CreaseAndAssist

Did you ever hear Bob Costas' anecdote about Goldie Goldthorpe?

I remember when they let Ronning walk over something like $250k or $500k difference. Daigle wasn't that bad for the Wild to be honest. I mean, we signed the guy to a 3-way deal. So its not like it was a giant risk on our team's part.

Wild vs. Capitals Game Preview Minnesota Wild (11-4-2) 24pts 2nd in the Central 3.18 Goals For Per Game (14th in the NHL) 2.53 Goals Against Per Game (4th in the NHL) 18.2% Power Play (16th in the NHL) 85.2% Penalty Kill (4th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #64 Mikael Granlund ~ 10G 8A = 18pts 2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 7G 9A = 16pts 3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 3G 10A = 13pts 4. #16 Jason Zucker ~ 5G 8A = 13pts 5. #12 Eric Staal ~ 5G 7A = 12pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #17 Marcus Foligno ~ 16 PIM’s 2. #21 Eric Fehr ~ 16 PIM’s 3. #29 Greg Pateryn ~ 12 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #40 Devan Dubnyk (8-3-2) 2.14GAA .933%SP 2. #32 Alex Stalock (3-1-0) 2.73GAA .905%SP Vs. Washington Capitals (7-6-3) 17pts 7th in the Metropolitan 3.31 Goals For Per Game (8th in the NHL) 3.44 Goals Against Per Game (26th in the NHL) 31.5% Power Play (2nd in the NHL) 71.7% Penalty Kill (29th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #92 Evgeni Kuznetsov ~ 6G 14A = 20pts 2. #8 Alexander Oveckhin ~ 12G 7A = 19pts 3. #19 Nicklas Backstrom ~ 4G 15A = 19pts 4. #74 John Carlson ~ 5G 13A = 18pts 5. #77 T.J. Oshie ~ 8G 5A = 13pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #92 Evgeni Kuznetsov ~ 20 PIM’s 2. #6 Michal Kempny ~ 16 PIM’s 3. #13 Jakub Vrana ~ 14 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #70 Brayden Holtby (5-5-2) 3.24GAA .900%SP 2. #1 Pheonix Copley (2-1-1) 3.14GAA .898%SP Greetings everyone! I wrote up the game preview today and due to a scheduling conflict, there will not be a post-game report from us. The Capitals are a lot like the Blues statistically...lethal offense...horrendous defense and sub-par goaltending. While I'd think the Capitals are more skilled than the Blues the overall challenge is rather similar except I think Washington's defense is not as physically stout as St. Louis'. Another good opportunity to keep winning and putting distance between ourselves and the rest of the division tonight. Enjoy and discuss!

As I was listening to Martin St. Louis' induction speech, I couldn't help but remember at that pre-season game against the Flames, St. Louis was playing in that game! That was where it all started for him...not because of any of us, but interesting to be at that point in his career. You and I caught all kinds of flak for not being Wild homers on Fanhome. I remember the ad nauseum discussion how this franchise was profiteering and fielding a bargain basement roster when it didn't need to. If you read Mike Lynn's book, you could tell he had a strong aversion to the organization ever spending any $$$. MNSOTA deserves the credit for introducing me to everyone at Fanhome. I remember when I'd get told, your wife is nice, but you are such an %sshole! At times MNSOTA would ask me to stop causing problems...oh well, to the good ol' days!

Yes, that was who I was referring to as the person with the unhealthy Manny Fernandez obsession. Speaking of the old boards, remember WildestDave, he just hosted a hockey memorabilia thing at Reid's today coincidentally. He used to be a moderator on those old boards too. I remember meeting her, Dave and his wife...you of course as well as others. Shutterbabe, she's still a season ticket holder and still around too. I still recall meeting you for some pre-game where the Children's Museum is currently located at at that pre-season game in Season #2; we played the Calgary Flames. I remember when Socodawgs jumped onto the Wild.com boards, I didn't really tear into him as much as I told him I didn't forget about what he did as a mod. He immediately jumped off the boards after that. He is the only person that I can say without just empty anecdotes from other places that I know I scared off. MNSOTA used to talk about those old days at Reid's when you used to see players over there a lot.

Hahahah...too funny. I remember those days, heck even the old Fanhome Days too. The people with the unhealthy Manny Fernandez obsession. And who could forget the scintilating discussion some of the puckbunnies had about Brent Burns' hair...

It probably was during the Richards' years. But it was ages ago. It was the last time I got together with Fargo. The cop guy said he saw us there...but decided not to start anything. I am pretty sure both Fargo and myself even told the guy what we were wearing to the game too. Hence...the 'secret' meeting.

