Hey, what do you know? There's hockey going on! It's not all lawsuits, disciplinary hearings and multiple Canucks players lying about it despite video proof to the contrary
I was nervous going into tonight's game. Backstrom sucks in Edmonton and looking at Jose's stats, he's even worse. On top of that, the Wild have a proven history of not showing up the game after playing like professional NHLers. I turned on the t.v. at 8:30 to see which team would show up. Five and a half minutes later, we've got a 2-0 lead. Huh, maybe this is our night? At the 6:19 mark our guys starting marching to the penalty box, three consecutive times. The third one cost us a goal and Edmonton is on the board. The Oilers finally get called for hooking and LetsUndress gets the tip-in making it 3-1 Wild heading into the second period.
The second period, well - it was a typical Wild second period. We're not moving our feet, we're feeling cocky, we're being overly non-aggressive...we're taking three more penalties. We spent the majority of the period in the defensive zone, watching as Backstrom stood on his head. He faced 15 shots in the second period. We managed to get the puck on their net 8 times...whoopie. No scoring in the second, but not because Edmonton wasn't trying. There's a reason Taylor Hall was the number one draft pick in June. Good Lord, this kid is going to give us fits in the very near future.
The third period is a study in the migration habits of the Wild Hockey Players. These animals are internally driven to make the trek to the penalty box and nobody seems to know why. It appears it's in their genes to spend 20 minutes per game in the sin bin. Frickin' Horcoff scores on the power play and they're within one goal of evening up the score. Where's my Pepcid??? The Wild manage to play ten and a half minutes without taking a penalty...so that's what Brunette looks like...for awhile there I thought maybe he didn't make the trip. The Oilers are still crossing our blue line like it's a welcome mat - come one, come all! Where the frick is our defense?? Havlat takes a tripping call, it's what he does when he's tired and out of gas - look up his stats. I thought for sure we were heading for overtime even though Backstrom has performed miracles to this point. Give credit to our penalty killing lines but they shouldn't be on the ice for over half the game. Edmonton has had their goalie pulled for like, forever and we PIPE an empty net attempt. It's sad, really. With three minutes left Edmonton goes to the box. Even though the Oilers have a man in the penalty box they're even strength on the ice because their goalie is sitting on the bench. Second time is a charm and Burns pots the empty netter with a single assist to Kaptain Koivu! Vicki is please, no doubt.
20 minutes of penalty time - unacceptable. Greg Zanon is the defenceman of the year already - how many blocked shots did he have for tonight? It's the beard...fear the beard. Hmmm, Zanon...could be in the running to becoming my new last name.
Credit to GLats for playing even though he's sick. Matt Cullen...Is. The. Man.
Can someone explain to me why Madden is supposed to have been such a great signing?
What's Up, Doc?
Could our GM, Chuck Fletcher, be ready to pull the trade lever? Trades In The Making? It appears he's looking to the team's performance in Edmonton and Vancouver this week to see what kind of shake up needs to happen next. I don't think this is just a matter of Todd Richards' job being on the line. I think we're about to see who's the real problem in the locker room. You don't have players making comments such as 'there's been a storm brewing for some time' and not know there's a player or two who've become a weight around the team's neck. I thought since Belanger had been let go the locker room was clear of negativity, but that's not the case. Eric may have been Mr. Crabby Pants, with no sense of humor, but it turns out he wasn't the issue in terms of not showing up out on the ice. This story is just coming into focus and I'm betting we'll be seeing it play out over the next month. Russo's a sleuth, picking up on the subtle things.
Rypien vs Engquist - The "Assault" Continues
Local coverage of this as Russo covers the story from both angles: MN Hockey Fan Hires Attorney. Whether or not you're in the Sue Rypien For All You Can camp or Man Up, Nancy Boy camp, what bothers me the most at this stage of the game is the apparent lack of concern over how the NHL has responded to the James Engquist personally at this point.
From the above-linked Russo article:
"Engquist said nobody from NHL headquarters had called him as of late Wednesday afternoon, so he called Mark Stoffel, Xcel Energy Center's senior director of operations, who gave him the number for NHL security.
"The guy [at NHL security] actually asked me, 'What brings you calling me today?' " said Engquist, "and I was kind of shocked and said, 'What do you think I'm calling for? I'm not asking about the weather in New York right now.' ...
"The only information I got out of him was that this player is going to have some hearing and that's he's been suspended. I asked what the outcome would be, and he said they'll have the hearing and take it from there."
Engquist said he has received no apology from the NHL, the Canucks or Rypien. He said he is "definitely" seeking legal representation.
I would think Bettman himself would be knocking on this guy's door in a gesture of good will, wanting to personally apologize for starters. I realize that Rypien won't be meeting with Colin Campbell until Friday but Gary should reach out to show that it's not all about Rypien, that it's about the fans who make the NHL possible. Without fans in seats, fans buying NHL products there wouldn't be an NHL. For a professional sport that wants so desperately to be back in the realm of the NFL, MLB & NBA I'm surprised that Bettman didn't send a dozen roses and a box of chocolates overnight express. This thing will play itself out, unfortunately or fortunately, however you want to look at it. In the meantime, some of the best, non-sensationalized, national coverage can be found at Puck Daddy
Where's Owen?
I was talking with seat mates at the game last Saturday and there was some thought that Owen Nolan had landed in Phoenix. The last I read on him was that he hadn't signed anywhere in the NHL. So, I googled our favorite Irishman and here's what I found: Nolan To Switzerland. Seems he's determined to have a go in the NHL and playing in Switzerland is a means to that end. I wish him well in his endeavors.
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