Minnesota Wild 3, Phoenix Coyotes 2

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Phoenix Coyotes by a score of 3-2 in Phoenix on Thursday night. Andrew Brunette scored 2 goals and Brent Burns got the other. The Minnesota Wild built up a 3-1 lead with Andrew Brunette's second goal of the game with 10 minutes left in the 3rd period. Niklas Backstrom made 33 saves for the Minnesota Wild. It was a much needed victory after the Minnesota Wild lost 7 of the last 8 games.

Minnesota Wild Down Vancover Canucks 6-2, Fan Gets Shoved

The Minnesota Wild trounced the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 on Tuesday night, however that isn't the headline after the game. The headline happens to be Canuck forward Rick Rypien who grabbed a Minnesota Wild fan after he was headed to the dressing room. In any sport, athletes are not allowed to touch fans. Rypien has already been indefinitely suspended and will have a hearing on Friday to determine how long. For the game itself - the Wild had 6 different goal scorers and built a 6-1 lead midway through the 2nd period. Zidlicky, Clutterbuck, Latendresse, Madden, Brunette, and Cullen scored for Minnesota. Talk about goals!

Koivu captures Minnesalsa title

Wild Captain Mikko Koivu was deemed the Minnesalsa Player of the Week after making three points over the three games last week, including two against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. Over this past Wild season, Koivu had 22 goals and 49 assists. This was Mikko Koivu’s first win of the Minnesalsa title this season, while Guillaume Latendresse has captured four and Andrew Brunette has three.

The Minnesota Wild beat the Ducks in the Wild Home Opener

It took a little extra time but the the Minnesota Wild beat the Anaheim Ducks in front of a home town crowd on Tuesday night at the Xcel.

After the scoreless first period, most of the fans in the X were thinking, "Why did I skip the Twins Game?". Then things got scary in a second period rally the Ducks put in 3 unanswered goals. Wilds fans gasped as they hoped and prayed that Todd Richards new style of hockey was going to kick in and work.

And then the third period came... and after a penalty left the Wild down players, John Scott scored starting the comeback that would end the third period with a tied game and force the Ducks into OT. Andrew Burnette put the winning goal in with just under two minutes left in overtime, giving Todd Richards his first Wild Win. Although the game was close, Niklas Backstrom made 16 impressive saves and much of the credit for the evening should go to him.

The Wild play next on Thursday, taking on the Kings on the road.

Brunette Plays Hurt, Plays for the Team

Marian Gaborik could take a lesson or two from Andrew Brunette. Bruno played in back to back games with a banged up leg – notching two assists in the Chicago Blackhawks game and another assist during the depressing LA Kings game. In fact, he played over 19 minutes in the Kings game and looked like one of the best players on the Xcel ice.

"It's my worst fear," Andrew Brunette said after the Wild's 5-2 loss to the Kings. "It's that people will think I'm selfish. I've never been selfish. I'm not that way. I won't ever be that way.”

Those are words you will NEVER hear come out of Marian Gaboriks mouth. Now, who do you think is the true hockey player? Which player would you rather have on your team? Gaborik has got to go.

Minnesota Wild Roster includes Andrew Brunette

I have been writing a lot about the Minnesota Wild roster changes over on my other Wild hockey blog, http://www.hockeywilderness.com/ , but since it is so easy to see my MN Wild Freak post on June 19th that brought up the fact that the Minnesota Wild should put Andrew Brunette back in a Wild sweater, I want to say I TOLD YOU SO. I had a gut feeling that Andrew Brunette was coming back to Minnesota after I heard a brief rumor months ago. Bruno is a solid hockey player and I know he wants to play for Jacques Lemaire and the Minnesota Wild so that always helps. I am not happy that the Minnesota Wild couldn’t get things done with Brian Rolston and he will be sorely missed, but I still think we have a chance at putting a playoff bound team on the ice this year…as long as every one stays healthy.

Andrew Brunette back in a Wild sweater

I wrote a story about Andrew Brunette coming back over on Hockey Wilderness awhile back and I am not ready to let the issue die. If one thing is for certain, every Minnesota Wild fan wants Andrew Brunette back. Sure, he is playing for the Colorado Avalanche and liking it, but his contract is open and the Wild could use him back. If the Wild get him back, would that up the teams chances in FINALLY making it to the Stanley Cup? The answer is a definite yes. Brunette is a proven hockey player, especially in the playoffs. Add Andrew Brunette to the stellar Minnesota Wild roster of Brian Rolston, Marian Gaborik, Nick Schultz, Mikko Koivu, Brent Burns and friends and the Minnesota Wild turn into a better version of the Detroit Red Wings. No joke.