Taking On The Blues, Having the Blues

Wild 3, Blues 2 In Shootout

Greetings from Georgia, Y'All - where we're still wearing tshirts & shorts.  Before any of you Minnesnowtans get all up in my grille, just chillax my homies.  I am in weather heaven down south here!  Since it's my blog I get to write about how great it is be outside without a parka, mittens, hat, scarf and snowboots on.  I drove home from the park today with all four windows down on November 19th.  Clearly, I am in the right part of the world these days.    

I am not missing this AT. ALL.

I am being punished by the Hockey Gods for having left the State of Hockey.  That's my price to pay for still having the AC on instead of turning on the heating blanket before leaving for the arena. It is a physical pain I feel when I look at the clock and am reminded that I should be driving to the arena to meet up with Vicki before the game. I still can't believe that we're not heading down the stairs together into the lobby of gate 1 with the big decision to make: watch warmups on the glass, get us some corn dog dippers or let me drool over Wes Walz doing the FSN pregame with Kevin Gorg. I miss the feeling of being "home" at the X. I miss watching Backstrom do his goalie porn moves in person... heavy sigh.  

Vicki, nobody else will get this, but Thanks for your version of this:      


Enough of that - let's talk some hockey, Stanley!

So, the Blues have a new coach since the last time we played them.  In fact, Davis Payne was fired the night after the Wild beat the Blues 14 days ago.  Ken Hitchcock is the bench boss now for the Blues and the team seems to be on the right track again.  They had a 4 game winning streak going into Saturday night's tilt and were just itching to shut down the Wild's 3 game winning streak at home.

1st Period - The team came out with speed and determination.  They were actually defending so well that the Blues got ZERO shots off in the first 7 minutes.  Third line should be the first line, just sayin'.  Why Koivu refused a clear shot is beyond me.  Wild have a bad line change and recover well but then our guys decide to start up a bakery - churning out turnovers for the Blues.  Harding staved off a couple of flurries in front of him but ultimately gave up a rebound that Backes pounced on & the Blues led 1-0. 
2nd Period - Clutterbuck takes a charging call - Lord, help me from becoming a homer but c'mon refs...WTF are you seeing that NOBODY else does???  Maybe it's the snow and the feeling of the holidays fast approaching...Mikko Koivu, all by himself, shoots and scores a short handed goal.  Christmas comes early!  It's his, wait for it...wait for it...SECOND goal of the season.  Game tied 1-1.  Harding had to make some big saves, and he didn't disappoint.  Koivu at the net going for rebounds - who is this guy?  Blues owned this period hands down.  VERY chippy game by the end of the second and I thought for sure there was going to be a scrum at the buzzer. 
3rd Period - Extremely defensive game in the 3rd period...1 shot on goal by both teams until almost half way through.  Crap - perfect pass in front of our net and Harding gets beat by Oshie.  Blues up 2-1.  The Wild are robbed at gun point by Halak every time they drove to the net.  Not for a lack of trying, the Wild are being stuffed big time.  Koivu spent more time at the opponent's net Saturday night than he has all season and it paid off in a BIG WAY - shoots, he scores!!  Tied game with just over a minute left.  OVERTIME, BABY!
OT - Minnesota got pinned down in their own zone for the majority of the overtime.  When Seto gained puck possession his linemates all bailed on him for a change...grrr.  Blues just owned the Wild zone and Yeo had to call timeout in order to get his guys a breather with under a minute to go. 
Shootout - Going in I'm glad it was Josh in net, sorry Backstrom.  Koivu scored!  Doesn't count as a hat trick, but heck - my hat's off to him: shorty, pp goal & SO goal.  Blues scored to tie it.  Cullen scored the winning goal - his wife will have good feedback for him after the game!  The team cleared the bench, swarming Matt Cullen and the props to Josh Harding were sweet to see.