SB Nation Minnesota - Wild End Hockey Day In Minnesota On High Note By Defeating Blueshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-02-12T23:18:25-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17439642011-02-12T23:18:25-06:002011-02-12T23:18:25-06:00Wild Best Blues For Second Straight Night, 3-1
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<p><font size="2">(Sports Network) - Niklas Backstrom made 24 saves and <span>Cal Clutterbuck</span> scored the first of three consecutive Minnesota goals, as the Wild topped the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>, 3-1, in the back end of a home-and-home set. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Antti Miettinen and <span>Kyle Brodziak</span> also scored for the Wild, who earned a shootout victory against the Blues on Friday and have won three in a row overall. Minnesota also improved to 9-2-0 in its last 11 games. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> started in net for St. Louis and let in three goals on 20 shots through a little more than 28 minutes. <span>Ty Conklin</span> made 11 saves the rest of the way, but the Blues couldn't come back and fell to 2-4-3 in their last nine contests. </font></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/2/12/1990988/wild-best-blues-for-second-straight-night-3-1Christopher Gates2011-02-12T13:30:01-06:002011-02-12T13:30:01-06:00Wild Attempt to Sweep Home-And-Home Series From Blues Tonight
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<p><font size="2"> (Sports Network) - After halting a losing streak in St. Louis, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> will aim to pick up a fourth straight home victory over the Blues as the two clubs wrap a home-and-home set this evening at Xcel Energy Center. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Blues and Wild squared off last night at the Scottrade Center, with Minnesota rallying from four one-goal deficits in regulation in a 5-4 shootout victory. <span>Martin Havlat</span> forced the extra time on a goal with 58 seconds left in the third period and <span>John Madden</span> had the winning tally in the ninth round of the shootout. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Havlat's game-tying tally came right at the end of a 6-on-4 advantage as the Blues had been whistled for too many men on the ice and goaltender Jose Theodore was pulled to the bench. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Theodore ended with 31 saves and <span>Cal Clutterbuck</span> scored twice as Minnesota won for the eighth time in 10 games and is one point back of Calgary for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "We came out of this with two points and that's what we always shoot for," said Clutterbuck. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Wild will play five of their next six at home, where they have won three straight both overall and against the Blues. They snapped a four-game slide in St. Louis last night and have won three of the last four meetings in this series overall. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>David Backes</span> scored twice to reach the 20-goal mark for the second time in his career for the Blues, who are 2-3-3 in their last eight games. Backes has four goals in his last three contests. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Patrik Berglund</span> and <span>Andy McDonald</span> also scored and <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> made 23 saves in his first ever start against the Wild. McDonald has four points in four games since returning from a concussion and netted his first goals since Nov. 26. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "We have to be better in all areas," said Blues head coach Davis Payne. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Defenseman <span>Carlo Colaiacovo</span> returned from a seven-game absence after taking a puck to the eye on Jan. 18. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> St. Louis has lost six of its last eight on the road and is seven points behind the Flames in the West standings. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> It is unknown if Halak will go on back-to-back nights or if <span>Ty Conklin</span> will make his third start of the month. Conklin is 1-4-1 with a tie and 2.14 goals- against average lifetime versus the Wild. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Niklas Backstrom</span> will likely get the call for Minnesota tonight in net and is 5-5-0 with a 2.47 GAA in his career when facing the Blues. Theodore moved to 2-5-1 with a 4.14 GAA against them. </font></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/2/12/1990247/wild-attempt-to-sweep-home-and-home-series-from-blues-tonightChristopher Gates2011-02-11T22:55:32-06:002011-02-11T22:55:32-06:00Wild Get Crazy Shootout Victory Over Blues, 5-4
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<p>(Sports Network) – <span>Martin Havlat</span> pulled Minnesota even with 58 seconds to go in regulation and <span>John Madden</span> scored the decisive shootout goal, as the Wild rallied to beat St. Louis, 5-4, at Scottrade Center.</p>
<p>The Blues were whistled for too many men at the 16:58 mark of the third period and Minnesota goaltender <span>Jose Theodore</span> was later called to the bench to create a 6-on-4 advantage.</p>
<p>Moments after the penalty expired, <span>Andrew Brunette</span> dished to <span>Mikko Koivu</span> in the right circle and he fired a shot absorbed by <span>Jaroslav Halak</span>. Havlat crashed the crease and nudged the puck across the goal line.</p>
<p>Then, in the shootout, Madden began the ninth round by whipping a backhander past Halak. Theodore turned away <span>Vladimir Sobotka</span> to secure the extra point for Minnesota in the front end of this home-and-home series.</p>
<p><span>Cal Clutterbuck</span> had two goals for the Wild, who have won eight of their last 10 games.</p>
<p><span>David Backes</span> lit the lamp twice for St. Louis, which has dropped six of eight.</p>
<p>Theodore stopped 31 shots, while Halak made 23 saves in defeat.</p>
<p><span>Patrik Berglund</span> staked the Blues to a 1-0 lead 1:50 after the game’s opening faceoff, but Brunette countered 59 seconds later. <span>Andy McDonald</span> put St. Louis up 2-1 at 15:34 of the first period off a feed from <span>Brad Boyes</span>.</p>
<p>Clutterbuck supplied the only goal of the middle frame to draw the visitors even.</p>
<p>Backes scored 19 seconds into the third period, converting a Boyes pass to finish a 2-on-1 rush, but Clutterbuck provided a rebuttal 22 seconds later.</p>
<p>The Blues grabbed a 4-3 lead when <span>Alex Pietrangelo</span>’s wrister from the right point deflected off Backes and sailed past Theodore at 6:20.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Minnesota will host St. Louis on Saturday…The Blues had won their last four home games against the Wild…Berglund and St. Louis defenseman <span>Erik Johnson</span> both played in their 200th career games.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/2/11/1989552/wild-get-crazy-shootout-victory-over-blues-5-4Christopher Gates2011-02-11T10:03:21-06:002011-02-11T10:03:21-06:00Wild Continue Playoff Fight Against the Blues
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<p>(Sports Network) – The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> will try to continue their recent hot streak when they visit the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> tonight at Scottrade Center for the start of a home-and-home series.</p>
<p>The Wild have won four of five and seven of their last nine games, and the run has helped Minnesota move closer to a potential playoff spot. With 61 points, the Wild are just two points behind Calgary for the eighth and final postseason seed in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>Tonight also marks the first of four meetings between the Wild and Blues this season. Minnesota will host St. Louis on Saturday and the clubs will close the season series in March, when they meet for another home-and-home series.</p>
<p>The Blues have won four of the last six meetings against Minnesota and the Wild have dropped four straight and six out of nine in the Gateway City.</p>
<p>The Wild lost a 1-0 decision in Phoenix last Saturday, but Todd Richards’ club rebounded Wednesday night against the visiting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a>. Niklas Backstrom made 23 saves and three goal-scorers paced the Minnesota offense in the 3-2 win at Xcel Energy Center.</p>
<p><span>Antti Miettinen</span>, <span>John Madden</span> and <span>Martin Havlat</span> scored for the Wild and Backstrom improved to 3-1-0 in his last four starts. <span>Jose Theodore</span> is expected to start Friday’s game in St. Louis and Backstrom will get the call Saturday in St. Paul.</p>
<p>“Our defense has been solid the last two months and we feel very comfortable with all of our guys back there,” said Minnesota’s <span>Andrew Brunette</span>. “They do a great job and we also have great goaltending.”</p>
<p>The Wild are 15-9-3 as the guest this year and they have four wins in their last six games away from St. Paul.</p>
<p>St. Louis has won two of its three games since the All-Star break and enters tonight trailing the Wild by five points in the West standings. The Blues are currently tied with Colorado for 13th place in the conference.</p>
<p>The Blues picked up a 2-1 win Tuesday in Florida as Matt D’Agostini netted the game-winning goal with four minutes remaining in regulation to help St. Louis down the Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.</p>
<p><span>David Backes</span> also scored for the Blues, who have earned at least one point in three straight games (2-0-1) on the heels of a four-game winless skid. <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> finished with 30 saves in the victory.</p>
<p>“We kept with our game plan and tried to wear them down,” said D’Agostini. “I thought we played an all-around solid game tonight.”</p>
<p>Halak has never faced the Wild in his career, but St. Louis’ No. 1 netminder could start both games against Minnesota this weekend.</p>
