Minnesota Wild vs. Anaheim Ducks: Game Recap

For the enemy perspective, please visit Anaheim Calling and/or Battle of California

This was a big game for the Wild. Make sure you record this, because it will apply for each and every remaining game on the schedule. The Ducks? They've been on fire lately, getting only 2 regulation losses in the last 17 games before tonight. The Wild have been on the exact opposite of fire, ice-cold. If there was a game to turn things around, this was it.

Now, I've been told to get off my high horse by some Wild fans for this for some reason, but a ref catching a slapshot like that is no cause for celebration. Cheering when someone gets hurt is not cool. Ever. Refs are only human, they'll miss some calls. It's a fast-paced game, there's a lot going on. Live with it.

The Wild had some golden opportunities when Harding went off to the bench for the extra player, but they weren't able to bury the puck, so 2-1 Anaheim was the final score, giving them a 0-4-1 record in their last 5.

The playoffs are looking mighty distant now when they looked so certain at one point.

Quick facts:

Heatley scored his 6th goal in the last nine games. 19 goals makes him one short of his 7th straight 20-goal campaign. It was also the 5th time he scored the first goal of the game for the Wild, tops on the team. He also became tops on the team in PP goals with his 6th and goals at home with his 11th.

Kris Foucault is the 13th rookie to dress for the Wild, as well as the 38th player. Both, if I'm not mistaken, are NHL-highs right now.

Zidlicky's powerplay point was his first since November 8th. That's right, POWERPLAY SPECIALIST Zidlicky hadn't had a powerplay point in 3 months. I don't care about the bad powerplay, the injury and the scratches, that's just ridiculous.

Wild have 5 wins in their last 26 games. Yup.

Ducks had their first win when trailing after 2 periods tonight.

Wild have scored 1 goal in 5 of the last 6 games...the other one was a 2 goal performance.