Minnesota Wild End Losing Streak

The Minnesota Wild, along with other NHL teams around the league, I'm sure, have become more popular with the NBA off the courts. In the Wild's case, however, the Wild have been propelling their popularity with the fans by winning, winning and winning!

While the Minnesota Wild did recently have a two-game losing streak, they stopped that streak with a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. Cal Clutterbuck's short-handed goal and Pierre-Marc Bouchard's go-ahead score in the second gave the Wild all the offense they needed.

Mikko Koivu had an assist and an empty-net goal for an insurance point in a game that was quick and clean, featuring only four penalties.

Backstrom improved to 5-1-1 in his career against the Lightning, and entered the game with a 1.79 goals-against average. The game was a bounce-back for Backstrom.

Minnesota Wild Trade for Darroll Powe

The Minnesota Wild traded fro a physical forward in Darroll Powe over the weekend. The Wild traded a 2013 third round pick to get him. Powe was a fan favorite in Philadelphia because of his hitting and hard play. He is really fast and strong, although he is not very skilled.

The Wild really like the idea of having their back lines being filled with high energy guys such as Clutterpuck and Powe. Their aggressiveness and speed represents the types of players that the Wild are trying to add to their roster.

Powe isn't much of a scorer, but he was great at killing penalties. He led all Flyers in short handed minutes last season with 257 minutes. He really hasn't done much goal-scoring wise in his career, scoring only 22 goals in 203 career games.

Don't worry Wild fans, Powe understands his role:

"My role is to use my speed and be a physical presence. My game is mainly energy," said Powe, who has scored 22 goals and 43 points in 204 games. "I've definitely watched [Clutterbuck] play over the last few years. He's a guy who plays his role very well. He's a physical presence and someone to watch and someone who would be fun to play with."

Powe is also Scandinavian so he should fit in swimmingly in Minnesota.

Trevor Gillies Suspended 10 Games For Hit on Cal Clutterbuck

Trevor Gillies, a goon for the New York Islanders, was slapped down by the NHL on Friday afternoon with a 10 game suspension. The 10 game suspension is a result of a vicious blind hit on Cal Clutterbuck, when Clutterbuck was not even involved in the play. Justice was served, as Gillies was just returning from a suspension already when he hit Clutterbuck. You must protect your players in the NHL and I'm glad the NHL hit him with a 10 game suspension.

The Minnesota Wild host the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday at the Xcel Energy Center. Get your Minnesota Wild Hockey tickets with Ticket King!

Minnesota Wild Defeat St. Louis Blues Back to Back

The Minnesota Wild defeated the St. Louis Blues on Friday and Saturday night, both great hockey games to watch. On Friday night, the Minnesota Wild stormed back 4 times from a one-goal deficit and beat the Blues 5-4 in a shootout. Martin Havlat forced overtime with a goal with 57 seconds left. After no goals in overtime, the Minnesota Wild won in the 10th round of the shootout, thanks to a John Madden goal. Brent Burns, Mikko Koivu, and Pierre-Marc Bouchard also scored for the Minnesota Wild in the shootout. Cal Clutterbuck scored two goals in regulation.

On Hockey Day Minnesota, or Saturday, the Minnesota Wild defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1. The game was energtic and intense, with multiple fights along the way. With the victory, the Minnesota Wild vaulted into 8th place in the Western Conference, in a jam-packed race. Cal Clutterbuck, Antti Miettinen, and Kyle Brodziak scored for the Wild. The win extended the Wild's four game winning streak at home. Also, Clayton Stoner was involved in a fight at the end of the game with Minnesota native David Backes, that looked like an old school boxing match. The St. Louis Blues have several Minnesota connections. David Backes played at Spring Lake Park High School, Erik Johnson played at Holy Angels, and TJ Oshie played at Warroad.

Brent Burns Having Terrific Year

The Minnesota Wild need all the scoring they can get. Tied for the team lead in goals is defensman Brent Burns. The 25 year-old defenseman has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 38 games this season. He is on pace to record 25 goals and 53 points. His career high for goals in a season is 15 in the 2007-2008 season. I am biased because I am a former defenseman, but Brent Burns may be playing at the highlest level on the team right now, along with Mikko Koivu, Cal Clutterbuck, and Martin Havlat.

Minnesota Wild Win Back to Back Road Games

New Jersey and Boston. No big deal for the Minnesota Wild. The team won at both arenas in a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils and a 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. The Minnesota Wild are now 9-4-1 in its past 14 games overall. Since December 4th they have gone 6-1-2 on the road. Furthermore, they are 4-0-1 in the past five road games. The team is getting hot and now currently sit 1 point out of 8th and even 3 points from 4th place.

In the New Jerseys Devil win, Clayton Stoner scored on a unique bounce off of the glass, but as he said "A goal is a goal." Last night, the Minnesota Wild played a hard game against one of the NHL's best in Boston and came away with a 3-1 victory. Martin Havlat, Cal Clutterbuck, and Mikko Koivu scored for the Minnesota Wild. Keep on winning Minnesota Wild!

