The Des Moines Report: A ‘Special’ Weekend

Previously on ‘The Des Monies Report’. The Wild would kick off the second half of the season by playing three games in sunny California. However, Cali wasn’t so peaceful to the Wild as they would drop two out of the three games, although would end the trip with a victory coming back to Des Moines. On this edition, it’s a very special one as the Wild would host Local Heroes Night along with Pink in the Rink. And as we find out, it was a very special weekend to be at Wells Fargo Center, for multiple of reasons.

Game 49: vs San Antonio

Not only with it being Local Heroes Night, the fans in attendance would have plenty to cheer about as goals came fast and furious for both teams, but the Wild would come out victorious. In the opening period, Colton Beck would get the scoring going at the midway point but a goal late in the first would tie things up going to what would be a crazy second period. In that period, six goals would be split between the two teams along with a fight early on. San Antonio would score twice in a span of 21 seconds to take a 3-1 lead before Matt Read would pull the Wild within a goal on the power-play. However, a Rampage goal just after Read’s 12th of the season would give San Antonio another two goal lead. Back on the power-play, Read would score again and just 57 seconds later Gerald Mayhew would tie things up at 3 going to the third. No goals would be scored in the final 20 minutes of play, but in overtime, again on the power-play, Dmitry Sokolov would win it 5-4. The power-play was the game changer for the Wild going 3-for-5 while the penalty-kill did wonders as well killing off all three Rampage man advantages. Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 19 of the 23 shots he faced for the victory.

Game 50: vs San Antonio

The next night, the same two teams would meet for a very special Pink in the Rink night at Wells Fargo Center. Unlike the night before, the Rampage would strike first, that being the only goal in the opening period. In the second, Mayhew would tie things up at one, before San Antonio would take another one goal lead. With time winding down, with the net empty, the Wild would tie things up with just nine seconds remaining thanks to a goal by J.T. Brown, his first since being sent down to Iowa. And in overtime, it wouldn’t take long for Carson Soucy to pot the game winner for a 3-2 win and a successful weekend honoring those who fight for our freedom, along with those who fight a huge fight against cancer. The Wild power-play, after their hot night last night would go 0-for-4, but the penalty kill once again did wonders killing off 4 of the five Rampage chances on the power-play. Kahkonen would stop 20 of the 22 Rampage shots for yet again another victory although playing in both games over the weekend.

Pink in the Rink:

Looking Ahead:

The Wild will hit the road for a weekend series Saturday night in Rockford and then Sunday afternoon in Chicago. From then on, the Wild will return home for a Tuesday night tilt against the Texas Stars before a Thursday night match-up against the San Jose Barracuda.

Central Division Standings:

Stat Leaders: