Overthrow the Monarchy

     Who had any doubts? Sure wasn't me! I always have faith in my team!......OK, maybe I lost a little faith but hey we were not looking good, up until last night that is! The wild took down the extremely good Kings in a 2-1 tilt last night! This was our biggest game of the year hands down! The Playoffs are in reach yet we couldn't seem to finish the season and move into the postseason! Our dream team looked like they could not do it despite all of our talent! Critics and fans were buzzing, but the Wild silenced all that last night! We came out to a first period lead when Parise set up Coyle for a beautiful top shelf goal! No less than 16 seconds later, Clutterbuck streaked up the left boards and sniped a puck top shelf to give the wild a 2 goal lead. However our fortune took a turn for the worst when Dustin Brown, the LA Kings captain threw his elbow into Jason Pominville's head. He went down hard and did not return to the game! It looks to me like a possible concussion but we will most likely find out more today! The Refs missed the blatant call which I am sure will be followed up on with them (JK the NHL refs can do no wrong in the league's eyes) Brown has a hearing later today to discuss the hit, I do not foresee him playing tonight! I say kick him out of the league, but im slightly biased! The Kings scored the only goal in the second period when Jeff Carter sent a snap shot past Niklas Backstrom. The wild still held the lead for the rest of the game and Backstrom came up huge when he robbed Slava Voynov with 11 seconds left! The wild went on to win 2-1! All we need to do is win one of our last two games and we clinch our playoff spot! We have all been deprived of the playoffs since 2008! Be sure to watch Friday where we have the chance to clinch!!!! We can almost see the promised land!

Here is the Pominville Injury (blatant head shot)

Here is the huge save by Backstrom!!!

Last Chance For Our Guys

     Tonight the wild take on the LA Kings at home! You probably don't need me to tell you that this is a must win game for the Wild. We are currently tied with the Columbus Bluejackets for the 8th spot in the west. if we drop one more spot we are out of the playoffs. Detroit is in that 9th spot and knocking on both the Wild's and the Bluejacket's doorstep! LA has all but clinched their playoff spot so they do not have as much to lose tonight as we do, but they still want a win and have been playing very well. The Kings are 6-2-2 in their last 10 while the Wild are only 3-6-1. We have a tough task ahead of us, but I think we can do it! If I was Mike Yeo I would honestly be worried about my job if the Wild don't make the playoffs. The office staff proved over the summer that they want to spend the money to have a championship caliber hockey team here in Minnesota. But if the head coach can't get the team to perform at their potential then maybe its time for him to go! Don't get me wrong, I think Yeo is a great coach but something has to change when you have all of our talent and can't win! hopefully we won't have to worry about it but its something to keep in the back of your mind!

Thanks for stopping by!
Kayle Hanson

The Playoff Push is a Little Weak

     Ok so the Wild technically are still in the playoffs so its not the end of the world.....YET! Last night the Wild hosted the Calgary Flames, a team down in the 12th spot in the standings and theoretically out of the playoffs. These are the teams that the Wild need to beat to gain separation in the standings and to help fine tune our game for the playoffs. Sadly this has not been the case for us. After getting embarrassed in San Jose the Wild returned home licking their wounds and tried to pick up a win against the flames!

(Not all that relevant, but this is one of the greatest sports stadiums in the nation)

     In all honesty the Wild did not look all that bad last night! Ryan Suter and Zach Parise combined for 15 shots on net, the team sent 35 at them! We just can't get the puck in the net! Parise did score his 17th of the season (team high). It was all Calgary from there, they capitalized on the opportunities we gave them. 2 Powerplay goals and an empty netter propelled the Flames to a 4-1 win!

     We aren't necessarily in trouble yet, we still have the tiebreaker for the playoff spot and have a chance to move up with home games against the Kings and Oilers. However these are must win games to say the least! We need to gain some confidence for the playoffs or I suspect if we do make it, they will be short and ugly! I hope I am wrong!

Until next time

Kayle Hanson 

Hawks come to town

     Ok so last weeks road trip was...well it was tough to say the least! But hey, the Wild were extremely fatigued! At the end of the regular season they will have logged the most travel time and miles in the National Hockey League. So losing three in a row wasn't necessarily expected but it was not surprising for me anyway. Our boys played Columbus Sunday afternoon and as history would dictate Nick Backstrom had a huge game posting a shut-out the game after he got pulled after letting in 2 goals on 2 shots. A 3-0 win on the road is always welcome. It was made even sweeter when we kept Gaborik off the scoreboard in his first game at home in Columbus. Oh yeah.....and a certain recent acquisition scored his first goal in a Wild sweater! Welcome to the Wild Mr. Pominville

     Tonight the NHL's best Chicago Blackhawks come to town and the Wild will have to bring their "A" game to come out with a win! Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have been on an absolute tear! They both average over a point a game, I expect to see them on the scoreboard tonight! On the other hand the Wild are at home and are very well rested! I guarantee a sell out crowd tonight, and the X will be loud tonight. I'm sure there will be lots of Chicago fans in there tonight, there always is! The electric atmosphere will play to the Wild's advantage, we usually look very good at home! My prediction for tonight's game is a 4-3 win over the Blackhawks! I think we are in for a treat!

As always thanks for stopping by! GO WILD!!
Kayle Hanson

Jason Pominville

     April 3rd marked the trade deadline and we saw lots of movement all across the league. Former Wild all-star Marian Gaboriki was traded from the New York Rangers to the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was rumored that he did not get along with the Rangers coaching staff. But in all honesty who does Marian Gaborik actually get along with? The guy has the personality of a brick wall....and the looks! Anyway I wish the Blue Jackets at Mr. Gaborik the best of luck.

Gaborik during his Wild Days

     The News that we care about however came mid afternoon yesterday all the way out in San Jose, California! In the spirit of trade deadline day the Wild made yet another All-Star pick up to add to our roster of All-Stars. Jason Pominville the Buffalo Sabres captain was traded to the Minnesota Wild! Some would argue that the price was a bit steep, but nobody can deny that he brings yet another leadership facet to our team, and will be playing on a line that features two of our captains. The Wild had to give up our goalie prospect, Matt Hacket as well as Johan Larsson, another of our top prospects. We also had to give up a first round draft pick next year and a second rounder in 2014. In my opinion both teams made out well on the deal. The Sabres received some extremely good prospects and draft picks that hopefully can revitalize the floundering team as they enter the rebuild stage. The Wild fresh off of our rebuild added yet another veteran hockey player that can put up numbers and be a team leader for our multitude of young players. I am excited to see Jason Pominville playing soon! Hopefully tonight as the wild clash with the LA Kings!

Thanks for stopping by! GO WILD!!

Kayle Hanson