Minnesota Wild vs Los Angeles Kings: Game Re-cap

Please visit Jewels From The Crown for enemy perspective.

The third period saw the physical game ratcheted up a bit, with both teams trading big hits.Scott Parse added his second goal of the game, tying the game at two, but the Wild continued a hard forecheck and answered back. Martin Havlat scored the second power play goal of the night, and the sounds of the seals of the apocalypse breaking could be heard.

The third also saw the Wild take two minor penalties at the same time, leading to a 5-on-3 for a full two minutes. Greg Zanon was super human on the kill, and when Backstrom froze the puck after the penalty time expired, Zanon collapsed on the ice momentarily, and the crowd erupted.

All in all, the Wild looked like a team desperately fighting to make the playoffs. The only adversary they absolutely cannot defeat in the math textbook explaining the odds of them making the post season. Trust me. It can't happen. Every member of the Wilderness community will win the lottery before the Wild make the playoffs this season.

Still, good game. Fun to watch.

1. Greg Zanon (6 official blocked shots, 22:32 TOI)

2. Scott Parse (2G, 2SOG in just 11:37 TOI)

Five Questions to Answer:

1. This is an injured Wild team. Why bother playing anyone who is even remotely close to hurt? There's nothing to gain.  I have no answer for this, but watching Zanon was amazing.

2. If Prosser gets to play, how will he look? No Prosser tonight.

4. The Wild haven't been able to stop the Kings offense for the past two seasons. Will tonight be any different?  They didn't stop it, but they won.

5. Can Owen Nolan surpass Peter Forsberg on the NHL scoring chart tonight? (He needs 2 points) Tied him. Next game. Count it.

-Buddha