Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks: Game Re-cap

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A new pattern is emerging, one that is tied to the time of year, not to the team. First periods are becoming tighter as teams focus on defense first, keeping the game close, and trying to get at least one point out of the deal. Tonight was no exception, with both teams getting physical, but not very many chances. 

It didn't work. 

After that, the Wild defense started to shut down, looking lost and confused about what step to take next. In their own zone, in the Hawks zone, the entire squad was discombobulated and looking for help.  The Hawks would take advantage yet again, going up 2-0 before the midpoint of the second. After that, the Wild simply looked like they wanted to survive and get to the locker room.

It didn't work.

The Wild were booed heartily as they left the ice, and deservedly so. It was the worst period of hockey they have played probably since December. Horrible effort, horrible team work, horrible in every aspect of the game.

Then the Wild got their first power play, which sucked the life out of any momentum they had built up. Missed passes, shots from poor angles, just plain trying to hard. After the soul sucking force that is the Wild power play ended, they got back on their game again. Back to creating chances, they made Crawford come up big again and again. Nothing that registered on the score board, though. 

That was the knife. That was the game. A game with periods of superb play, and long periods of disastrous play. Two points lost, and two points to the team directly below them in the standings. Too bad.

Hockey Wilderness Three Stars

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