DID BACKSTROM LOSE HIS MOXIE?

In watching the shoot out in Minnesota Wild game versus the Calgary Flames on 3/27 and the first period of the MN Wild vs. Flames on 3/29, I am worried that Backstrom has lost his goal tending edge. He was beaten badly twice in the shoot out and then game up two soft goals in the game on Thursday. This is bad timing for the Minnesota Wild. They need him to get hot again and get back to the unbeatable form that he has shown since Fernandez went down. I hope that it wasn't a sign of things to come. Would the old Niklas Backstrom please come back.

WES WALZ IS THE MAN!

In my mind, the unsung hero for the Minnesota Wild team is Wes Walz. He brings great energy to the ice and has an uncanny ability to be in the right defensive spot at the right time. Any kid who aspires to be an NHL player should watch Wes Walz back check. He has perfected being a thorn in the side of the opposition. Many of the things that Wes Walz does on the ice are things that the casual hockey fan doesn't notice. If that same fan would only follow Wes Walz during one of his shifts, they would instantly appreciate how much Walz means to the Wild. GO WILD!!!

IT HAS ALMOST BECOME BORING

The Minnesota Wild are so hot right now that it is almost becoming boring to be a fan. I am obviously kidding because I have had so much fun watching this Minnesota Wild team. The closest that I have ever come to enjoying a professional season as much as I have enjoyed the Minnesota Wild this year was watching the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. I was lucky enough to have Vikings Tickets that 15-1 year and I was at every single home game. Like it did that season, it just feels right for the Wild this year. The Minnesota Wild have one of the hottest goalies (Niklas Backstrom) and one of the hottest lines in the NHL (Demitra & Gaborik.) They are playing as well as any team in the NHL right now. I just hope that there is a happier ending than there was for the 1998 Minnesota Vikings squad. GO WILD!!!

DOUG RISEBROUGH IS A GENIUS

The fact that Doug Risebrough traded for Pavol Demitra is proof that he is an NHL genius. I am beginning to think that Demitra and Gaborik are currently the best duo in the NHL. It has gotten to the point that I feel like they are simply toying with the opposition with their give and go passing. The only reason the these two are dominating right now and the Wild is on a huge winning streak is that Risebrough made a GREAT trade that brought the two of them together. Kudos to Doug Risebrough!

NHL PLAYOFF MATCH UPS CHANGE DAILY

I found a great resource for figuring out who the Minnesota Wild will play in the NHL Playoffs this year. It saves your brain cells and you don't have to be a tiebreaker expert to figure everything out. I noticed that it changes instantly after each game ends. If you are sick of scoreboard watching, you simply have to visit the NHL Playoff Race section on espn.com.

WILD MIGHT FACE RED WINGS IN PLAYOFFS

I just read that Todd Bertuzzi will be making his Detroit Red Wings debut during a three-game homestand that begins tonight with a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Detroit Red Wings acquired Bertuzzi in a trade from the Florida Panthers on February 27. He hasn't played an NHL game since October 18. What makes this interesting for Minnesota Wild fans is that there is a chance that the Minnesota Wild will face the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. How awesome would that be? I can't think of a better scenario than the Wild versus Red Wings playoff series with the most hated player in the NHL on the ice for Detroit. Keep your eyes on the standings.

Don't forget that there is a great site that sells Minnesota Wild Tickets as well as Minnesota Wild Playoff Tickets.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS JUST KEEP WINNING

The Minnesota Wild have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the last month and they still can't catch division leading Vancouver. Last night, Vancouver beat the Edmonton Oilers for their eighth win in their last ten games. The win increased their lead over the idle Minnesota Wild to three points for first place in the Northwest Division. It is unfortunate for the Minnesota Wild that the only team playing as well they are happens to also be leading their division. The Minnesota Wild's only hope is that Vancouver cools off and the Wild can continue its great play and take advantage of their streak of home games. GO WILD!!!

HUGE OVERTIME WIN FOR MINNESOTA WILD

Last night's overtime victory over the division leading Vancouver Canucks was a huge victory which brought the Minnesota Wild within one point of the division lead. ONE POINT! After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Minnesota Wild stormed back to win the game despite another great performance by Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo. Of all the teams ahead of the Wild in the playoff hunt, the Vancouver Canucks scare me the most. I am afraid of the ability of Roberto Luongo to completely shut down the opposing team. The outstanding goal tending of Giguere for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the last time the Wild made it to the playoffs, is way too fresh in my memory. It sure would be nice if the Minnesota Wild won the division and the only way that they would play the Roberto Luongo and the rest of the Vancouver Canucks again would be with the home ice advantage. GO WILD!!!

MINNESOTA WILD HAMMERS NAIL IN AVS COFFIN

I was lucky enough to get invited to the game between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche yesterday. My buddy had two extra Wild Tickets because one of his sons decided he would rather go to a birthday party than the Wild game. It was definitely my daughter and my lucky day. The game had as close to an NHL playoff atmosphere as a regular season game could. The Avalanche came in needing to beat the Wild to give them any chance of catching them for a playoff spot. The Avs left everything on the table and it was awesome to see the Wild respond with an overtime victory. I am confident that the Wild secured a playoff spot with the big win and that the Avalanche will be on the outside looking in.

There were two things that really stood out to me while watching the game. The first one was that Niklas Backstrom is just plain good. At this point of the Season, Jacques Lemaire needs to ride his hot goalie all the way to the Stanley Cup instead of feeling obligated to put Manny Fernandez in the rotation. The second one was that Brent Burns has developed into a very good NHL hockey player. He brings a lot of energy to the ice and has become a very solid defender. It doesn't hurt when he scores a goal like he did in the overtime yesterday. I am counting the days until the playoffs start. I just hope my buddy's kid has another birthday party to go to.

WHAT DRUG IS WILLIE MITCHELL ON?

When Willie Mitchell was a member of the Minnesota Wild, the only thing that you could count on from him was solid defense. Now as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, all he does is tally points against his former team. As I am writing this, the Minnesota Wild is losing 3-2 to the Canucks and Willie Mitchell has two assists. Where were those assists when he was on the Minnesota Wild?

It has been fun to watch the Gaborik versus Mitchell game within the game. Gaborik has definitely had fun taking the body versus Mitchell and Mitchell has been jawing with Gaborik. I can only imagine how much fun this rivalry will be watch if these teams meet in the playoffs. Maybe Boogard will have to have a talk with Willie?

IT JUST FEELS RIGHT

We are at the point of the NHL season when teams need to be on a roll in order to have success in the NHL Playoffs. On thing is for sure, the Minnesota Wild are clicking on all cylinders. The pessimist in me was depressed when Backstrom went down with an injury last night in Calgary. To my surprise, through two periods tonight, his replacement Josh Harding has been very solid. You know that your team is on a roll when their third string goalie is playing well.

Anyone who doesn't realize that Gaborik, Walz and Demitra make up one of the five best lines in the NHL isn't paying attention. It feels like they are going to score a goal every shift right now. Generally speaking, a hot goalie and and hot offensive line can carry an NHL team well into the playoffs. Both of those things are true for the Minnesota Wild. Beware NHL, the Minnesota Wild are for real!!!