Minnesota Wild lose more than a game to the Vancouver Canucks

The Minnesota Wild goalies had a tough night at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, but so did Mikko Koivu and Stephane Veilleux.

The Wild goalies (yes both follied under Canuck pressure) allowed 6 goals in a 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The first period was the worst first period I have seen in years for Minnesota Wild hockey. The Wild defense was nonexistent and the Canucks scored four goals in the first 16 minutes – four goals! Josh Harding let in three before being pulled and Niklas Backstrom let in two more and then icing on the cake...an empty netter.

The chippy Canucks team was out for blood and not just from the goalies. Alex Burrows went after Wild player Stephane Veilleux in the first period. Burrows stuck his hand in Veilleux's cage, which was protecting a broken cheekbone.  Branko Radivojevic paid Burrows back with a solid crosscheck, but it was just the start of dirty Canuck hockey.

In the third period, the Canucks really stuck it to us when Mattias Ohlund slashed Mikko Koivu in the knees and sent him limping off the ice. Ohlund got a five minute major and is sure to get a fine and possible game suspension.  Mikko has really been a star Wild player and will definitely be missed from the line-up. Adding to the misery, winger Mark Parrish left the game just five seconds into the second period because of a back injury and didn't return. In the end Aaron Voros, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Marian Gaborik also got into it - mostly with Vancouver center Ryan Kesler.  

It was an ugly game and I am glad to put it behind us. The Wild will return to the state of hockey for 3 home games. The Wild will need some home town love after the Canadian beat down.