hockey!