<p>St. Louis is 16-8-3 as the host this year compared to an 8-12-5 record on the road.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/2/11/1988240/wild-continue-playoff-fight-against-the-bluesBryan Reynolds2011-02-09T22:20:51-06:002011-02-09T22:20:51-06:00Wild Defeat Avalanche On Brunette's Big Night, 3-2
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<p><font size="2"> (Sports Network) - Niklas Backstrom made 23 saves and three goal-scorers paced the Minnesota offense, as the Wild edged the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a>, 3-2, at Xcel Energy Center. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Antti Miettinen, John Madden and <span>Martin Havlat</span> scored for the Wild, who have won seven of their last nine games. Minnesota will begin a home-and-home set on consecutive nights Friday at St. Louis. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> David Jones scored both goals for the struggling Avalanche, who have dropped five straight and seven of their last eight games overall. <span>Craig Anderson</span> started between the pipes for Colorado, but was pulled after yielding three goals on 17 shots. <span>Peter Budaj</span> made seven saves in relief. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> A surprising sequence during the latter stages of the first period saw a combined three goals scored within a 51-second span. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Miettinen's 10th goal -- a power-play tally assisted by <span>Matt Cullen</span> and <span>Brent Burns</span> -- started the flurry at the 15-minute mark before Jones' first goal of the game 11 seconds later on the ensuing shift tied the score. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Less than a minute later, Havlat gave the Wild a 2-1 lead with his 15th goal. He held control behind the net and attempted a stuffer at the left post, which was negated. However, Havlat stayed with the play, regained control of the puck and lit the lamp with a turnaround wrister from in close at 15:51. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Midway through the middle frame, Madden's eighth marker of the campaign pushed Minnesota's advantage to two when he beat Anderson with a wrister from the right side of the slot. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Only 23 seconds into the final stanza, Jones struck again with his 18th goal of 2010-11. From behind the net, Jones kept poking at the loose puck, which Backstrom could not control in the crease. On his third whack, Jones finally connected and the puck deflected off several skates and sticks, bounced into the air, flew over Backstrom's shoulder and into the back of the cage. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Throughout most of the remainder of regulation, the Wild were the team that seemed to be playing as if they were down by a goal. The hosts controlled most of the offensive action and kept Colorado's scoring chances to a minimum. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Game Notes </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Cullen had two assists and has 23 helpers this season...The Wild have now captured nine of the last 12 meetings with the Avs and improved their 2010-11 record on home ice to 13-11-2...Minnesota was 1-for-4 on the power play and held Colorado scoreless on all four of its chances with the extra skater. </font></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/2/9/1985602/wild-defeat-avalanche-on-brunettes-big-night-3-2Christopher Gates2011-02-09T10:03:18-06:002011-02-09T10:03:18-06:00Wild Back in Action Against the Familiar Avalanche
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<p>(Sports Network) – <span>Peter Forsberg</span> is expected to help the struggling Avalanche sometime in the near future, but the Avs will try to win without any help from the former superstar when they visit the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> tonight at Xcel Energy Center.</p>
<p>After weeks of skating with the club, Forsberg announced Sunday that he was returning to the Avalanche after nearly 2 1/2 seasons away from the <span class="caps">NHL</span>, deciding endurance and chronic foot problems won’t be an issue. The 37-year- old signed a deal for the remainder of this season but it is unknown when he will make his debut.</p>
<p>It was revealed on Monday that Forsberg still needs a work visa before suiting up in an <span class="caps">NHL</span> game, but the Avs expect the former Hart Trophy winner’s return to happen sometime this week.</p>
<p>The Avalanche certainly need all the help they can get, as they have lost four straight and six of their last seven games and have been shut out in each of the last two outings. Colorado is currently tied of 13th in the Western Conference standings and is five points out of a playoff spot.</p>
<p>Colorado was handed a 3-0 loss by visiting Anaheim on Saturday and was white- washed again on Monday, losing by the same score in Phoenix. <span>Ilya Bryzgalov</span> made 26 saves and <span>Radim Vrbata</span> scored two goals to lead the Coyotes past the Avs in the most recent setback.</p>
