Minnesota Wild Vs. Vancouver Canucks: Game Recap

For the enemy perspective, please visit Nucks Misconduct

Bryan is evil. I know we all know this, but let me explain. He asked me to do this gamer, and he started his demand with ''Hey Moose'' because, well, I'm the resident moose here. Also, he said I would like this one seeing as it's the Canucks. Then I realized what he was trying to pull: Canuck is a nickname for Canadian, which I am, and the Moose are the Nucks' farm team... making me... both a Canuck and a Moose... My lunch just came back to haunt me there... that's just evil, Bryan!

In the second period, the Wild were given about 5 straight powerplay minutes, including a pretty lengthy 5 on 3 advantage, but it was a pretty futile series of powerplay in which they nearly allowed a shorty with two more men on the ice than the Canucks. It was pretty painful to watch and Luuuuuuuu clearly came prepared. After all that though, the Wild finally found a way to score their first goal since scoring 5 nearly a full week ago against the Avs. The goal came off of Andrew Brunette's Sorry Tom crashing the net. 3-1 after two periods. Would the Wild mount a comeback?

Just like the previous 4-1 loss to the Canucks, the Wild actually dominated for the majority of the game, but they just couldn't find any offense. You know what's sad? Seeing as Kaptain Koivu notched two points tonight, if he hadn't come back, it's quite possible we would've been shutout AGAIN! He was amazing tonight, truly he was missed.

So the Wild come up short once again, and are now in a 3 game skid which will very likely make this season another lost one. It's a shame really, because we actually believed, once again, that the Wild were going to make it. Of course, it's not over until it's over, but they've dug themselves into a hole and they will need to string a bunch of wins together while hoping a few teams hit a wall, and in the past few years, they've shown an inability to get those precious late-season wins. The Wild are the ultimate teases. Next game, Sharks, thursday, be here, all the cool kids will be. Peace!

Game notes:

The Wild are second in the NHL in points percentage when they score first: 27-2-4 = .879. The Nucks are first: 36-2-6 = .886
Wild scored their first road goal since the Rangers game on March 3rd, which makes it the first in 168:48 road minutes. The scoreless streak lasted 157:07 overall.

Kaptain Koivu now has 57 career points against the Canucks, which is the most points he has against any team.

Hockey Wilderness 3 stars:

1) Ryan Kesler (2 goals, was a friggin pain when killing penalties.)

2) Mikko Koivu (G, A, welcome back Kap'n, we missed you big time)

3) Roberto Luongo (Finally gets a win against the Wild after only 130 years. 33 saves, kept the Nucks from collapsing)

5 questions:

1. The Wild haven't scored in two games. How quickly can they end that? It took 157:07 to end the scoreless streak at 17:03 of the second period

2. Can they chase Luongo again? Nope, in fact, he's the sole reason the Wild failed in their comeback.

3. Is it possible to shut down the brain eaters? No one can shut down the brain eaters, they will soon take over the world. They both have a 6 game point streak in which they combine for 7 goals and 14 assists. Insane. Each got a point tonight.

4. Who is a big pain in the rear, Burrows, or Lapierre? Why choose when you can have both? They were both non-factors tonight though.

5. Are the Canucks really as good as their record suggests? Sadly yes. They are the first team to break the 100 point barrier this year, the quickest they've done so in franchise history. (71 games)