Avalanche @ Wild - 3-17-08 - View from the Recliner
The Wild returned to the type of hockey that has made them successful throughout their history tonite, coming out on top of a defensive, intense hockey game, 3-1. Brent Burns had a goal and an assist and Branco Radevioivic had the game winner on a deflection in the 2nd period.

The Wild gritted out tonight's win. They got good goaltending when they needed it from Niklas Backstrom and continually drove to the net to keep the pressure on Colorado. This is how they will need to play down the stretch to finish strong and make the playoffs.

The team appeared to be very focused tonite. They didn't get too up when they scored or too down when Colorado tied it. Burnsie beat up on Peter Forsberg. They just seemed to have an intensity tonite that they haven't had in a long time. With 9 games left, here's hopin' it stays.

BTW, the game looked awesome on VS. tonite.

Fight to Hang the 1st Banner
With the win, the Wild are alone on top of the NW by 2 points over Colorado and Calgary. Wild have 9 games left, Colorado 8, and Calgary 10. The key down the stretch is going to be to stay on an even keel; not get too high with each win and not get too low with each loss, as they will be playing all NW division opponents after Wednesday's game v. San Jose. The winner probably won't be decided until the final game. The team and we as fans can now settle back and watch it unfold, instead of worrying about the trend the team is on. (Easy to say now that they've won a couple games...)

Next on the Docket - Wild @ Sharks - Wed 3-19-08
The Wild embark on a huge 4-game road trip Wednesday at San Jose. Keep up the intensity and things should look good coming home for the final stretch. I expect the Wild to keep the scoring low. Wild 2 San Jose 1

Doing my part to promote the awsomeness of high-definition hockey, tonight's game v. LA Kings will be on HD Net nationally as well as locally in the Twin Cities. There's no other local coverage.

Devils @ Wild - 3-13-06 - A View from the Couch
In my earlier post today, I mentioned I had a very positive outlook on tonite's game. Sun shining gave way to birds singing, snow melting, and in theory, a Wild victory, righting the sinking ship. Those birds kept singing until 7 minutes left in the 3rd period. They completely fell asleep when Jamie Langenbrunner easily deked Niklas Backstrom (that's different) to win the shootout and the game for the Devils.

Wild did play a pretty good game tonite. Great 1st period resulted in a 2-0 lead. Bad 2nd period allowed NJ to tie the game, and then Koivu to stickhandle nicely to set up Gabby for his 1st goal in like 85 games. Good 3rd period up until Backstrom was scored on from a bad angle again. This time it was sort of on a hockey move instead of a shot from 15 feet out and behind the goal line, but still a save he should have made. He shouldn't have followed Danius Zubrus to the front of the net, because he never went there. I don't know what to make of the OT. Wild dominated after the ugly minute-long power play, but didn't ever shoot the puck. Skoula and PMB combined for like 30 seconds of skating around the offensive zone, never getting a shot at Martaaay Brodeur. That was frustrating. And of course, the shootout was bad for the Wild. They could not score a goal and Backstrom was beat 3 times, even though only one of the goals went in. Langenbrunner's winning goal was fitting, given he had like 100 friends and family in from Cloquet, and that I have always liked him as a player, and that earlier in the game I called him old. Oh, and he almost caused me to break my TV. I childishly threw my goal light remote on the floor and it bounced up and hit the TV. No damage tho. (What, you don't have a goal light?)

I guess it's positive. They had alot of great scoring opportunities tonite and Brodeur either got lucky or made the good save. The team sounded pretty upbeat in the postgame interviews. Stephane Veilleux and Mikko Koivu both were encouraged that they played a good game, and that if they keep playing that way things will go their way. I hope they're right.

Fight to Hang the 1st Banner
At time of this post, Colorado has a 5-1 lead on Edmonton in the 3rd, so they'll be in 1st by 2 pts at the end of the day.  Atlanta miraculously came back on Calgary to win 6-4, so the Wild and Calgary are tied for 2nd. Vancouver could pull into that same tie for 2nd if they beat Phoenix, but right now it is 1-0 Coyotes at the 2nd intermission. C'mon 'Yotes!

Seen in the Crowd
Props to a couple of my co-workers, Kristie and Karen, who got alot of high-definition face time tonite on FSN behind the Wild bench. One of the highlights was during the break before the shootout...they seemed to be mimicking the coaches writing out the shootout lineup. Beauty work!

Next on the Docket - Kings @ Wild - Sat 3-15-08
We'll see if the last 2 shootout losses against good teams really were good for the Wild's psyche against the lowly Kings. I'd like to see Josh Harding in net. I expect a win. Wild 4 Kings 1

This morning when I woke up, the sun was shining. Birds were singing. Snow was melting. It's going to be 50 degrees today. The extended time between games and this end to the winter depression will snap the Wizzy out of their funk and I fully expect a return to positive vibes about our favorite squad. Maaartaaay Broduer doesn't stand a chance.

FSN-HD tonite.

This escaped my radar...tonight's game will be available on FSN-HD. So if you have access, make sure you flip it to the HD version of FSN. I will be recording to my DVR and watching a little later...going to Buffalo v. St. Cloud Tech section 8AA boys hockey playoffs. Winner gets Roseau.

Tonight's game is on in the Twin Cities on channel 45. It is also available outside the metro area on HD Net; it'll be blacked out in the cities. However it is scheduled to be replayed on HD Net at 12:30 and that will not be blacked out. Because I am an HD rube I might not watch the 45 broadcast and wait/record the HD Net showing. This will delay my recap. Just an FYI for anyone that lives and breathes by my game recaps.

Also of note, my apologies to anyone that had problems posting comments to any articles recently. I had the moderate comments feature turned on, not really knowing what that meant. That goofiness is now turned off. Comment away!

Just a friendly reminder that Monday's Wild game v. San Jose is one of the 10 games scheduled for high-definition broadcast on FSN-HD. So, if you have access, make sure you watch the HD broadcast.

Also, take a break from watching the bowls on New Years Day to watch the NHL Winter Classic on NBC at 12PM CST. The Penguins are playing the Sabres outdoors at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the NFL's Buffalo Bills play. The NHL did this a few years ago in Edmonton and it was really a cool event. It also kicks off NBC's NHL coverage for the year, which I am excited for. They do a great job covering the game, and they're all in HD.