Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 19

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The deflating sigh inside Xcel Energy Center late Wednesday night had enough timbre to crack the nearby Capitol building windows. After battling all third period for the tying goal, the Wild finally achieved the feat -- a very, very short-lived feat. Only 19 seconds later, before the celebratory fans even had a chance to get settled in their seats again, the Wild served up the go-ahead goal near the end of what coach Todd Richards called the "poorest performance of the year" -- a 3-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. Scottie Upshall scored the winner with 4 minutes, 39 seconds left, silencing a flabbergasted crowd mere moments after Antti Miettinen ignited the arena with the tying goal. ..."

Irmen's debut was no quick leap

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November 19

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"When Danny Irmen left the University of Minnesota on April 5, 2006, forgoing his senior year, he never envisioned it would take this long to get to the NHL. "I think every young kid comes out and expects to be an NHLer," Irmen said. "And once you get here [you] realize it's not as easy as you think it is. Grinding it out in the minors really gives you a lot of character. I think those 3½ years have been really important for my hockey career." After four Wild training camps, lots of exhibition games and parts of five seasons with the Wild's American Hockey League affiliate in Houston, Irmen finally made his NHL debut during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. Irmen's mother, two ..."

Another sleepy start hurts Wild

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November 19

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Another day, another slow start. Another loss. Wild rookie coach Todd Richards, noting that he was "full of emotions of right now," stepped forward to accept the blame after the Phoenix Coyotes took advantage of mistakes to claim a 3-2 victory Wednesday night at the Xcel Energy Center. "I have to look at myself," he said, "for the slow starts, our morning skates and what I'm doing in practice to prepare us better." The Wild were hemmed into their zone for most of the first period, getting outshot 15-5, and only the play of goaltender Niklas Backstrom kept the score 0-0. The reason was simple, Richards said: The Coyotes "were skating, pursuing pucks, they were dumping it and coming after ..."

Irmen finally gets his call

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November 19

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"There were moments, Danny Irmen admitted, when he had to fight off the doubts. After three full seasons playing for the Wild's Houston affiliate in the American Hockey League, Irmen put together a decent training camp in the fall but — again — was dispatched to the Aeros. At 25, he had to wonder if he'd ever make it to the big time. "You know, it's hard not to think like that," he said, "but the minute you do, it's done for you. So I just tried to be as positive as I can." Irmen stayed positive and got the call from the Wild on Tuesday night; by Wednesday morning he was working out with the team and that evening took the ice for 5 minutes, 28 seconds against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Xcel ..."

Wild at their worst, and that's saying something

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November 19

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Tom Powers

"Here's some refreshing news from Wednesday night's Wild game: They adhered to the new system splendidly. Adjusting to the new style of play had no effect whatsoever on the outcome. Instead, they lost to the Phoenix Coyotes because they were old-fashioned terrible. "This is probably our poorest performance of the year," said coach Todd Richards. From the games I've seen, that's really saying something. At least they weren't alone. The officials had a bad night, too. Over and above what appeared to be a couple of missed offsides calls by the linesmen, referee Kelly Sutherland called the all-timer toward the end of the first period. Sami Lepisto went to flick the puck around the boards and ..."

Wild's Brent Burns ready to reverse 'weird stat'

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November 18

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"As his plus-minus statistics deteriorated this season, so did Brent Burns' patience. A favorite with fans since he arrived as a first-round Wild draft pick in 2003, Burns had never had to deal much with criticism. He didn't like it. Finally, after rebuffing most questions on the topic for two weeks, the big defenseman with a big smile and bigger talent sat down Tuesday and talked about his numbers and how the plus-minus stat is "weird" and, often, just plain unfair. It helped that Burns, considered a prime candidate to make Canada's Olympic hockey team for the Vancouver Games, had improved his plus-minus numbers by more than 28 percent in a 5-4 shootout loss to Carolina over the weekend. ..."

