Some 'Wild' Cliche's

You know them all, this is a must win, it's now or never...There is no mistaken that tomorrow's Minnesota Wild game is an important one and you can chose how to hype it, but I believe the above phrases hold true. Not only did the team find a way to squander a first period 3-0 lead in their last game, they allowed 5 unanswered goals ,including 2 short-handed, and eventually lost to what was described as one of the 'worst teams in the East' in the Ottawa Senators. Well don't look now but the Wild are only 4 points from the bottom of the Western Conference heap.


The loss on Sunday was disturbing enough but too me more frightening was the way the team lost. You would not be that far off-target in saying that in fact, there was no 'team' during the second and third periods of that game. It was clear, and confirmed by our Coach Jacques Lemaire, that the Minnesota bunch had their own agenda that was quit different from that of the Wild coaching staff...and that should cause the most concern. There was a short period last season where the team deviated from the 'system' and they paid. The difference between then and now is the fact that this team is not enjoying a bit of a cushion atop the Northwest Division. Make no mistake however, neither team had or has the luxury of playing it 'their way'. Lemaire is the master at game-plans and the team succeeds only when they adhere to what is asked of them by the coach...which leads me to tomorrow's contest.

Lemaire clearly lost his team during the previous game and if the players do not respond against the Calgary Flames, it will become clear that they are no longer buying into the system. I firmly believe that Lemaire will not be back for another season and with any more diversions from what makes this team successful, he may not even stick around to finish this season. And to be clear, I don't think the team needs to win this game, but they need to put out a good effort, make a show of the game. This is not an all or nothing game, but the how the players bounce back from their embarrassment will go a long way in making or breaking the season in terms of how strong this team will finish out the regular season.

Clutterbuck subs for Boogaard

Derek Boogaard has been out of practice this week with an 'illness'...and was scheduled to make an appearance this past Monday for an autograph signing. So instead of sending our heavyweight, who is apparently still down for the count as he did not practice again today, the Wild instead sent our middleweight and fan favorite Cal Clutterbuck. If anyone was down at the Great Waters Brewing Company to see the NHL's hits leader, I'd love to hear about it.

Koivu's shiner: part II

By now I am sure you have all seen it...as it has been at least a couple of weeks since even I first noticed that Mikko Koivu was sporting a black eye. And who knows, by the game tomorrow, it may be gone. But the fact remains that no one reading this has clued me in to how this happened. Let it be known however, that this is not an important issue or topic but I know that Russo pretty much lets us know when a player has so much as a runny nose...and I did not hear anything from his camp as to what had happened. So I send this plea out again...fill me in and you may win a prize.