<p><span>Craig Anderson</span> made 23 saves for Colorado, giving up a goal in each period for the Avalanche.</p>
<p>“We’re going through a tough sequence right now,” Colorado head coach Joe Sacco said. “We just have to find a way to be better, there’s no question.”</p>
<p>Colorado was last shut out in consecutive games on April 11-12, 2009, but the Avs franchise has never been blanked in three straight tilts. The Avalanche have been shut out five times this season and all five blankings have come since Dec. 21.</p>
<p>The Avalanche are 11-9-3 as the visiting team this season and have dropped three out of four away from the Mile High City. They are making the second stop on a four-game road trip tonight.</p>
<p>Minnesota, meanwhile, had a three-game winning streak halted its last time out and also lost four just the second time in eight games.</p>
<p>The Wild are also currently out of the Western Conference playoff picture, but they are three points ahead of the Avs.</p>
<p>Minnesota recorded a 4-3 win in Colorado last Thursday to even the season series at two games apiece. The Wild have taken eight of 11 overall from the Avs, but Colorado has won two straight in St. Paul after dropping its previous four games at <span class="caps">XEC</span>.</p>
<p>Just like the Avalanche, the Wild were blanked by Bryzgalov and the Coyotes in their last contest. Minnesota lost a 1-0 regulation decision at Phoenix on Saturday.</p>
<p><span>Niklas Backstrom</span> was the hard-luck loser, stopping 40-of-41 shots for the Wild, who are 12-11-2 as the home club this year.</p>
<p>Wild forward <span>Matt Cullen</span> missed Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury and is questionable for tonight. Minnesota defenseman <span>Marek Zidlicky</span>, who has missed the last 16 games with a shoulder injury, has returned to practice with and is considered day-to-day.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/2/9/1984097/wild-back-in-action-against-the-familiar-avalancheBryan Reynolds2011-02-07T10:51:26-06:002011-02-07T10:51:26-06:00Wild Week: Three More Games On The Minnesota Wild Schedule
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> have placed themselves right in the middle of the Western Conference playoff chase. . .of course, the same can be said for just about every team in the Western Conference that isn't the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a>. The Wild currently have 59 points on the season on the strength of a 27-20-5 record. That puts them just four points behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>, who currently occupy the No. 4 seed in the conference. It also only puts them five points ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>, who are currently 14th out of the Western Conference's 15 teams. With three games this week, the Wild have a chance to improve their stock.</p>
<p>The week for the Wild won't get underway until Wednesday, as they play host to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> at the XCel Energy Center. Colorado sits just three points behind the Wild at this point in time, with their 56 points coming on the strength of a 25-21-6 record. This will be the fifth meeting of the year between the Avalanche and the Wild, and the teams have split the first four games. Colorado got a 7-4 victory in Denver back on Nov. 27, and the Wild bounced back with a 3-1 win in Denver on Dec. 23. The Avalanche won in their only trip to the XCel Energy Center this season so far with a 4-1 victory on Jan. 14, and the Wild fought back again with a 4-3 win at the Pepsi Center this past Thursday, Feb. 3.</p>
<p>Prior to the opening face-off for this one, the Wild will also honor winger <span>Andrew Brunette</span>, who played his 1000th NHL game last week when the Wild defeated the Kings at home in a shootout. The puck drops on this one at 7:00 p.m. Central time, and you'll be able to see this game in glorious HD on Fox Sports North.</p>
<p>The Wild will then play a home-and-home series against the aforementioned St. Louis Blues. As mentioned earlier, the Blues have only five fewer points than the Wild, yet sit in 14th place out of the 15 Western Conference teams, with their 54 points being the result of a 23-20-8 mark. The Blues and the Wild have not faced off against each other this season.</p>
<p>The first game of the home-and-home will take place in St. Louis on Friday night, with the puck dropping at 7:00 p.m. Central time. The action will then shift back to St. Paul on Saturday night, with a slightly later start time of 8:00 p.m. Central. Friday night's game will be televised on KSTC, while coverage will bounce back to Fox Sports North for Saturday night's action.</p>
<p>And, as always, you can follow all the action on the radio on WCCO-AM, 830 on your AM radio dial.</p>
<p>That's a look at the week in Minnesota Wild hockey, ladies and gentlemen. Hopefully the Wild can make their trip to the post season a little less. . .er, wild.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2011/2/7/2329327/wild-week-three-more-games-on-the-minnesota-wild-scheduleChristopher Gates