Coyotes, Wild have new identities

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November 18

Arizona Republic

"Taking in Minnesota Wild games in the past was a lot like watching ice freeze. Most noted for a trapping defense, the Wild were not the most exciting team to watch. Things have changed a bit in the Twin Cities, and the Coyotes will get their first look at the Wild on Wednesday night in the first of back-to-back road games. "They're a team that started out a little bit slow, but they've come on," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "I've watched two or three of their games lately. They've been playing much better as a team. "Just a bit different from the past, they look like they're trying to play maybe a little more up-tempo game. They still have good players, strong goaltending. They're a ..."

Pouliot injured

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November 16

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"What a day! I can't believe I'm inside. Won't be able to see a day like this again for five months. Warmups currently going on. Canes wearing their black third jerseys. Chuck Kobasew is out. Injured Shane Hnidy's skating warmups, but he did that against Washington, too. We'll see if he returns or if John Scott plays for him again. Update: Pouliot's got an upper-body injury. Shane Hnidy in and John Scott playing wing. Boogaard and Scott on the same line perhaps. Hurricanes are winless in 14 straight. A loss this afternoon breaks the 30-year franchise record. Whalers/Canes were winless in 14 straight in '91-92. On that team later the same year was a fella named Todd Richards. Coincidence? ..."

The hits keep coming

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November 15

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A few weeks ago on TSN's "Off the Record," Philadelphia Flyers executive Bobby Clarke said he wouldn't want to play in today's NHL because it's "too dangerous." Let that sink in for a second. Gritty, gutsy Bobby Clarke, legendary captain of the big, bad Broad Street Bullies, wouldn't want to play today because it's "too dangerous." That's priceless ... and petrifying. There are more than 100 NHLers currently out with injuries. Players are bigger, faster and stronger, and with the recent crackdown on obstruction and hindering of the goaltender's ability to play the puck, players are getting clobbered at full speed. At last week's general managers meeting in Toronto, NHL execs finally took a ..."

Wild's No. 1 fan holding steady despite slow start

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November 15

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"If you ever stare into the center-ice suite at the Xcel Energy Center, you know how impossible it is for Wild owner Craig Leipold to hide his emotions. He rolls up a packet of game notes and holds them so tightly, it's amazing his hands aren't full of calluses and paper cuts. So it goes without saying the Wild's poor start to the season last month was hard on Leipold. "No, it was gut-wrenching," Leipold said Thursday before the Wild's game in Tampa. "You wanted it for [coach] Todd [Richards]. I wanted the team to perform at the level Todd wanted and let Todd get his wins because I know how hard he's working at this. "I wanted it for the players and for the fans. You don't like to lose, but ..."

Teamwork has helped Wild deal with an up-and-down season

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November 15

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"This season's Wild have offered an enigmatic blend of the hopeful and the seemingly hopeless, of experience and potential, all taking a roller-coaster ride through the first 19 games of the NHL season. Now 7-11-1, they began with a hopeless-looking 3-9 record, then pirouetted to 4-1 before losing the past two. But somewhere along the way, center Mikko Koivu believes, the dreadful early days were erased by hard work and, equally important, teamwork. Case in point: Despite losing Thursday to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Friday to the Washington Capitals, most of the team took to a patch of grass rather than the ice Saturday afternoon, forming a circle and knocking a soccer ball around as ..."

Capitals dominate the Wild, 3-1

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November 14

Washington Examiner

"The late lead held this time in a game the Capitals dominated for the final 40 minutes. Two defensemen scored, rookie goalie Semyon Varlamov shook off a soft goal to stop the other 29 shots he faced and Brooks Laich sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final minute. It all added up to a satisfying 3-1 win for Washington over the Minnesota Wild on Friday night at Verizon Center. The two points did come at a cost, however. Forward Mike Knuble will miss three-to-four weeks with a broken finger suffered in the first period. The Caps (12-3-4, 28 points) moved back into first place in the Eastern Conference. Afterwards, they immediately jumped on a plane for the short flight to Newark ..."

