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A little while ago, I compared the Wild’s season to a country song.  Not as much for any sort of ‘twangy’ play, but rather the lyrics.  The team has gone through some tough times, but the ‘woe-is-me’ act is getting long in the tooth and the team has to move forward regardless of the adversity it faces. The team put in a lackluster effort last game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and were embarrassed in front of a sold out home crowd. The team needs to have some pride and find ways to win games; that will mean simplifying things and doing their best just to get as many pucks as they can on net. They don’t need to be fancy, they need to just work hard and keep things simple and straight-forward and that should give them a good chance to be successful.Â
In the first period the Wild seemed to be playing with more purpose and determination than they did in their last game against the Blue Jackets. The Predators, while speedy are also rather inconsistant like the Wild are at this point in the season. One thing Nashville has always been able to do fairly effectively under the direction of their Head Coach Barry Trotz is forecheck and at times in the first period the Predators had the Wild scrambling in their own end with an excellent forecheck.  Despite all of the great pressure by the Predators; the Wild would light the lamp first when Brent Burns would fling a wrister from the point that deflected off of the stick of a screening Aaron Voros and by Chris Mason to give the Wild a 1-0 lead after a rather lengthy goal review. The replay shown on Fox Sports Net clearly demonstrated Voros’ stick was not up too high, and ultimately the folks in Toronto made the right call giving Minnesota a lead. The Wild’s lead would be rather short-lived as soon after Voros’ goal Matt Foy would take a foolish high sticking call.  For allegedly possessing the league’s 2nd worst power play, the Nashville Predators power play moved the puck well and was winding up and taking big blasts at Niklas Backstrom. The Wild almost had the penalty killed off when Ville Koistinen slid a pass over to Martin Erat who blasted a one-timer that beat Backstrom to the post to tie the game at 1-1.  With the limited crowd at Sommet Centre back into the game, the Predators would give their fans even more to cheer for when they scored about 20 seconds later. Former University of North Dakota star Greg Zanon’s blast from the point was stopped by Backstrom, but he was unable to hold in the rebound and veteran winger Martin Gelinas very patiently took the loose biscuit and wrapped it around the sprawling goaltender giving Nashville a 2-1 lead. Minnesota would respond, when James Sheppard would find Matt Foy all alone, and he would shovel a shot in to tie the game 1-1 going into the 2nd period. Just as the 1st period ended, the Predators’ pest Jordin Tootoo decided to taunt some of the Wild’s players and this would result in him sitting in the penalty box to start the 2nd period.Â
In the 2nd period, Minnesota did very little with the man advantage as they moved the puck rather ineffectively in the Predators’ zone, only generating a few token shots from the point that did not really test Chris Mason. After the kill, the Predators went on the attack and established a very solid forecheck that almost made it appear they were on the power play. Another noticeable change in strategy was Nashville’s straight forward tactic of simply firing the puck on Niklas Backstorm as much as possible. The Wild’s defense seemed to be unable to prevent these shots (which were literally being fired from all over the Wild’s zone) as well as the rebound chances they created. Luckily for Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom was sharp and able to stop these 2nd chances. A scary moment took place late in the period when Dan Hamhuis would take a shot from the point that struck Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster in the forehead, sending the big defenseman to the ice bleeding profusely. The Wild’s athletic trainer Don Fuller went to the big defenseman’s aid and he would then skate rather gingerly to the Nashville Predators’ lockeroom to be treated by their doctors. The latest reports seem to indicate he was cut and it required stitches and he’ll be checked once again when the team flies back to Minnesota tonight. With the Predators’ clearly carrying the momentum, the Wild’s late period goal was gigantic; as a nice little chip of the puck would turn into a 3-on-1 where Mark Parrish would give a beauty of a cross-ice saucer pass to Marian Gaborik who tapped home the puck to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead going into the 3rd.Â
