Showing posts with label disappointing loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disappointing loss. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

3 Hours I'll Never Get Back



Wild @ Avalanche - Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 4 - View from the Couch
Well, this was better for the heart. That's about the only positive thing Wild fans can take from game 4. Unfortunately it may cause ulcers. Colorado wins big time. It was 2-0 before the 5 minute mark, 4-0 before the game was half over, and 5-0 after 2 periods. Mikko Koivu did score in the 3rd to continue his torrid playoff as well as the Wild's don't-score-until-the-3rd-period philosophy, for a 5-1 final.

Basically, the Wild did not show up for this one, and that's sad for the 4th game of the playoffs in a series they should win.

Not happy with the performance tonite at all. The Wild were clearly not mentally into this game. Two of the goals came off turnovers, they took a too-many-men penalty in the 1st, and the intensity wasn't there like it was last nite. It seemed they were content with the split in Colorado. This has been a problem all season for the Wild. With a chance to put their peverbial foot down on the perverbial throat of a team, they laid an egg.

The Wizzy were extreemly undisciplined and showed no composure, talking penalty after penalty. Derek Boogard lost it, shooting the puck down the ice in frustration and bumping into an Avs player after another penalty call...taking a misconduct that turned into a 5-on-3 Avalanche powerplay. Eric Bellanger went crazy trying to punch people. Stephane Velleiux chattered back and forth in the penalty box with Cody McLoud, mimicing his toothless jawing. Velleiux better keep his head up the rest of the series. Then Velleiux squared off with Ian Laperriere. The Wild seemed to forget about the fact that there was a hockey game going on and just wanted to hit people. Almost like they wanted to validate Mark Kiszla's story. Very disheartening. They finished with 111 minutes in penalties. Ish.

This game just wouldn't end and sucked the life out of me. As a fellow Wild fan sent me in a textie, "Pain. Ful."

Fight to Bring the Cup to St. Paul
The Cup feels alot further away after tonite's game. The good thing is that it's just 1 game and the series is now tied 2-2. While the momentum may be with Colorado, someone still needs to win 2 out of the next 3, and 2 of them will be at Xcel Energy Center. That said, the next game is huge. Wild need to regain the momentum.

Next on the Docket - Avalanche @ Wild - Thurs 4-17-08
Hopefully they've put this silliness behind them. Hopefully Coach Lemaire lays into this team...knocks over a Gatorade table copyright Herb Brooks. If not, this series will be over in 6 and Pepsi Center will be happy Saturday nite. I'll be in attendance at the X on Thursday, and while I expect the crowd to be loud, I also envision a little tentativeness after tonight's game. I have an idea, how bout if we score 1st and not take 18 million penalties? Wild 4 Avs 3

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Ain't that a Shame

Wild v. Red Wings - 2-5-08 - A View from my Recliner
Wow, what a demoralizing loss tonight. The Wild played a great game. They were physical. They were quick. They had a 2-1 lead with just over a minute left. Then it all went south.

After playing an inspiring first two periods, the Wild were dominated in the 3rd period. This is to be expected, with the Wings absolutely running away with the Western Conference you knew they were going to put the pressure on. Still, it seemed the Wild were destined to hold on to the 2-1 win, until G Niklas Backstrom let in a bad angle shot by Daniel Cleary from the left boards with about a minute left. Brett Lebda scored for the Wings in OT, and all the Wild had to show in this heavily-hyped game was 1 point. Not terrible, but it really should have been 2 points.

Brian Rolston scored again (finally a PP goal) and Pavol Demitra scored on a wired top corner shot with Gabby as a decoy on a 2 on 1. Actually, the Wild should have been up more than a goal going into the 3rd. Red Wings G Dominik Hasek kept the score close. The Wild had many many opportunities. Hasek stopped most, and the goal posts stopped the rest.

Jots
  • Backstom gave up way too many scary rebounds again tonite. The Wings 1st goal came on a juicy rebound. Then there was the tying goal. It was about a foot from the goal line.
  • I really liked the Wizzy's intensity tonite. They kept the Wings out of Backstrom's area and did not back down from the Wings.
  • That said, gotta be cautious of the let down after this game. To play the way they did and then to lose the way they did, pretty demoralizing. Hopefully the team doesn't take it the way I do. Big game Thursday v. Dallas, and then the lowly Islanders. Two more wins will make this loss feel OK.
  • Before the tying goal I was busy thinking of clever titles for this post, having to do with finally beating Hasek. That'll teach me to pre-plan my posts. The Wild still have never beaten Dominik Hasek.
  • Good work by the crowd at the X tonite. Especially during the 4:00 penalty kill in the 1st.
Next on the Docket - Stars @ Wild - Thurs 2-7-08
The Stars are back Tuesday for the last time this regular season. I hope this is the year we get Dallas in the playoffs to get the rivalry jumpstarted again. Nothing was like that first game v. Dallas back in 2000. That was a good time.

Apparently the Wild will honor Mike Modano before the game for all his accomplishments to US hockey. It will be interesting to see how the crowd responds to that. In the early years, Modo was booed lustily, but that has subsided. I would think he'll get a nice reception for this.

As for the game, I think it'll be difficult to bounce back from today's loss. Stars 4 Wild 2