Wild Finish 7-Game Road Trip on a high note with 3-2 Win over the Blues Good persistent win and they keep up their odd winning pattern when surrendering the 1st goal. Resilient and it came from multiple lines. Nice to see them crashing the net, because that is what got it done tonight. Another big game for Dubnyk. I have a full game recap, an Iowa Wild report and a ton of prospect updates too. Check it out! Russo chirped me for calling Koivu mentally fragile...but he really is. Lots of talk, no bite...lazy penalty, pissed away a power play just to yap at someone too.

Foolish Blues...resistance is futile, they will soon become one with the Wild Message Borg...

That's all we did...was kill the boards. We were just internet bullies...who were people who hid on a screen. I remember; it had to be six years ago or longer...when the guy who said he bought Wild season tickets when he was like 13 (he also said he he was a cop and was going to arrest us) said he was going to kick our ass. We went to a game and met up at Reid's either before or after it was over...and the guy never showed up, what a surprise. But as I said earlier...I'll never forget the incredible rant we had with that Legion guy from Switzerland who got mad when we didn't go all crazy over Petteri Nummelin. I think at one point I got him so upset he said he was going to shoot me or something like that. Hahaha...the funny times at the old boards!

Wild Dominate Ducks in 5-1 Rout This was another terrific game from start to finish. The Wild outworked and outplayed the Ducks virtually all game long. The Ducks gave the Staal line lots of time and spaced and they killed them in the process. We can bet the Blues will be playing Minnesota a lot tighter. I have a full game recap, an extended Iowa Wild report and prospect updates too. Check it out!

Wild vs. Ducks Game Preview Minnesota Wild (9-4-2) 20pts 2nd in the Central 3.07 Goals For Per Game (18th in the NHL) 2.67 Goals Against Per Game (7th in the NHL) 20.4% Power Play (15th in the NHL) 86% Penalty Kill (4th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #11 Zach Parise ~ 6G 9A = 15pts 2. #64 Mikael Granlund ~ 7G 7A = 14pts 3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 3G 10A = 13pts 4. #12 Eric Staal ~ 5G 6A = 11pts 5. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 2G 9A = 11pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #21 Eric Fehr ~ 16 PIM’s 2. #29 Greg Pateryn ~ 12 PIM’s 3. #17 Marcus Foligno ~ 11 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #40 Devan Dubnyk (7-3-2) 2.15GAA .932%SP 2. #32 Alex Stalock (2-1-0) 3.30GAA .895%SP Vs. Anaheim Ducks (7-7-3) 17pts 5th in the Pacific 2.35 Goals For Per Game (30th in the NHL) 2.71 Goals Against Per Game (9th in the NHL) 14.6% Power Play (25th in the NHL) 78.9% Penalty Kill (18th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #67 Rickard Rakell ~ 3G 9A = 12pts 2. #15 Ryan Getzlaf ~ 3G 8A = 11pts 3. #33 Jakob Silfverberg ~ 5G 5A = 10pts 4. #4 Cam Fowler ~ 3G 7A = 10pts 5. #14 Adam Henrique ~ 4G 4A = 8pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #42 Josh Manson ~ 16 PIM’s 2. #28 Marcus Pettersson ~ 13 PIM’s 3. #33 Jakob Silfverberg ~ 12 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #36 John Gibson (5-5-3) 2.41GAA .933%SP 1SO 2. #30 Ryan Miller (2-2-0) 2.33GAA .936%SP Spoiler alert, MNSOTA's game preview is a bit somber. She shares some thoughts on Bob Naegele Jr.'s passing. I promise, I'll have a full post-gamer tonight and it will have a ton of extras in it. The Wild have to feel good about their effort against the Kings; and they continue to demonstrate that odd resilience after giving up the 1st goal. Not sure you want to do that against a strong defensive team like Anaheim. They struggle to score...but they are the kind of team that is probably happy to defend a 1-0 lead all game. Enjoy and discuss...

Sorry for no post-gamer. I was exhausted after work...so I crashed. I saw the highlights and by most accounts it sounds like they played pretty well. Good to see Nino finally bury one. He really needed that. Building on Hockey-78's point, one player who is stone cold right now is Jason Zucker. He needs to step it up. Good to see Eriksson Ek generating some havoc near the net, but will he ever develop an NHL scoring touch? I will have lots of extras in the post-gamer after tonight's game, I promise.

Hendricks is out, but apparently Staal is in...he says he's not quite 100%, but he's feeling a lot better than he did on Tuesday.

He had a pretty quick wit if you listen to that interview he had with Falness and Mileski. Certainly a hockey fan.