Wild Win in a Shootout Again

In a tense game in Pittsburgh the Wild improve to 3-0 in shootouts this season. Niklas Backstrom stopped all three shots from the Penguins as Marek Zidlicky's goal in the first round proved to be the game winner.

It was a nail bitter as the game remained in a deadlock at 1-1 from about the eight minute mark in the first period when mere seconds separated goals from Mikko Koivu and Matt Cooke. Both teams scrapped together a handfull of good opportunities but both tenders proved to be too tough for a second penetration. Tragically, for the Penguins, Evgeni Malkin's 13 game point streak came to an end tonight as Cookes goal saw an assist from Jordan Stahl.

In other news (aside from the brief game recap), I've been a little MIA lately, but the updates are about to return, so check back soon.

Wild Defeat Coyotes 3-2

Despite a frustrating first period with the Wild consistently out-shooting the Coyotes but, as the tendency has been in recent games, being utterly incapable of getting the puck past the threshold. Bryzgalov shut down the Wild in the first period, then the Wild finally broke through in the second with goals from both Benoit Pouliot and Mikko Koivu. The Coyotes also put one past Backstrom in the second, who was playing for the first time since he was pulled two games ago in favor of Josh Harding. Both this goal and the first being scored Olli Jokinen.

In the third period Eric Belanger put in his second game winning goal of the season with an assist from Marc-Andre Bergeron. The Wild improved their record to 7-2-1 on the season, staying at number one in the division and number three in the conference. The Wild looked good again, though they were still plagued by their ability to create opportunities and not get the puck in the net.

Brent Burns participated in warm-ups and was then taken off the ice and didn't play. Marian Gaborik and Owen Nolan were also scratches.

Phoenix begins and a poll closes

The Wild / Coyotes game has just begun. We are waiting anxiously to see if the Wild can stop their two game slide after remaining longer than any other team in the league with a regulation loss.

The latest poll has closed. Question: Who was the biggest loss from last year's team? (excluding Rolston)
71% Pavol Demitra
14% Aaron Voros
14% Todd Fedoruk

Interestingly Voros has still had some very positive things to say about the team in a recent interview on New York television.

Stay tuned for a new poll opening up for the next week.

Gaborik Gossip, Again

Things are going so well for the Wild that I have been ignoring that elephant in my living room for the last six games. Gaborik is still out, but things are fine. The Wild haven't allowed a power play goal in their first seven games, a feat that has not been accomplish in over three decades, they are the only team remaining without a regulation loss, they have the average time in the box, and are third lowest in GAA. Not bad.

But things are questionable heading into this evening's game against Dallas. Both Brent Burns and Antti Miettinen are questionable, with "lower" and "upper" body injuries, neither practiced on Tuesday. Thought Lemaire said both are likely to play. But should Burns not be in the lineup that would hurt, not only because he is a staple of the lineup, but also because Eric Reitz stayed in Minneapolis for the road game with "flu-like" symptoms.

But back to Gaborik. In an article in the Star Tribune yesterday Lemaire said some disparaging things about Gaborik. Quoth Lemaire:

I didn't even know he was on the trip. He's out of the picture because he's not practicing with us. I was surprised to see him today. I thought he would practice, but he didn't practice.

Lemaire sounds a little more than frustrated with the situation. He didn't even know Gaborik came with the team to Dallas? He's not practicing and Lemaire doesn't seem to care? This is bad news for those who were hoping that Gabby would stay in town. If it didn't look like Gaborik was going to be leaving the team before the end of the season, there are more than enough reasons to think so now (not that there weren't before, of course), but this is one of the first times that Lemaire seems to be publicly frustrated with Gaborik, and he, frankly, doesn't seem to give a damn whether or not he's around. Though, who can blame him? The Wild have looked good without their star player for the first seven games. But how long can they continue to play this well without him, and if they can, what might it do the team when there is a line shake up because Gaborik returns from his lifelong groin injury? One can only hope that he doesn't come back at all, or that he signs, and that management can make the decision sooner rather than later.