Josh Harding raises his stature in Minnesota Wild's loss

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November 14

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Josh Harding had something to prove. He did just that. Goalies like to talk about playing with amnesia, forgetting about what happened previously. But Harding, who had appeared in three games this season and had a 4.73 goals-against average and .761 save percentage, knew that after two poor starts he needed a good one. Stopping 38 of 40 shots by the powerful Washington Capitals on Friday night was the No. 1 reason the Wild stayed within a goal until an empty-netter made the final score 3-1 in Minnesota's loss. "Josh, I thought, was tremendous in the nets," Wild coach Todd Richards said. "That's what you want from your goalie. It's nice to see him off of his two previous games that he ..."

Road-weary Wild can't keep up with Washington

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November 14

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Wild finally wore out Friday night. Credit the play of the Washington Capitals, one of the premium teams in the NHL, but also credit the fact that it was Minnesota's third game in four nights on the road. Only a stout performance by Wild goaltender Josh Harding prevented the Capitals from running away with this one. In the end, the Caps needed an empty-net goal in the final minute to secure a two-goal margin in a 3-1 triumph in front of 18,277 at the Verizon Center. "I'm pretty sure we gave it all we had," said Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck, who scored his team's only goal and had several other chances. "I don't think we held anything back; I think the guys in here are pretty ..."

Offense from defensemen lifts Caps past Minnesota Wild, 3-1

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November 14

Washington Times

"Goals by a pair of defensemen for the first time this season helped the Washington Capitals survive a valiant effort from Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding and secure a 3-1 victory Friday night against the Wild at Verizon Center. Brian Pothier gave the Caps the lead two minutes into the third period. He took a drop pass from Mathieu Perreault and snapped a shot into the top-right corner for his second of the season. Perreault continues to play well in his first taste of NHL action. He has a goal and four points in five games and is a plus-5. Eric Fehr, who earned a secondary assist on the play and helped create a screen near the crease, has a point in each of his three games since ..."

Defensemen carry offense in Caps' win

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November 14

Washington Times

"Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding tried his best to carry his tired club to an upset Friday night. But the shots kept coming, and eventually the Washington Capitals, rested and rolling despite not having Alex Ovechkin, squeezed out just enough offense to secure their fourth straight victory. Getting goals from a pair of defensemen for the first time this season, the Caps survived a valiant effort by Harding for a 3-1 victory at Verizon Center. Washington moved back atop the Eastern Conference with 28 points - two more than the Caps' foe Saturday night, the New Jersey Devils. "[Minnesota] played [Thursday] night, so we knew that if we could hang on for the first 10 minutes that it would ..."

Lightning beats Minnesota Wild 4-3 in shootout

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November 13

St. Petersburg Times

"The celebration after the Lightning's 4-3 victory over the Wild on Thursday night almost was playoff-caliber. Players poured over the boards, and the mob scene of hugs and gloved hands pounding heads slowly slid to the St. Pete Times Forums' side boards, where it remained for almost a minute. Tampa Bay had won a shootout, of all things, its first in five tries this season. But that was just the end point after it had overcome a two-goal, third-period deficit with Ryan Malone's power-play goal with 14.7 seconds left to send the game to overtime. "That was probably the most hard-fought win of the season," center Steven Stamkos said, "the one that felt the best, for sure." And given the rest ..."

Outsiders see it, too: Wild shows positive signs

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November 12

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Last month, in the heart of the Wild's struggles, there were times it was difficult to ascertain what the team was trying to accomplish. The players didn't come up the ice as a group of five. Defensemen were all over the place. Forecheckers didn't support. Players were caught in between two systems. There was lots of confusion and little cohesion. Fast-forward to Wednesday, and listen to what Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said after watching the Wild's recent games: "They're starting to play the new system real well. To me, it didn't seem the coach panicked. He said, 'This is the way we're going to play. This is my system,' and you can tell, they're reaping the benefits. "You ..."

Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom able to look at bigger picture

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November 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Going into the Wild's game against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at Air Canada Centre, Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom had his 100th NHL win in front of him but insisted on looking at the bigger picture. "It's not been an easy road for me to get here," he said, "so I just try to have fun every day. I'm living my dream; I'm playing in the NHL." Backstrom, who signed as the backup goalie to Manny Fernandez in 2006 as a 28-year-old rookie out of Helsinki, Finland, took over the No. 1 job when Fernandez suffered a knee injury that season. He continued playing so well that the Wild rewarded him last spring with a four-year, $24 million contract. He went into the game against the Leafs with a ..."

Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom busy to the end of 100th NHL victory

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November 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Credit the Backstrom Factor. Going after the 100th win of his NHL career, Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom had to face one of the most demanding tests in hockey Tuesday night. The Toronto Maple Leafs, after scoring a late goal to pull within 4-2, pulled their goalie and then drew two Minnesota penalties, thus sending six skaters onto the ice against the Wild's three with 56.1 seconds left in the third period. "You don't see that too often. It's a big challenge. You go out there, try to do your best. You can't worry too much; try to enjoy it." So said Backstrom, the man of the hour and the fourth man on the ice in a Wild jersey during that hectic final stretch. Backstrom calmly blocked ..."

Discipline unlikely for hit to Sykora

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November 11

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"With Petr Sykora recovering at home from a concussion, Wild coach Todd Richards said Tuesday he doesn't expect NHL officials to discipline Dallas center Steve Ott for the hit that blasted Sykora's head into the glass Saturday. But dangerous shots to the head -- and the serious injuries they cause -- will be discussed by the league's general managers as they conclude their fall meetings in Toronto today. A number of players have suffered concussions this season, and an Ontario Hockey League player was hospitalized in critical condition last month after a brutal hit caused skull and facial fractures. Toronto GM Brian Burke said there isn't much sentiment for creating additional penalties for ..."

Backstrom goes extra mile in notching a big milestone

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November 11

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Niklas Backstrom didn't view his 100th NHL victory as the milestone everyone else saw. The real triumph, he said Tuesday, was in getting to this point. The Finnish goaltender didn't make it to hockey's grandest stage until 2006, when he was 28 years old. Tuesday, he solidified his place as one of its finest masked men in a 5-2 victory over Toronto. In the game's final minute, with the Wild down two skaters and the Maple Leafs' goalie pulled, Backstrom held firm under incredible pressure to give his team its first-ever win at Air Canada Centre. The Wild supported him with an energetic, confident effort, scoring more than three goals on the road for the first time this season. While everyone ..."

Goal digger

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November 11

Toronto Sun

"Derek Boogaard doesn't need tohis gloves any more, as much as raise them to celebrate a goal. Respected as one of the NHL's best fighters -- even his introductory handshake hurts -- the Minnesota Wild winger yearns to end a 175-game goal-less streak, longest in the league at present. His latest chance came and went last night against the Maple Leafs, having last scored Jan. 7, 2006. He has two goals in 207 career games. But this has still been a good season for 6-foot-8, 257-pounder from Saskatoon, with his ice time up to a career high six minutes a game. "Every (fighter) gets their cup of coffee in the NHL, but then you have to evolve," Boogaard said before the game. "When Jacques ..."

Terrible Tuesdays at ACC

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November 11

Toronto Sun

"As the 19,053 at the Air Canada Centre last night can attest, tickets for a Leafs game there on a Tuesday should come with a warning. This might be a night to give away the tickets to the neighbour's kid. The Tuesday syndrome that has plagued Toronto in recent seasons was in effect once again as the home team was snapped back to reality in a dreadfully dull 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. "It definitely wasn't our best effort," centre Matt Stajan said as his team's home record fell to 1-6-1. "You can ask anyone in the building.""

