'Up-tempo' review + captain thoughts...

The 'system' of our Minnesota Wild of old looks to be long gone, if a one game-sampling is any indication of how this team will play the game throughout the season. Gone was the constant dump and chase play, gone was the one-man fore-check, and gone was the era of the defenseman staying home. Yes, it looked like a different team during last nights season opening 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but whether or not that translates into wins is yet to be seen. The one thing that you can take away from this game in reference to the teams new 'system' was that it was entertaining to watch.

Although the game was filled with mistakes from our Wild, which is something I would expect from any team this early in the season and especially from one which saw so many changes this past off-season, but the team was in it until the end and had several chances late to tie the score. Truth be told, this game could have gone either way, as the solid goaltending at both ends kept the teams alive. However, if the team does not correct some of their shoddy play, it could be a long season because sooner or later, our goaltending will break.

The biggest change that was obvious was the play from the point. And the biggest recipient of barn door opening under Coach Todd Richards system seemed to be Brent Burns. He finished the game with 4 shots on goal but was a constant force in the offensive zone. He did play reckless at times, but overall it was nice to see one of our blue-liners playing down low in the offensive zone.

The one constant from teams of old appeared to be the Wild's stellar goaltending. Niklas Backstrom picked up where he left off a season ago, making several key saves early. In fact, if not for his play in the early stages of the game, it could have easily been a blowout from the beginning. But fortunately for Minnesota, he was on his game from the opening and was a force throughout.

For a team that does not break the 30-shot total on the road often (only 9 times last season), putting 33 on the net last night was nice to see. For the game they were out-shot, as Columbus had 39, but it was a positive to see the Wild shoot that number on goal. The actual scoring chances for Minnesota were mostly in tight, and I honestly saw a lot of them. I differ in this from other bloggers out there, but from my view, the team really took it hard to the net and created some very good chances. One shift in particular saw the Wild hold the puck deep in the offensive zone for a period of time that made it look as if they were on the power-play, when in fact it was an even-strength situation.

Overall I would say that it was a good opener for the team. They do have plenty to work on, as the team was rarely in sync and there were plenty of sloppy plays, but they played it hard and were in the game. There is no doubt that the tempo did definitely change from seasons past to last nights game, and things could get interesting if the Wild find a way to score some goals...although I am not holding my breath because I don't see that happening.

Koivu the force...but no 'C'

Russo made reference a while back to the bulk that was apparently put on this off-season by our favorite center. Well last night during the first shift of the game, fans saw first-hand the strength of Mikko. There was a scrum down low in the Wild's defensive zone, and Mikko, without any speed going in, absolutely leveled a Columbus player (Chimera I believe) head-on, sending the Blue Jacket to his rear. It was a classic hit, but one that rarely sees one player on solid footing after the hit while the other is in the prone position.

And speaking of Koivu, what is the delay in naming him permanent team captain? I know the team had several players, including Mikko, missing for much of the preseason because of a variety of ailments, but it is obvious to most fans who should don the 'C'. The room is filled with great candidates, as several veteran players should be considered, but when you get down to it (& to use an overused statement), this is Mikko's team.

Don't forget about the festivities...from my in-box

The Minnesota Wild announced the schedule of events for its 2009-10 Home Opener against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Face-off is slated for 8:15 p.m. and Xcel Energy Center gates will open at 6:30 p.m. The team will hold a Wake-Up Rally from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. outside the Xcel Energy Center on both sides of Kellogg Boulevard. Fans can stop by and receive a muffin, coffee, Coke products, a Pioneer Press and a team wall calendar. The team will also host a Pre-Game Party starting at 5:30 p.m. on the top floor of the RiverCentre Parking Ramp. Activities will include live music, food and beverages and interactive hockey games. The pre-game party is free and open to the public. Minnesota is 7-0-1 all-time in Home Openers, winning its last seven overall. All fans attending Tuesday’s game will receive a Minnesota Wild wall calendar presented by Wells Fargo, FOX Sports North and Xcel Energy.