Minnesota Wild vs. Nashville Predators: Game Recap

You wouldn't have guessed these were the two lowest scoring teams in the NHL. Then again, aside from 1:47 in the second period, the Wild spent 58:13 scoreless on 19 shots. Heck, even in their hot second period, they had three goals on three shots in 1:47, and one shot in the other 18:13.

The Wild attempted to amass a late comeback, but it was not to be.

Brent Burns added to his horrible +/- with a -2 on the night (-13 for the season). Yes, he scored a goal, but he is still on the ice for far too many opposition goals. He really needs to sit for a couple games. He's just not getting this new system. Taking too many chances, trying too hard to get into the offensive flow, and he's hanging his partner out to dry and leaving Backstrom alone. The Olympics are all but out for Burns, so it's time for him to get his head right and get back into the game.

All in all, this team is a mess. They have flashes of pressure and decent play, but they are just disjointed right now. Someone needs to ask Todd Richards what he thinks is wrong and how he intends to fix it, because at this point, I don't see much improvement, and neither do many members of the team of 18,000.

Please read the game recap over at On the Forecheck

Questions to Answer

Four home games, four overtime wins? Unfortunately not, though it certainly looked like we were heading for OT for a while there.
How will Zanon perform against his old teammates? Zanon was a -1 in 23:09, but played a decent game. Nothing spectacular, but a reasonably solid defensive showing.
Seriously, Havlat, are you going to do something besides look like a matador? Well, he tried to get into a fight, made a couple of really pretty moves, but was shut down by the Preds defenders.
Is it going to be another night where the Wild rely heavily upon Bruno? Bruno tried to get another clutch goal, and had a prime scoring opportunity down low toward the end but was thwarted by Pekka Rinne.
Defense? Defense? Defense? No, No, No.