Hockey Day in Minnesota: Koivu scores twice as Wild give solid effort in 4-2 home win over Columbus

November 6th, 1926 was when you could say pro hockey really got its first look in the State of Hockey.  That was when the Minneapolis Millers battled the Chicago Blackhawks at the old Minneapolis Arena.  The Millers got out to a 5-0 lead but the Blackhawks would rally back to a 5-5 tie.  Minnesota has seen more professional hockey since then obviously; starting with the great expansion of 1967 and the arrival of the Minnesota North Stars and then later the arrival of the St. Paul Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association in 1972.  The Saints played at the St. Paul Civic Center which is the present site the Xcel Energy Center exists on.  The Saints would leave just five years after they arrived in 1977, and of course the North Stars would leave for Dallas in 1993 ripping out the hearts of many fans across the State of Hockey.  Yet, the NHL would promise us a new franchise in 1997 and in 2000 that became a reality with the Wild and time has flown by as the team is in its 9th NHL season and its been a giant success.  The team carries the longest sellout streak in the NHL and so far (knock on wood) its still going.

If this team needs any inspiration and motivation to not take anything for granted and have a fast start all it has to do is look at the brave 16-year old dropping the ceremonial first puck, Duke Pieper.  Pieper, the Hill-Murray defenseman who is still battling the condition Cavernous Mangeanoma, that came dangerously close to ending his life has battled back from a surgery where doctors said he had a 5% chance of survival.  Duke persevered and then battled through 6 more surgeries and then rehab to be able to walk to center ice with some of his Hill-Murray teammates to be an inspiration to us all.  Could the Wild add another positive note to Hockey Day in Minnesota or will it fall into its habit of having a late start?

With the Wild wearing their 3rd jersey green sweaters and Minnesota was moving well from the drop of the puck.  Minnesota’s top line of Andrew Brunette, Mikko Koivu and Antti Miettinen had a good scoring chance as they crashed the crease but Steve Mason was able to snow angel and make the save.  Shane Hnidy would have a great chance as he flung a wrist shot on goal that nearly found the back of the net as Derek Boogaard was screening Mason.  The Blue Jackets would try to answer back where a long shot was deflected up into the netting as Jared Boll was knocked down behind the net.  Cal Clutterbuck was moving well as he gave a nice solid hit on Fedor Tyutin that led to a quick shot by Eric Belanger.  That solid shift was followed up by the top line who was moving well and Antti Miettinen was given time to set up behind the Columbus goal and he passed it out to Mikko Koivu who got off a quick snap shot short side that seemed to sneak in even though the officials made no call.  The play would be reviewed and the replay would indicate the puck was across the goal line, and that ended up being called a “good goal”, 1-0 Wild.  Minnesota would continue their attack as Greg Zanon hammered a shot from the point that got Mason to stretch but he was able to cover it up to earn a whistle.  The Wild were forechecking well but the team may have been too caught up in emotion as Eric Belanger was busted for slashing Columbus’ Chris Clark.  Minnesota’s penalty kill was challenging well, making it tough for the Blue Jackets to get set up in the offensive zone.  On the Blue Jackets best chance on the power play, Derrick Brassard flung a wrist shot that was knocked down by Niklas Backstrom and there was a flurry near the top of the crease before Backstrom was able to cover it up for a whistle.  The Blue Jackets would attempt to work a back door play to Anton Stralman but his shot would miss just wide of the mark and Minnesota would earn the big kill.  Minnesota’s 2nd line would try to create some offensive pressure but good active sticks by the Blue Jackets defense would prevent their centering pass reaching Martin Havlat as Guillaume Latendresse would lower the boom on Chris Clark.  Columbus would answer back with a great chance for Kristian Huselius that was stopped by Backstrom and the Wild defense playing strong to take away the 2nd chance opportunity.  Clutterbuck would skate the puck out of the Wild zone and race up into the Blue Jackets end before giving a drop pass to Eric Belanger who was skating right down the slot where he ripped a wrist shot that was held onto by Mason.  Columbus had another fantastic chance as poor decision to pinch by Brent Burns nearly turned into a disaster as it gave the Blue Jackets a rare 4-on-1 with Marek Zidlicky by himself but he did a fine job of challenging the puck carrier and he prevented them from getting a shot on goal as Backstrom went sprawling in his crease.  The Wild really dodged a bullet on that sequence.  The Wild were skating well and as the 2nd line started another rush they would draw an interference penalty on Columbus’ Mike Commodore.  The Wild power play was sloppy, as they struggled to get set up in the zone as Columbus was meeting them with 4 players standing near the blue line.  A small dump in would finally succeed and the puck would be dished out to Kim Johnsson who hammered a shot on goal that was gloved by Mason.  That was the only real scoring chance created on the power play.  Kristian Huselius would take a hit where he was certainly worse for the wear as it took him nearly 20 seconds to gimp back to his bench.  The 1st line would demonstrate some terrific puck control but despite the cycling and working the puck along the boards it wouldn’t yield a shot even as they attempted to get Marek Zidlicky involved at the point.  Minnesota’s 4th line of Andrew Ebbett, Robbie Earl and Derek Boogaard would show some good chemistry as Earl and Ebbett would use a small give and go play before Earl fed Boogaard near the crease that was stopped by Mason.  Moments later the Wild had a great chance off the rush as Owen Nolan tried to pass a puck back to Cal Clutterbuck but it would be deflected right onto the stick of Belanger who fluttered a wrist shot wide of the net and Minnesota would take its one-goal lead into the 2nd period.