Wild's Backstrom backs up Toskala

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November 11

Toronto Sun

"Niklas Backstrom has a word of advice for frustrated fans of the Maple Leafs: Don't give up on Vesa Toskala. Backstrom, one of the leading candidates to play goal for Finland in the Winter Olympics, is a big booster of his fellow Finnish netminder, Toskala. Even if no one else is around here. "I don't know what's happened because I don't play in the East, but I believe in Vesa. He's a very good goalie. He's always been a good goalie," said Backstrom, who was very good himself last night, turning away a game-high 37 shots in a 5-2 Minnesota Wild win over the Leafs last night at the Air Canada Centre. The Monster may be the nickname of the Leafs new starting goalie but it was Backstrom, as ..."

Leafs fall back down to earth

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November 11

Toronto Star

"Call it Pancake Tuesday. It's a weekly event at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs, with a chance to edge slightly out of the early-season hole they've dug for themselves, came out flatter than a crepe on a paper plate again in a mid-week game at home, this time dropping a sleepy 5-2 decision to an equally struggling Minnesota Wild. Talk about a buzz kill."

Sykora's concussion confirmed

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November 10

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Wild coach Todd Richards knows all about concussions. He knows they're a nuisance, that they're scary and that the timetable for a return is about as cloudy as one might feel after sustaining one. After Monday, he also knows that another of his players is out indefinitely because of one. Tests done Sunday confirmed that forward Petr Sykora suffered a concussion Saturday, and Richards said he thought Sykora would undergo more tests this week. Sykora hit his head on the glass on a check by Dallas pest Steve Ott during the third period of the Wild's 3-2 victory. Ott, who has twice been suspended by the league for his conduct during his career, did not receive a penalty, but Richards called ..."

Wild forward Petr Sykora sidelined by a head injury

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November 10

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Already missing one playmaker because of a concussion, the Wild have lost another for the same reason. Petr Sykora on Monday joined fellow forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard on the outindefinitely list. Sykora left Saturday's victory over Dallas after being checked into the glass. He did not travel to Toronto for tonight's game against the Maple Leafs. "What we got back on him is a concussion; we don't know the extent of it," coach Todd Richards said. "I think he had some tests yesterday, maybe some today, and once we have those results we should have a better idea — but concussions are still a touchy thing. Sometimes they clear up, sometimes they just kind of linger." When can the Wild expect ..."

Jacques Lemaire enjoys an abundance of talent coaching Devils

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November 10

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"'Go!' bellowed the unmistakable voice, followed by a sharp toot on the whistle dangling around his neck. The posture was instantly recognizable: right forearm on the dasher, left glove capping the stick's butt end, left skate propped on its heel as if waiting for a shine. Barely six months after resigning from the Minnesota Wild, Jacques Lemaire was in his glory again, coaching the New Jersey Devils in an empty rink and debunking the notion that you can never go home again. He never expected to be commanding a team so soon after leaving St. Paul, where Lemaire led the Wild to three playoff berths in nine seasons and the best record (293-255-108) among nine expansion teams that entered the ..."

Havlat using his prolific past as inspiration to shake slump

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November 8

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"When things are going south, positive imagery is often a big help. When Marian Gaborik would slump, he'd watch Gaborik highlights to get his mojo back. In an attempt to revive the real Martin Havlat, the Wild winger sat alone in front of a television watching some of his goals from last season's career year in Chicago. Even though he didn't score during Saturday's 3-2 victory over Dallas, Havlat was a much more confident, motivated player. He skated well, shot the puck and schooled defenders. "It's not the start I wanted, or we wanted as a team. We win together and lose together," said Havlat, who has one goal and six assists in 14 games. "But individually, this is probably the worst start ..."

Stars' big mistake seals a victory for Wild

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November 8

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Maybe it was divine justice. Early in the second period Saturday night, Wild defenseman Nick Schultz picked the corner like your typical goal-scorer. Slight problem: Schultz's shot was into his own net, and it triggered a Dallas Stars rally from two goals down. But things evened up pretty marvelously for the Wild. Like Schultz, Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman hit the wrong bull's-eye, only Grossman's pinpoint accuracy into his own net turned out to be Marek Zidlicky's winning goal for a 3-2 Wild victory at an overstuffed Xcel Energy Center. "That's the second one I've put in my own net. It was a pure snipe," Schultz said, laughing. "But it's nice you can talk about someone else putting ..."

