Predators 4, Wild 3

The Wild are off to a horrid start and lost again last night at home to Nashville. At least the teams combined for seven goals to make it interesting — the came in averaging a combined 3.7 goals per game. Here’s the link to my game story:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2009102830

 

Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (SO)

The Wild may have saved its season last night by eeking out a shootout victory after it appeared Minnesota would choke away yet another opportunity at a crucial two points.

I wrote for AP for the first time in awhile last night. Fortunately, I didn’t feel too rusty.

 

http://espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290317030

Wild 5, Oilers 1

Yikes, it’s been awhile since I posted anything on here. I wish I could’ve watched the Gophers/Badgers last night, but at least I saw plenty of offense for the Wild. That’s 11 goals now in Minnesota’s last two games — this from a team that at times seems allergic to goal scoring.

 

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nhl-game-centre&mid=85085

Red Wings 3, Wild 2 (shootout)

I forgot to put this up over the weekend from Saturday night’s game against the Red Wings.

 

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nhl-game-centre&mid=85006

Wild 3, Hurricanes 2

Crap. If it weren’t for the word “holding’ instead of “held” in the fifth graf, this would have been a pretty decent story. I don’t know if I did that or my editor did, but either way I’m ticked.

 

http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=281223030

Wild 4, Islanders 1

This is a few days late because I forgot about it this weekend, but the Wild finally won a game on Friday night after losing six straight. Minnesota would have needed to work really hard NOT to win this game, though, because the Islanders were easily the worst NHL team I’ve seen in person this season. Granted, that’s only about a third of the teams, but still…

 

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nhl-game-centre&mid=84906

Wild 4, Blues 0

I’ve got to credit my editor on this one — this story is better than the one I turned in.

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nhl-game-centre&mid=84798

Wild 4, Capitals 3

The Wild’s contest on Monday lived up to the team name, at least for the final six minutes. Washington scored three times before I could blink and suddenly it was a game after Minnesota jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

The play of the day by far was Alex Ovechkin’s goal to make the score 4-2. He skated with the puck over the blue line above the left circle and fired with a defenseman in front of him. The shot went through the defenseman’s legs before beating Niklas Backstrom short side. It looked amazing in real time, and on replay was even more ridiculous. That guy can play…

 

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nhl-game-centre&mid=84738

Canucks 3, Wild 2

I’m not winning any awards for this one…

 

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nhl-game-centre&mid=84709

Wild 3, Blackhawks 2

I covered my first Wild game of the new season on Monday, and Minnesota remains the only NHL team without a regulation loss despite playing without Marian Gaborik in five of seven games. Speaking of guys with expiring contracts, Niklas Backstrom continues to be outstanding. He’s played every minute for the Wild in net at this point and at this rate will earn some big bucks of his own.

 

http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nhl-game-centre&mid=84558