Wild @ Capitals - 2-26-08 - A View from the Recliner
Remember what I wrote about Sunday's game? Ok, flip it around, make it negative, and that's my post for this game. Caps win 4-1. Wizzy showed no signs of life except for the early parts of the 2nd period. Defense was bad, offense was bad, goaltending was bad. Ovechkin didn't even score. Wild need help. Maybe it'll come from thug-nation Chris Simon. Great trade deadline strategy. Ick.

Fight to Hang the 1st Banner
Flames and Avalanche are tied 1-1 in the 1st. Seriously, this one can't end well. If the Flames win, we're 3 points out of 1st. If the Avs win, they inch closer to a playoff spot, one that could possibly supplant the Wild. Negativity all around.

What's a Trade?
What's it like to make a big trade deadline deal? Wild fans don't know. Most of the other teams in the West do. Dallas picks up Brad Richards - that's huge. Colorado gets Adam Foote to reunite one of the glory teams of years past. Foote will join Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic coming off injury, along with Paul Stastny. Wizzy better watch out. Must be why they picked up Mr. Suspension Chris Simon. Can you tell I hate that move?

Next on the Docket - Wild @ Lightning - Wed 2-27-08
Wild need to find it against the Lightning. They're bad. They just traded Brad Richards. A loss would send the Wild's confidence even lower than it is now. Drive to the net, quit trying to be fancy, and score some goals. Wild 2 Lightning 1

If we lose, I'm scared for the ugliness of my post tomorrow nite.

Does anyone remember when the Wild were a defensive team? Yeah, I complained about the lack of offense as much as anyone else, but it seems like we give up way too many goals now a days. (I think it started right around the time we picked up Martin Skoula, but I have no facts to back that up.)

I was looking forward to watching tonight's game v. Dallas Stars. I was ready to get back into Wild hockey after the holiday break. I was excited to watch Matt Niskanen for Dallas, who played for my college team, the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. That said, I had a bad feeling going into the game. Dallas is playing well of late - they lead the Pacific Division. The Wild were just beaten soundly by the Red Wings. Overall I had bad vibes. Apparently I'm of the Nostradamus ilk.

The Wild gave up 8 goals tonight in an 8-3 loss. The Stars played a good game, but they don't have the offensive firepower to score 8 goals. We were lucky to be in the game after the first two periods, as the Wild answered the first Stars goals quickly, but were outplayed in my opinion throughout. Down only 4-3 going into the 3rd there was a chance, but an inabiltity to capitalize on the power play and Dallas scoring 4 unanswered goals, really just set the game to where it should have been early on. I became a tish disinterrested, and I actually felt it necessary to flip over to the Wolves game on NBA TV, In that 5-minute stretch I missed Dallas' 7th goal, but luckily I saw their 8th. That really completed me.

There were a couple positives...

• Pavel Demitra remembered he can actually shoot instead of passing to Gabby, and sometimes when you shoot it goes in.
• In the 2nd period I started reading Lou Nanne's North Stars memories book that my wife gave me for Christmas. Very good read so far. I'll post more on this in the future.
• Arron Voros continued his inspired play.

Here's hopin for a more positive post tomorrow after Wild v. Coyotes!