'Crisis' time for Wild's Sheppard

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November 7

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Doug Risebrough used to say that James Sheppard was the only member of the Wild's five-player "core" who had yet to experience "crisis." Whether it was being ridden by former coach Jacques Lemaire, or being a defenseman forced to play forward, or being small in stature, the former Wild general manager felt that "core" players Mikko Koivu, Brent Burns, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Nick Schultz had overcome early-career adversity that made them stronger as players. Sheppard, on the other hand, hadn't gotten that -- let's call it, privilege -- yet. "He hasn't really been pushed yet, but believe me, he will be pushed," Risebrough said before last season. "I'm comfortable to say he's going to come ..."

Wild testing Leipold's patience

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November 7

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Craig Leipold admits he often isn't thrilled with what he sees when he watches the Wild from the owner's box at the Xcel Energy Center. Leipold's team has won just five of 15 games this season and, as it did during the first period of a 5-2 home loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night, there are times when it seems no one is in sync. "I'm thinking just like every other fan was," Leipold said Friday, shaking his head. But Leipold, who purchased the Wild in January 2008, said that with new general manager Chuck Fletcher and new coach Todd Richards running the show, things "don't change overnight." When Leipold hired Fletcher last summer, he said he expected the Wild to become a ..."

Waiting game is getting old for Wild's Bouchard

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November 7

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The Wild's fanciest skater can't skate, and it's killing him. Forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, he of the dynamic spin moves and pinpoint passes, donned ice skates for the first time in a month Friday morning to join teammates for the official team photo. As soon as he stepped on the Xcel Energy Center ice, he grabbed a stick and a puck and glided toward one of the nets to launch a few shots. Sidelined by post-concussion syndrome, Bouchard has played just one game this season while the Wild have sputtered to a 5-10 record. "It feels good to skate, stickhandle a little bit and just feel the ice," he said. "It definitely feels good, even if it's only for two minutes." Bouchard, who at 25 already ..."

Raycroft sees Canucks' team chemistry evolving

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November 6

Vancouver Province

"From his vantage point, Andrew Raycroft couldn't help but marvel at what he was witnessing Thursday. "We're having fun and believe in each other," Raycroft said after backstopping the Vancouver Canucks to an impressive 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. "Every night, a new guy is stepping up and with the depth in the organization, it's kind of contagious. When one chips in, the next guy wants to do his thing." Raycroft did his thing when it mattered most to finish with 28 saves and post his third-straight win. Late in the second period with the Canucks leading 4-2, Raycroft stoned Petr Sykora and then Owen Nolan on a partial breakaway. In the third period, he got his right pad on a hot ..."

Practice makes perfect for Hordichuk in 5-2 win over Minnesota Wild

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November 6

Vancouver Province

"It wasn't the shot heard around the world, but in Darcy Hordichuk's world it had the decibel level of a boom box cranked to full volume. When the Vancouver Canucks enforcer pounced on a James Sheppard turnover in the slot and wired a first period slapshot over the glove of startled goalie Niklas Backstrom on Thursday, it wasn't just Hordichuk's first goal in 50 games. It was his first shot of the season. In an improbable 5-2 victory over the well-rested Minnesota Wild — five injured forwards, one flu-ridden winger, an ailing starting goalie and a suspended defenceman were missing from the Canucks' lineup — it was another night when the forgotten emerged from the shadows to make it seven ..."

Lordy, it was Hordy - Canucks have winning feeling as Hordichuk becomes hero

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November 6

Vancouver Sun

"The dance music started as soon as the game ended and wafted from the Vancouver Canucks' dressing room like a soundtrack for victory. "I've got a feeling. . . . that tonight's gonna be a good night, that tonight's gonna be a good night, that tonight's gonna be a good, good night." The music was the first thing you heard. Darcy Hordichuk, surrounded by reporters, was the first player you saw. The Canucks have had a lot of good, good nights lately. Hordichuk finally had one. The fourth-line enforcer, scratched due to poor play only last week, blasted his first goal in 50 games to send the Canucks on their way to a 5-2 wire-to-wire victory against the Minnesota Wild. The goal — on his first ..."

