Minnesota Wild vs Carolina Hurricanes: Game Re-Cap

For enemy reaction, please visit Canes Country.

A moral victory. Something to build on. A solid effort. All of the cliches are there, but the standings still show a shoot out loss. The key word there is loss. The Wild are still winless in eight matches against NHL teams, and there only win came against the second to worst team in the SM Liiga. Plenty of positives, plenty of old negatives, only one point in the standings, and a long time to think about it.

Make the jump for the re-cap, the three stars, and the answers to the five questions.

The third would open with chip and chase hockey, until that magic ten minute mark. However, instead of turning on the jets as would fit the pattern, the Wild took two highly inadvisable calls, giving the Canes a huge 5-3 power play, which the Wild killed seemingly easily. As the period ground to a halt, Koivu took a hooking call as Rutuu fell behind the net, putting the Wild back on the PK to end regulation and begin over time.

The shootout went mostly as expected, and Skinner stole the show yet again, scoring the only goal to give the Canes another victory, and a very comfortable ride home with their shiny four points.

All-in-all, another disappointing game, with a handful of positives. All the moral victories in the world are not going to do much for an angry fan base, nor for the fast start the Wild so desperately needed. The Wild depart Finland immediately, come home for a  week "off" before opening the actual home season on the 14th.

Notes:

The Barker / Stoner combination was on the ice for the goal against.

Hockey Wilderness Three Stars:

1. Cam Ward (41 saves, 1 GA)

2.Jeff Skinner (Game Winner in shootout, created multiple chances, 1A)

3. Mikko Koivu (8 SOG, 21:27 TOI)

Five Questions:

1. Who is the hero for this team? Who is going to step up and put the team on their shoulders? Koivu did all he could, but I' not sure you can label a hero in a loss.

2. How do the Wild respond to this rather disappointing performance? They came out looking a team on a mission, but it faded fast. Something needs to change, and it needs to change very quickly.

3. Does Latendresse move back to the second line, or has he been Clutterbucked? At the end of the game, he skated on the line, but Clutterbuck played on it most of the game, and performed fairly well.

4. Which Wild player will be on the ice for every goal against this time? Only one goal against... so the question doesn't seem right to answer. Though Barker and Stoner did find a way to be out there.

BONUS:

6.We're going to stick with this question until it happens: Can the Wild put together a 60 minute effort? Russo says they did, and I don't make a habit of disagreeing with him, but I disagree. The second period was flat, there were too many mental lapses, and the third period was a disaster.