Minnesota Wild get schooled by Ducks in Anaheim

The Brent Burns of Saturday night all but disappeared on Sunday at Honda Center against the Anaheim Ducks. Burnsie managed the first goal for the Wild, but that was about it. The Wild got schooled 6-2 vs. Anaheim thanks to their powerful line of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan.

In fact, Bobby Ryan used Mikko Koivu’s stick to score the 5th Ducks goal. There was a scramble and both Ryan and Koivu dropped their sticks and Ryan grabbed one off the ice and shot the puck and it went in. He then hoisted the stick up to show the Wild what he had done with their stick! Talk about a cursed game and a cursed stick. I hope Mikko takes that stick home and sends it through the wood chipper.

The Wild team and Wild fans are looking forward to watching the Wild play on their home Xcel Energy Center ice on Thursday. It’s a middle of the week game so tickets are pretty cheap – plenty of Wild tickets below face value at local brokers offices like Ticket King St Paul. We will see you at the game!

NHL Playoffs without Minnesota Wild

The NHL Playoffs are pretty exciting as of late even with out the Minnesota Wild. I am thoroughly enjoying the Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins series especially with all the trash talk between sid the kid and ovie. I am also reveling at the strength of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the NHL Playoffs year after year. The Ducks are the 8th seed, but have been playing more like a top seed using their physical aggressive style of play to their full advantage.

I have to admit I am bummed that the Wild aren’t in the playoff mix, but it’s a good group of teams this season and frankly I don’t think the Wild had what it takes to be competing at this level any way. Not this year. Maybe next.

Wild Win Big over Ducks

Good game last night. No, Great game last night. Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom shut-out the Anaheim Mighty (or not so mighty) Ducks 3-0 in front of another sold out crowd at the Xcel Energy Center. The win puts the Wild 7th in the Western Conference, but just two points out of 5th and within reach of the division leader Calgary Flames.

Niklas Backstrom said: "We're getting better every night, and that's the way it should be: The more games we play, the better we should be, but we can't be too satisfied. You look at the standings; they're probably going to be completely different tomorrow."


There are 30 games to the playoffs, but the Wild are just taking it one game at a time. Next up? Let’s hope for a repeat of last night’s performance when the Wild host the Nashville Predators on Friday night. There are still tickets available from hockey ticket brokers like Hockey Tickets Minnesota. Wild ticket prices have been pretty low after the Wild had a disappointing December, but as the team starts to build steam, you can bet those Minnesota Wild ticket prices will go up as well. Go Wild!

A Wild Record We Aren’t Proud Of

After losing to the Mighty Ducks on Sunday in Anaheim, the Minnesota Wild set a franchise record for most consecutive regular season losses: 5.

Let’s hope the Wild can stop the skid down the slippery slope tonight at home against the Calgary Flames. Marian Gaborik should be back on the ice, but I wouldn’t count on him to be the silver bullet –we will need a total team effort to score goals and keep up the defense.

Gaborik has missed the past 27 games thanks to his groin problems. He missed 5 games last year and 34 the year before that. Fan support for this “star” is definitely waning and if he doesn’t come out and play big tonight, it might as well be over for him. I am guessing you might hear some boo’s in the Xcel Energy Center UNLESS Gabby can score a goal (or two) then all will be forgotten in the state of hockey – because we just to win, perhaps at all costs.

Wild beat Ducks

The Minnesota Wild beat the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at the Xcel Energy Center last night 5-1. My favorite high-light shot was of Anaheim Goalie J.S. Giguere throwing a fit on the bench. He was kicking his feet like a two year old. The Wild looked to be firing on all cylinders after their short All Star Break.

The Wild travel to Columbus for a game Saturday night and then will be back at the “X” on Tuesday February 5th to take on the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings are arguably the best team in the NHL and this Western Conference rival match-up is a game you won’t want to miss. The Red Wings will be trying to avenge their loss to the Wild that happened in Detroit on January 10th. I am sure the Red Wings will want to embarrass the Wild on their home ice, but this MN Wild Freak hopes they won’t succeed. Wild tickets to this hot game are moving fast! Go Wild!

Wild need another road win

The Minnesota Wild are more than half way through their longest road trip of the season and have only won one of the games. The Wild lost to Detroit 0-5 on 12/7, the Wild then fired up a victory in Columbus beating the Blue Jackets 2-1 on 12/8, but then lost again to San Jose Sharks 1-4. The Wild win one, lose one strategy is not going to make them a playoff worthy team. The next two games will be tough west coast match-ups vs. the division rival Anaheim Mighty Ducks and then the Los Angeles Kings. Let’s go Wild!

Minnesota Wild vs. Mighty Ducks 2007-2008

The only silver lining to the Minnesota Wild losing to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the NHL Playoffs this year is that the future games between these two teams will be a blast to watch. There is still bad blood between the Ducks and Wild and I have the feeling that the first game between them will be a blood bath. It will be fun to watch Derek Boogaard beat Brad May silly for the crap that he pulled on Kim Johnnson. I am sure that the games involving the Ducks and Minnesota Wild next year will have an NHL Playoff feel to them. I know that I am going to circle those on the Minnesota Wild Schedule as must see games.

Brent Burns Is The Man!

The silver lining to watching every minute of this otherwise disappointing NHL Playoff Series is that I have been able to witness the coming of age of Brent Burns. There has never been any doubt that Brent Burns has tons of talent. I did at times in the past question his toughness and leadership ability. After watching him step up his game late this year and then take it to the next level versus the Anaheim Mighty Ducks I no longer have any doubt that Brent Burns has become an elite defenseman in the NHL. I can't wait to see him take the next step whether it is tonight or next year. GO WILD!!!

No Consistency with Referees

I have spent the year enjoying the "New NHL" and the subtle changes that were made to the game that have put more of a premium on passing, speed and puck-handling. The NHL Referees did an excellent job of calling penalties any time that a player reverted to the "Old NHL" and held or obstructed a player. The game was just plain better! Now, for some reason, the NHL Referees have decided to call the games like they were called before. They have allowed the Mighty Ducks to obstruct and hold Minnesota Wild Players. It has taken the speed out of the game and has allowed the Mighty Ducks to turn this NHL Playoff Series into a flashback series where speed didn't matter and the outcome can be decided based on who can hold or obstruct the most. Hopefully, tonight the NHL Referees will decide to call the game consistent to the way that the entire regular season was called.

Minnesota Wild Playoff Tickets

I was reading my favorite Twin Cities Ticket Blog and saw that Minnesota Wild Playoff Tickets have been sent to the season ticket holders that ordered their seats for the post season. It sounds like good seats are being sold for $250/Ticket. My hunch is that the prices will go up if the Minnesota Wild play the Detroit Red Wings in the first round versus the current match-up of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Playing the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Playoffs is like playing the New York Yankees in the MLB Playoffs. All I know is that I CANT WAIT!!!