Little-used Wild goalie Josh Harding looks to rebound soon

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November 6

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"While Josh Harding took several days off to recuperate from what the Wild termed "lower-body soreness," he cleared his head, too. Harding's goaltending numbers wouldn't look good in midget hockey, much less the NHL, but he jumped into the Wild lineup for the third period against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night and showed that for 20 minutes he was able to put an uneven start somewhat behind him. "Just like anybody in the world, they have bad days," he said before the game. "It happens to everybody, and it's how you react to it, how you move on from it. Hopefully the next one goes good. Go out there and play your game." Harding endured a summer when he was involved in trade rumors. ..."

Identity crisis has Wild losing face

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November 6

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Tom Powers

"The problem right now is that the Wild aren't sure who or what they are. They know what they used to be. We all know that. They used to be a hard-working, airtight defensive hockey club. Ask anybody around the league, and that's what he will tell you: "Oh, man, the Wild don't give you much." That was then. Now, the Wild are stuck in the fifth dimension. They aren't anything. In between coaches and systems, they have yet to establish an identity. There is no collective personality. And it shows. Their 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night dropped them to 5-10. "Yes, I would say we're still looking for an identity," coach Todd Richards said. "I have a good idea what that ..."

New-sprouting lip fuzz is for a good cause

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November 6

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Wild players didn't lose their razors. They're not trying to make a fashion statement. The moustaches growing on more than a dozen Wild players' faces are for a good cause. Movember (movember.com) is the month men grow moustaches for 30 days to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for prostate and testicular cancer. The money raised by movember.com is split between the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Defenseman Nick Schultz introduced the idea to teammates in honor of his friend Casey Heintz's father, Hugh, who is battling prostate cancer. Schultz registered the Wild as the Minnesota Mo Bro's and made a donation on behalf of the team. "My ..."

Wild slow to stir from two-period sleepwalk

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November 6

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Wild coach Todd Richards sensed it coming. After four days off following victories over the Rangers and Penguins, Richards worried about his team "getting too high on yourselves." "We still have to remember where we're at," Richards said Thursday morning. "All you have to do is look at the standings." The Wild is the worst team in the Western Conference, and it reverted back to that during a 5-2 loss to the wounded, yet gutty Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. "I thought maybe [we'd have] a little bit of a slow start, maybe a little bit of rust, but that pretty much lasted the whole first period," Richards said. Despite Kyle Brodziak twice pulling the Wild within one goal, the Wild ..."

New GM Fletcher knew what he was getting himself into

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November 6

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Jim Souhan

"Here in the State of Hokey, the Wild will invite just about anyone to yell, "Let's Play Hockey." If they need help finding "celebrities" to fire up the "Team of 18,000," I am here to help. Next game, they should bring back Doug Risebrough. That way Risebrough could get the fans riled, and then the Wild would get to fire him all over again. Thursday night at the X, it was hard to tell if there were more empty seats or empty Wild jerseys, as the Fighting Christmas Trees played pathetically while losing 5-2 to the beat-up Canucks. There are four prime figures you could blame for the Wild's lousy play so far: Risebrough, new GM Chuck Fletcher, old coach Jacques Lemaire or new coach Todd ..."

Belanger injury adds to Wild's pain in loss to Canucks

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November 6

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The painful beginning to the Wild's season took one to the midsection Thursday night. A team with just five wins in 14 games before the opening faceoff snoozed through a first period so uneventful that only the scattered boos kept many in the Xcel Energy Center crowd of 18,105 awake. When it was over, the Wild had absorbed a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks that snapped their two-game win streak and left them with an ugly winning percentage of .333. That first period was a beauty. "We weren't prepared coming into the game," said center Kyle Brodziak, who scored both his team's goals and was one of the few bright spots in the Wild lineup. "Our first period, it was unbelievable ..."