In the 3rd period, Nashville seemed to be determined to re-establish that forecheck that seemed to be working so well in the 2nd. The Predators forecheck was stifling, and also creating great scoring chances as time after time Nashville forwards found themselves all alone in the slot but everytime Niklas Backstrom came up with the big save. A small element of chippiness would take place when Todd Fedoruk would get into a bit of a shoving match with former University of Wisconsin star Ryan Suter, but the Predators’ defenseman would not take up the “Ice Box’s” invitation to drop the gloves and both would head to the penalty box with coincidental roughing minors. Nashville realized it had a good thing going with its forecheck and it was only a matter of time before the pressure it created was going to cash in. On a failed clearing attempt by Matt Foy, Alexander Radulov found Vernon Fiddler with a pass and he snuck a shot 5-hole by Backstrom to tie the game 3-3. The Predators continued their pressure, still generating close-in chances while the Wild tried to counter with a few of its own. However, another breakout, and a quick pass by Dominic Moore to a streaking Branko Radivojevic had the Slovakian grinder blast a slapshot that went top shelf by Mason to give the Wild a 4-3 lead. Minnesota would hold off a frantic barrage of Nashville shots to hang on for the much needed road victory.Â
Niklas Backstrom was definately the MVP of the game, making 40 saves and basically keeping the Wild in the game when for the most part the team was dominated by the Predators. Backstrom was poised and playing at a level that looked very similar to the way he did most of last season which is great news for a team that hasn’t had much good news lately.Â
The key offensive line for the Wild was their new ‘Grind’ line of Matt Foy, James Sheppard and Aaron Voros. This line has provided the team with great energy and has done a fair job at creating scoring chances and its two goals tonight were huge in keeping the team’s chances afloat under great offensive pressure by the Predators. For a team that is as hungry for goals as we have been, goals from these supporting cast players are most welcome and essential if we are to stay in the hunt despite all of our injury woes. The Wild have another decent-sized break (4 days) before their next game against the Phoenix Coyotes and they need to get rested up and be back on top of their game and take full advantage of the home crowd.Â
Wild Notes:
~ Wild lineup this evening was as follows: Marian Gaborik, Brian Rolston, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Eric Belanger, Stephane Veilleux, Mark Parrish, James Sheppard, Todd Fedoruk, Aaron Voros, Matt Foy, Branko Radivojevic, Dominic Moore, Kim Johnsson, Keith Carney, Brent Burns, Martin Skoula, Nick Schultz, Kurtis Foster, and Nolan Schaefer backed up Niklas Backstrom. Sean Hill, Derek Boogaard were the healthy scratches; while Josh Harding, Pavol Demitra, Mikko Koivu and Petteri Nummelin are out with injuries. Wes Walz’s whereabouts are still unknown.  Â
~ The 3 Stars of the game tonight were: 1st Star Niklas Backstrom, 2nd Star Vernon Fiddler, 3rd Star Martin Erat
Wild Prospect Notes:
~ Ondrej Fiala is having a strong overage season with the Saskatoon Blades, currently 2nd in scoring with 7 goals, 10 assists -1 along with 24 penalty minutes in 20 games. His fellow teamate, and 2007 first round selection of the Wild, Colton Gillies seems to be finding the net more often early this season as he has 9 goals, 7 assists and a -4 with 54 penalty minutes in 21 games. Â
~ Two surprising Wild prospects, have been 2007 5th rounder Cody Almond and 2007 7th rounder Carson McMillan. Almond is having a solid season on an improved Kelowna team and putting up good numbers with 6 goals and 17 assists in 24 games. Meanwhile, playing on a very strong Calgary Hitmen squad, McMillan, sporting an ‘A’ on his sweater is also chipping in offensively with 8 goals 13 assist and a gawdy +17 and 51 penalty minutes in just 27 games. Â
This entry was posted on Saturday, November 24th, 2007 at 10:16 pm and is filed under 2007-08 Game Reports & Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Source: Backstrom and unsung players help lift Wild to 4-3 road victory over Nashville
