Minnesota Wild vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Game Recap

For Columbus perspective, please visit The Cannon.

For the second game in a row, I find myself disagreeing with the consensus on how the team played. Against Vancouver, I felt they played fairly well and got beat by a better team. The team and coach disagreed with that assessment. Tonight, despite the 35 shots on goal, I did not feel the team played particularly well. The team and coach disagreed.

The talk in the locker room was of the team putting in the effort needed, but not getting the bounces. The presser with Mike Yeo was similar. Talk of not always getting what they deserve and it being a long season were mixed with an understanding that moral victories don't count. Yeo did mention how he knows at this point in the season, it is no longer about building on a game, it's about winning games.

I expected there to be a great deal more anger tonight. I was surprised to see a lack of emotion. Maybe I'm in the wrong here.

To the game.

The second period was sloppy for both sides. Neither team got any chances that were overly exciting. It was a period reminiscent of last season, save for giving up four goals. Then, again, at the 19:39 mark of the period, the Wild quit and gave up the game winner.

In the third, the Wild once again played some decent hockey. Decent hockey against the worst team in the league. The problem is, they couldn't find the jugular, and they lost. To the worst team in hockey. For the second time in less than a week.

Maybe it's not fair to criticize at this point. Maybe they really did play a solid game and just didn't get the breaks. Certainly, the refs missed calls that may have given the Wild an advantage. Let's be honest though, was the Wild power play going to help them?

Once again, I am left on the opposite side of the general feeling of this game. I just can't wrap my head around getting beat by a less than average goalie and the worst team in the league and saying the effort was there. After getting ripped by your coach, you come out and lose? Again? Not getting why the anger isn't present.

If I'm wrong here, tell me.