Wild Win in Columbus, Two Polls Close

Last night the Wild eked out a nail-bitter against Columbus, sneaking out with two disallowed goals in the last minute of play (one was certainly not a goal, the other one is debatable). Either way that's another win for the Wild bringing them to 5-0-1.

Last night also marked the end of two polls here at the Wild Observer:

What to do with Gaborik:
20% said give him whatever he wants to keep him
80% said trade him


The other poll asked who will be the top scorer on the team ten games deep (we'll check in on this again at the ten game mark):
50% said Mikko Koivu
50% said Antti Miettinen

Six games in here are the rankings for the team (Goals-Assists-total points)
Koivu: 1-9-10
Miettinen: 5-2-7
Burnette: 2-3-5
Bouchard: 1-3-4
Belanger: 2-1-3
Pouliot: 2-1-3
Nolan: 1-2-3
Johnsson: 1-2-3

Check back for more updates and take a look at the new poll on the right (Which Game Have the Wild Looked the Best in So Far?)

Wild's Gabby Problem Being Exaggerated?

Ron Salcer, Marian Gaborik's agent, has reportedly told the Star Tribune that the talks about Gaborik's future have been wildly exaggerated. Salcer said,"The offers that have been thrown at the wall of 10 years, $85 million, $90 million and $100 million are wrong, as are what I now hear -- seven years, $70 million and eight years, $80 million. They're also wrong." He continued, "When and if they get offered something certainly may happen."

Wait a second.

Can we look at that sentence: "something certainly may happen." I'm not sure if he is inarticulate or if this is a really clever statement. I would venture to say that if the Wild offered Gaborik $1/game for twenty games as an offer than "something certainly may happen." That, there, is a definitely maybe.

Anyhow, beyond that fact Salcer wouldn't commit to anything happening even if the Wild tried to make Gaborik the highest paid player in the NHL (he cannot possibly want to sign, that should be a sign), The reports from the Pioneer Press that the Wild had upped the ante prior to the two week slump in negotiations are entirely false, according to Salcer. We have yet to see if any progress is to be had any time soon. Though, as Russo points out in the linked article, Salcer also claims that Riseborough has not asked him to talk to any other teams, which would be necessary if the Wild were seriously trying to trade their star player. (As the Star Tribune asserted through their anonymous source earlier this week was the recipient of an offer to trade from Doug Riseborough)

Gaborik to Go?

With a couple days till the Wild hit the ice for game 4 against Buffalo all of the talk has been surrounding the reports that GM Doug Riseborough is shopping Gaborik to other teams. Some bloggers and columnists are talking about keeping him around until the March 3rd trading deadline, hoping to start a bidding war for Gaborik from teams that are on the cusp. But those stances fail to look at the picture for this year. Yes, they do need to pull in a big name that can help them build towards something instead of this merry-go-round that Riseborough's been working where the team is constantly "rebuilding."

But playing with Gaborik through March (that is, assuming he plays this season) is basically throwing in the towel on this season. I say, bail. Get rid of Gaborik for a solid forward and a young player coming up next year. The Wild, with this market and at this point in the season, and especially with Gaborik side-lined, will never get what he's worth from another team, but that doesn't mean it's good for the team to make the process as long as possible. Aren't the other players frustrated too? With a few solid players picking up the slack isn't it frustrating to see someone as injury prone as Gaborik demand so much money and then get injured, after putting up a doughnut in the playoffs last year. Gaborik is great, but I'm no longer going to be sad to see him go. This whole ordeal reeks of Dante Culpepper. Riseborough, make a decision, and please don't follow the general Minnesota trading rules wherein we give Santana, they give one zip lock full of shit; we give Garnett, we get a team of misfits; we give Hunter, we get nothing; we give Rolston, we get a draft pick. Make it worth your time, please.