Weekly Wild Update - Week of 10-31-2011

Halloween. The last day of October. The first calendar month is in the books, and the marathon has begun. If it were possible to look ahead and tell you what the end result would be, we would. Unfortunately, we all have to suffer through enjoy this together. After a week that saw two unpredictable results, the week ahead begins a new month and has a new feel to it.

What happens in the past is the only predictor we have of what will happen in the future. Let's hope for everyone's sake that November might hold some excitement of a less... blood pressure raising style.

After the jump, a look at last week, a look at October, and a look ahead.

Last Week

The game against the Ducks was the most painful to watch of the season, with nothing really working well at all. It was a total team collapse, relying on the tried and true dump and watch technique that has been Wild hockey for over a decade. After the game, Mike Yeo asked for patience, saying it could take 30 games for the players to fully understand the system.

The Wings game... well... the Wings game was a thing of beauty in a dark time. Any time the Wild can beat the Wings, it is a good day. A shutout is just icing on the cake. The game was not perfect, and the Wild did get pulled away from their game by a much better Wings team. However, a win is a win, and the Wild needed that one.

FYI, Game 30 is December 10th, in Phoenix, the second to last game of a six game, two week road trip.

The Month in the Rear View

As the month closes, we take a quick look back on the opening month of the season. For a little bit of perspective, the Wild were 4-4-2 at the end of October 2010. As you should know, they are currently 4-3-3 this season.

There are some kinks in the system, some players struggling to find their role, and a team that looks more confused than ready to go on a run. The flashes of brilliance are brighter than Wild fans have ever seen, but they are few and far between. The X is emptier than we have ever seen, and the fan base is... unconvinced.

Of course, all of this turns around very quickly if they find their groove and start winning. The only thing that solves the problems is confidence and time. While the records haven't changed much, there are some signs of life, which is not something the team had at the end of October 2010.

Keep the faith. For now.

The Challenge Ahead

We all know what a Canucks game means, so there is little need to spend much time here. The Wild better bring the heat, or they will find themselves falling flat very quickly.