Wild's system suits Belanger

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November 4

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Some Wild players have found it more difficult than others to adapt to the new ideas espoused by coach Todd Richards. Eric Belanger has been a quick study, thanks to a sweet taste of déjà vu. During his time in Atlanta three years ago, Belanger became familiar with the less-rigid style of play Richards is implementing in Minnesota. He found it suited him there -- and he's thriving again this season, with four goals and eight assists through 14 games. Last weekend, Belanger scored in both of the Wild's back-to-back victories, highlighted by his game-winner at Pittsburgh in the Wild's first road triumph of the season. The center is in the final year of a three-year contract. His desire to ..."

Wild's Marek Zidlicky is scoring less this season but still packs a punch

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November 3

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Although the Wild's Marek Zidlicky has altered his reputation as an offensive defenseman a bit this season, his actions were plenty offensive to Sidney Crosby over the weekend. Zidlicky knocked Crosby down behind the Minnesota net Saturday night, and the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain dropped his gloves and fought for just the fourth time in his career. Crosby, the man many consider the face of the NHL, was sent off for seven minutes for fighting and slashing and the Wild skated away with a 2-1 win in Pittsburgh. "I was ticked off," he said after the game. Zidlicky chuckled at that Monday and commented, "That's what I have to do." He said he's been asked about it by friends, but noted it ..."

Wild's Zidlicky not tied down

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November 3

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Asked Monday if he got away with one, Marek Zidlicky smiled nervously like a child caught with his hand in the leftover-candy pumpkin. Two days earlier, the Wild defenseman dropped the gloves with Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby after the two clashed behind the net, then in front of it with a nasty slashfest. The YouTube clips combined for more than 56,000 views by Monday evening. But the video also shows one other subtle yet very vital detail. Zidlicky's jersey wasn't tied down. If the refs had noticed, Zidlicky could have been assessed a game misconduct and the Wild would have been down to five defensemen in the third period of an eventual hold-on-for-dear-life first road win ..."

Richards' decision to lighten up has brought out the best in Wild

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November 2

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Things have lightened up for the Wild. Just in time. After dropping eight of their 10 previous games, the Wild had a relaxed optional practice Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center followed by a loose-goosy morning skate Friday before going onto the ice and that evening and stopping the New York Rangers for a 3-2 home win. They followed that up by having the regulars skip their morning skate on Saturday in Pittsburgh before posting a gritty 2-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins. Coach Todd Richards saw the tightness when he looked at his players and when he looked in the mirror. He took steps to change that. As part of that, the coaching staff showed video that included ..."

Richards seeing rewards after road win

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November 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"No one had to explain things to Dan Bylsma. When he and Todd Richards coached the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins three years ago, eager to initiate fresh ideas, Bylsma said it required 20 or 25 games for the new culture to fully take hold. So he figured the Wild would remain a work in progress when it came to Pittsburgh last weekend. But while others weren't sure where things were headed, Bylsma -- now the Penguins' head coach -- knew what kind of team Richards was molding in his first season behind the Wild bench. It finally revealed itself in the Wild's first back-to-back victories this season, including Saturday's 2-1 shocker at Pittsburgh that halted its 0-8 start away from home. His ..."

Backstrom comes up big as Wild make it two in a row with road win over Penguins

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November 1

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Don't break out the champagne just yet, but the Wild invaded the home of the Stanley Cup champions Saturday night and snuck out with a victory. The 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins was the first on the road this season for Minnesota and not only gave the Wild back-to-back victories for the first time but also gave the unbelievers out there a few things to ponder. Credit this one to goalie Niklas Backstrom and a supporting cast that somehow carried the good feelings from a 3-2 home victory over the New York Rangers the night before into the home of the team ranked No. 1 in the NHL and stole a win in front of 16,960 at Mellon Arena. "You definitely have to give the credit to Backstrom in ..."

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