Minnesota was very poised and sharp to start the 2nd period, making safe and smart plays with the puck and the 1st line would get things going quickly.  Some great work along the boards by Andrew Brunette and Antti Miettinen would have the puck squirt out to Mikko Koivu and the Wild captain fired a quick wrist shot that beat Mason to give the Minnesota a 2-0 lead.  The Wild was still playing aggressively and a sneaky centering pass by Martin Havlat was kicked out by the leg pad of Mason right to Brent Burns who wound up and unloaded a blistering slapper that was steered aside by the Columbus goalie who seemed to be suprised at the shots incredible velocity.  Columbus was looking to cut into the Minnesota lead and Antoine Vermette would take an odd wrist shot nearly snuck by Backstrom but he was just able to get the paddle down to keep it out.  The Wild would add to its lead, on a very soft goal as some hustle along the boards by Owen Nolan who managed to tap it to Eric Belanger who slid a shot along the ice that totally fooled Mason and into the back of the net giving Minnesota a 3-0 lead.  Jared Boll would try to create a spark for his team as he tried to lift his stick into the crotch area of Derek Boogaard and they would drop the gloves.  Boll was in a lot of trouble early as Boogaard got his good leverage by holding right underneath the neck of the jersey and then he started firing jabs to the face of the Blue Jackets tough guy.  Give credit to Boll he tried to make it a good fight by getting up close but Boogaard just extended his arms and pulled free and then started throwing huge right handed haymakers that were landing to the side of Boll’s head, where Boll would try to work his way inside again as the Boogeyman began raining big right hands and the officials would move in to save the Columbus player from sustaining any more damage.  On the next shift, Cal Clutterbuck would send Anton Stralman flying on a clean hit and as the modified 4th line was buzzing around the Columbus zone as Andrew Ebbett hammered a shot on goal that didn’t miss by much.  As Mason made the save Derek Dorsett skated over and cross checked Cal Clutterbuck and Robbie Earl skated over to defend his teammate and he tackled Dorsett to the ice.  Dorsett would earn a double-minor for crosschecking and roughing but oddly enough Earl would not receive anything for his two-leg takedown.  On the long power play the Wild moved the puck well but were a bit too non-chalant as they looked to set up the perfect shot.  A great example of this non-chalant play was Brent Burns’ weak pass that turned into a 3-on-1 which was not foiled by Burns, but rather by the tremendous hustle of Cal Clutterbuck.  Minnesota would seem content to sit on its 3-goal lead and simply play smart hockey and do its best to limit Columbus’ chances.

