By Nathan Eide -
The Wild seemed to have control of tonight's game, earning the lion's share of puck possession and had the ice tilted toward the Canucks' end for most of the 60 minutes tonight. However, the lack of finishers on this team once again proved to be the downfall. Niklas Backstrom was simply ordinary tonight in a season where he has had to be extraordinary to win, and typically has been. Combine the inability to finish with a league average goaltending performance, and you have a 3-2 loss to a division rival, in a game you really needed to win.
After the Wild controlled the first period, but let Vancouver off the hook time and again, and only amassed 8 shots, none of which looked too frightening for backup goalie Curtis Sanford, the feeling was all too familiar. We have seen this play out before. The Wild look promising, controlling the flow of the game, but can't finish. Then they finally break onto the scoresheet, only to have that lead erased minutes later, and have to do it all over again. With so few "goto" options on the offensive side of the ice, and the biggest one still out with the ubiquitous "lower body injury", every goal the Wild gets is a huge one. Their one remaining offensive power scored twice, but even that wasn't enough to propel the rest of the team into the winners circle.
One promising aspect tonight was the Clutterbuck-Pouliot-Boogaard line. Every time they were on the ice, they provided outstanding energy, kept the puck in the zone, and forced the action. They had at least three excellent scoring chances, but Sanford caught a couple lucky breaks. I liked what I saw out of them a lot.
One thing that drove me absolutely nuts was the absence on the ice of Owen Nolan and Andrew Brunette.. These free-agent signings have disappeared. They're on the ice but seem to be a step behind the play, their passes aren't sharp and their hands have turned to stone. When you're brought in to camp in front of the net, cause problems and get garbage goals, you should be visible to everyone watching. These two, for the past few games, have not been in that position. They haven't been causing problems for opposing goaltenders, and haven't been redirecting shots on the powerplay. I'm horribly disappointed in them for the past six games at least. Boogaard and Clutterbuck have been more effective in the low slot lately. The other person who hasn't done much is Marc-Andre Bergeron. He came out of the gate hot but, like Belanger last year and again now, has fizzled. If Bergeron continues to play this way, it's time to sit him and put Burns back on the blue line.
Anyway, they need to watch this game tape and figure out why they can't seem to get quality scoring chances. Are they waiting too long to make the pass or take the shot? Making one too many moves before releasing the puck? Not driving to the net? (Oh, thank you Brent Burns, you're the one "forward" doing that on a regular basis). Either way, they need to get back on the offensive bandwagon here. They can't win too many more games only scoring two goals.
Hockey Wilderness Three Stars
Questions to Answer
Notes
This was the Wild's second loss in the last six games, both to Vancouver.
What the team is saying
What others are saying
The Game In Pictures
via d.yimg.com
via d.yimg.com
Video Highlights
Mikko Koivu Post-Game Interview
Jacques Lemaire Post-Game Press Conference
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