Minnesota Wild vs. Montreal Canadiens: Game Recap

For the enemy perspective, please visit Habs Eyes On The Prize

I could recap this game in about 4 words, but I'm not allowed to write those words legally in an official recap.

Everyone knows how important this game was to me right? Well, in my 7 years as a Wild fan, I've never felt less proud to be one. Tonight was an absolute embarassment of a game that pretty much killed what little hope the Wild had to make the playoffs. We all knew this would be a tough team to beat, but did anyone expect the worst loss in team history? I sure as hell didn't. This was an absolute nightmare of a game for me, and you all know why.

The only things we really had to cheer about was Stoner and his two huge hits and his fight with Ryan White and Mikko Koivu's penalty shot. Although, it's pretty sad we actually needed no one else to be on the ice but Koivu and Auld to actually get a goal.

The things that made this game unbearable for me were:

- The 8-1 score

- The fact it was against the Habs

- The fact that the two Habs I hate the most, P.K. Subban and Benoit Pouliot, each had 3 points

- The 3rd most hated Hab in my list, Michael Cammalleri, had 2 assists (but thankfully, no goals. I just hate his expression when he scores goals, he's so smug.)

- The fact I had to watch the ENTIRE THING to make this recap and re-watch EVERY. SINGLE. GOAL to do it more accurately 

- The fact that there were WAY TOO MANY Habs fans in the stands at the X.

 - And finally, the fact the Wild played the worst possible game a playoff hopeful ever played in the history of the Universe. The Wild are done. That's it, that's all.

Ugh.. Pouliot...Where's Guillaume Latendresse when you need him? Of course, unless he'd have scored 8 goals, he wouldn't have made a lick of friggin' difference!

Next game, another important one for me, against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. I hope I have something to cheer about this time around, because I'll be recapping that one as well. Know that I had to show an herculean amount of restraint to write this recap, even though I'm sure no one wants to be reminded of this $%&%.

Well, now I'm off to drink my face off, try to forget this abomination of a game. Peace!

Game notes:

- This was Montreal's 3100th franchise W.

- Ryan White is probably the only player to get his first NHL goal and first Gordie Howe hat-trick in the same game, I can't confirm this.

- 6-0 was the worst shutout home loss in Wild history... and that was the score after two periods. 8-1 is the most lopsided loss in Wild history, as it marks the first time the Wild lost by more than a 6 goal difference. Also the first time the Wild have allowed 8 goals at home... It just had to be against the Habs...This was, by the way, their biggest offensive game in over 3 years. Goody.

- Jose Theodore is now 2-2-1 against Montreal, with a ghastly 4.81 GAA and .858% SV%

Hockey Wilderness 3 stars:

Do I have to?.... Yeah?.... Fine...

1. P.K. Subban (first NHL career hat trick, good job playing defense, still don't like him at all. 4 points total.)

2. Ryan White (first NHL career goal + first NHL career Gordie Howe hat-trick, 3 points total.)

3. Benoit Pouliot (3 assists, pain in the ass, felt like he was on the ice for 50 minutes, but he was on for 12:17, which I find quite surprising.)

5 Questions:

1. Can the Wild put forth an effort worthy of the Moose? HA! .... If anyone thinks the Wild did a good job, they need a wet towel slap in the face.

2. Does Benny boy make himself scarce, or does he make the Wild pay? He made them pay big time, 3 assists, made everyone look like fools.

3. Can anyone, anyone at all save this Wild team? Nope. Koivu kept this from being a shutout, but it might as well have been 250 - 1.

4. Seriously... is it over yet? If it wasn't before, it is now.

5. If the Habs lose, do Wild fans riot in their stead? Well I don't know about the people in St. Paul, but after I few more drinks, I just might burn a couple of things in the street tonight.