In the 3rd period the Blue Jackets tried to get things going on the forecheck as R.J. Umberger who took a shot that missed high and wide of the mark.  Minnesota would go with its modified 4th line of Miettinen, Earl and Ebbett and this line would use its speed to establish a forecheck of its own.  A wonderful effort by Earl that had him using the body and knocking down a Blue Jackets defender before taking the puck himself and making a nice little move by passing the puck to himself off the back of the goal but his attempt to dish it to Ebbett just failed to connect.  Columbus would answer back with a great chance Derrick Brassard had to cut into the Wild lead but his wrist shot hit the right post square and it was covered up by Backstrom as Brassard looked to the roof in frustration.  A few minutes later the Wild would chip a pass out to Kyle Brodziak who pushed the puck up to Martin Havlat who dropped it back to Brodziak who fired a shot that was blocked by Jan Hejda but the puck was gathered up by Havlat who attempted to jam it in near the right post but Mason would cover up for a whistle.  Minnesota’s top line would create some great chances as Mikko Koivu set up Antti Miettinen for a blast from the slot that was deflected just wide by Mason.  Yet during that play Nick Schultz got a Rick Nash elbow to to the head that Schultz did not like and he went look for Nash and they’d drop the gloves.  It wasn’t really a fight, more of a wrestling match as the officials would step in as R.J. Umberger would talk some trash challenging Schultz to fight later from his bench as Mikko Koivu and Andrew Brunette chirped back.  Nash would be given an extra elbowing call giving the Wild a power play.  Minnesota had a fantastic chance on the man advantage as Owen Nolan found himself all alone in the slot for a point blank range chance that was some how deflected aside by Mason.  Belanger blasted a slap shot over the goal as he had a sprawling Mason who had stacked the pads in desperation.  The Blue Jackets would go on the attack and it was Derrick Brassard again finding the post on a quick wrist shot as the line of Raffi Torres, Umberger and Brassard were creating some havoc in the Wild end.  The Wild would answer back on a fine rush started with a pretty behind the back pass by Robbie Earl as they went on a 3-on-2 with Ebbett and Clutterbuck and it was Ebbett threading a cross ice pass to Clutterbuck who wound up and fired a slap shot that missed by inches.  In the closing minutes the Wild were still skating well, backchecking and looking to add to their lead by going on the attack when they the had the opportunity.  R.J. Umberger, looking to take a penalty tried to take a run at Cal Clutterbuck as he leveled him with a big hit which was going to be a penalty and Martin Havlat dished a puck out to the point to Shane Hnidy who blasted a slapper on goal that was stopped by Mason but the big rebound bounced out to Robbie Earl who moved in as the extra attacker and he flung a heavy wrist shot that trickled through Mason’s 5-hole to give Minnesota a 4-0 victory.  After coincidental roughing minors on Brent Burns and Derek Dorsett after a failed scoring chance by the Blue Jackets, made it 4-on-4 Columbus would add a goal when a strange centering pass by Rick Nash bounced off Backstrom and in making it 4-1.  Then just seconds later a drop pass would elude a defending Kyle Brodziak who lost sight of the puck and Antoine Vermette would rip a slap shot by a surprised Backstrom with just 2.2 seconds left to lock a 4-2 Wild victory.

The last two goals most certainly added a sour taste to an overall solid performance by Niklas Backstrom who had 22 saves in the victory.  Minnesota’s defenseman were playing well and poised in their own end making smart plays with the puck.  The Wild was also backchecking as well as it had all season and in a few sequences it was that hustle that made a difference in thwarting potential scoring chances for the Blue Jackets.

Offensively the Wild took the lead early and perhaps most of all kept working and making plays all 60 minutes in one of its most complete efforts they had this season.  The 1st line of Koivu, Brunette and Miettinen reasserted itself as Minnesota’s main offensive force and it is good to see that group play with confidence.  Brent Burns started to get more involved offensively unleashing his big slap shot a few times and that is another presence the Wild haven’t had in a while.

On a character level the Wild continued to stand up for itself, and it was good to see Earl and Schultz getting involved physically and responding to challenges as its the sign of a team that wants to compete and has pride in itself.  The 4th line pair of Ebbett and Earl brought great energy on the forecheck as well as some much needed speed and hopefully they’ll stay together as a unit.  Cal Clutterbuck continues to find ways to get involved and clearly got underneath the skin of the Blue Jackets as they lost their focus late in the game.

The Wild will now have a few days off, as they wait for the Detroit Red Wings to travel to town for a game on Wednesday.  Minnesota should remember what made them successful tonight and do their best to replicate those qualities against the Red Wings.

Wild Notes:

~ The Wild roster tonight was as follows: Mikko Koivu, Martin Havlat, Andrew Brunette, Owen Nolan, Eric Belanger, Antti Miettinen, Kyle Brodziak, Andrew Ebbett, Robbie Earl, Derek Boogaard, Cal Clutterbuck, Guillaume Latendresse, Brent Burns, Nick Schultz, Shane Hnidy, Kim Johnsson, Marek Zidlicky and Greg Zanon.  Josh Harding backed up Niklas Backstrom.  James Sheppard and John Scott were the healthy scratches.  Clayton Stoner is out with a groin injury while Chuck Kobasew is on injured reserve with a knee injury as Pierre-Marc Bouchard is still struggling with concussion symptoms.

~ The 3 Stars of the Game as selected by Let’s Play Hockey were: 1st Star Mikko Koivu, 2nd Star Niklas Backstrom, 3rd Star Cal Clutterbuck

Houston Aeros Report:

Houston Aeros 7, Abbotsford Heat 1

The Houston Aeros would burn the Abbotsford Heat for five power play goals as the cruised to a 7-1 road victory in Abbotsford, British Columbia.  The Aeros would stumble out of the gate when Maxim Noreau was busted for tripping just 31 seconds into the game.  The Aeros penalty kill, was solid keeping the Heat to the perimeter and allowing Wade Dubielewicz to see the puck and make the saves.  The Heat would make a mental mistake and get busted for “too many men” and a few seconds later Gord Baldwin was called for holding giving Houston a 5-on-3 and this would start a trend of the Aeros making Abbotsford feel the pain for every power play they gave them.  Moving the puck with great efficiency from high to low and back out to the point it was Noreau who fired a rocket from the point that beat Leland Irving giving the Aeros a 1-0 lead.  With the power play still on, the Aeros would light the lamp once again when Peter Kalus would fire home a rebound that was set up by a Jamie Fraser blast, 2-0 Houston.  The Aeros would then dictate the pace and they were moving their feet well, frustrating the Heat who finally had enough as J.D. Watt dropped the gloves against Kalus.  Kalus certainly had the will to fight, but not the tools as the more experienced pugilist Watt quickly took over on what was a one-sided matchup.  The win would get the Heat moving their feet again and they used that energy to score an early goal in the 2nd when Dubielewicz was beat on a long shot by John Negrin cutting the Aeros lead to one, 2-1.  Houston would continue to struggle in the 2nd as Duncan Milroy was tagged with a high sticking call.  As the Aeros tried to kill of Milroy’s penalty the Heat would storm the crease where Justin Falk would get into a shoving match with Garth Murray and it was Murray who received a double-minor as he hoped to goad Falk into dropping the gloves.  The Aeros were content to wait for the power play to begin before they tried to add to its lead, and that would be a smart move as Houston passed it around from the half wall back out to the point where Noreau one-timed a slapper by Irving to give the Wild’s AHL affiliate a 3-1 lead.  The Aeros would get themselves into some more trouble with a delay of game by Wade Dubielewicz who got a bit carried away while playing the puck and flinging it out into the crowd for an easy delay of game call.  Houston’s penalty kill would again stand tall, getting their sticks into the passing and shooting lanes and never allowing the Heat to really create quality scoring chances.  Yet Houston would go right back on the penalty kill when Brandon Rogers ran a Heat player for a boarding call.  Houston never seemed to get rattled and challenged Abbotsford in the neutral zone, frustrating the Heat from establishing themselves in the offensive zone.  The frustration would spill over into another fight as Colton Gillies would drop the gloves with Brett Sutter in what would be a back and forth melee.  Sutter would eventually overwhelm the youngster to the cheers of the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Center.  Yet the euphoria of another fight win by Sutter would be short-lived as a bad turnover the Heat on an intercepted pass by Jean-Michel Daoust turned into a breakaway where the diminutive forward buried a shot 5-hole by Irving to give the Aeros a commanding 4-1 lead going into the 3rd.  The Aeros would add to its lead fairly early in the 3rd period, when Carson McMillan would chip in a shot by Irving on some great work down low, 5-1 Houston.  Houston continued to work well offensively and John Negrin would clear a puck into the stands for a delay of game penalty.  The Aeros would make them pay quickly on the power play as Nathan Smith would bury the biscuit on a shot from the slot extending Houston lead to 6-1.  Tempers would flare again as J.D. Watt would take a run at Aeros player which caused Justin Falk to stand up for his teammate and both players would drop the gloves for a 2nd time.  In what looked more like a wrestling match the two would dance near center ice as Watt got off a few punches before the officials stepped in.  Watt would earn an additional minor for charging giving the Aeros a power play.  The Aeros again would make the Heat pay on the man advantage as some more great puck movement had Jon DiSalvatore passed a puck to a waiting Cody Almond who tapped it by Irving to seal a 7-1 Houston victory.  Dubielewicz had 26 saves in the victory, while Maxim Noreau had 5-point night with 2 goals and 3 assists.