Minnesota Wild Christmas List

I've been a Minnesota Wild fan since they started here. We've had some up and downs like any sports franchise. The "up" moments would be the 2003 magical run to the Western Conference Finals and clinching the Northwest Division in 2008. The "down" years are whenever you feel it is. To get back to the "up" years, or whatever you classify as the status right now, here is my Minnesota Wild Christmas List:

1) In my opinion, right now is a make or break time for the Minnesota Wild. They must find a star player that has the ability to score. Brent Burns and Cal Clutterbuck lead the team with 9 goals...meanwhile Sidney Crosby already has 27 for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2) A lead defenseman that can play two ways. If you notice this statement, this is Brent Burns game. My wish is that we can get another one of these because Burns has to lead the group almost singlehandley. Zidlicky is a good offensive defenseman but is not very reliable in his own end.

3) A center that can shoot and score. Mikko Koivu is a great, great player. However, I think if the Wild are ever going to compete for the Stanley Cup they must find a scoring center that can compete with the teams that score 4 goals a night.

Minnesota Wild Defeat Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in OT

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime on Friday night. Back up goaltender Jose Theodore stopped 41 shots. Scoring for the Minnesota Wild was Brent Burns, Cal Clutterbuck, Mikko Koivu, and John Madden. Koivu scored with a little over a minute left in regulation to send the game into overtime. John Madden put home a rebound with 40 seconds left in overtime to win the game. It was a fun game to watch and gave the Wild 3 straight victories at 10-6-2.

Minnesota Wild Defeat Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1

The Minnesota Wild got back on the win column with a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Wild scored 3 goals in the first period, with Cal Clutterbuck, John Madden, and Antti Miettinen lighting the lamp. Eric Nystrom sealed the victory for an empty-netter and his 1st goal of the season. Martin Havlat chipped in 3 assists. The win left the Minnesota Wild with a 2-2 away trip. Next up is the Anaheim Ducks at home on Wednesday, November 17th. Get your Minnesota Wild tickets at Ticket King!

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!

Minnesota Wild Fall to Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2

The Minnesota Wild lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 at home on Saturday night. RJ Umberger scored a shorthanded goal in the 3rd period and that proved to be the game-winner. Brent Burns and Cal Clutterbuck scored for the Minnesota Wild. The announced attendance of the Xcel Energy Center was 17,336. That is the Wild's first non-capacity crowd for a regular-season game in franchise history. Next up is the Vancouver Canucks at the Xcel Enery Center on Tuesday.

Cal Clutterbuck signs 3-year deal

Toronto native, Cal Clutterbuck, has signed a contract extension to stay with the MN Wild. This is Clutterbuck's second year with the Wild and he has decided to stay for another three. The team has taken a fond liking to Cal, with his great wing abilities and personality as a Wild player. Cal Clutterbuck currently holds an NHL record for hits in a season (356 in the 2008-09 season) and the team want that sort of aggression on their side of the ice. Clutterbuck stated, "I couldn't be happier. There is no other place I would want to be." He is the first Wild player to sign an extension during this season. With such an excitement for the game, Cal Clutterbucks return is highly anticapated by the Wild fans.

Minnesota Wild Holiday Games Series Go Well...

The Minnesota Wild played 3 home games last week at the Xcel Energy Center. Lots of hometown fans, in St. Paul for the Holidays, came out for Holiday Game Series... The Minnesota Wild Roster did not disappoint.

Although the MN Wild lost their first game last week (a Monday Dec 21 match up against the Colorado Avalanche), they played well and hung on for a final score of 4-3 Avalanche. The rivalry Wild-Avalanche Game was highly anticipated and despite skating well and handling the puck, the Wild just couldn't quite pull off a win

Two days later on Wednesday the Minnesota Wild roster skated against the Oilers, trampling them 3-1 with an easy win... Holiday Hockey Fans enjoyed watching Koivu and Cal Clutterbuck both skate great games

Finally on the Minnesota Wild Holiday Hockey Line-Up was a game against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday Dec 23rd. The Blues came out onto the ice confident and gave the MN Wild a run for their money, but in the end the Wild pulled off a 4-3 win, giving Minnesota Wild fans a very happy holiday!

MN Wild beat the Stars at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the Wild

What a game, what a game. The Minnesota Wild played the Dallas Stars at home in the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday night. The game started out strong for the Wild, which was quite the contrast from last Thursday's game against Vancouver that started out with a raggedy first period.

Saturday's game was a team win but Koivu, Clutterbuck, and Backstrom all stepped up and made huge plays that led the MN Wild to a 3-2 win. Wild Fans are hoping that this win will boost the confidence of the Wild who go on the road for the next 4 games. So far in the 2009-2010 Minnesota Wild Season the Wild are 1-8 on the road.

GO WILD!

MN Wild take on the St. Louis Blues at the X

The Minnesota Wild will play tonight at the Xcel Energy Center against the St. Louis Blues. The game starts at 7:00.

A MN Wild press release said that Wild Head Coach Todd Richards was pleased with the practice yesterday and is looking forward to a Wild Win. Niklas Backstrom, the starting goaltender on the Wild Roster, is expected to play the entire night in the net. Cal Clutterbuck and Martin Havlat are also expected to see ample ice time tonight.

There are still great deals out there for Minnesota Wild Tickets including seats I found online for $10 from online ticket brokerage Ticket King, who has an office located conveniently just a block from the Xcel Energy Center. Tonight's match-up should be a good one, if you are a Wild fan at all don't miss this chance to take advantage of cheap MN Wild Tickets before prices go up!

Go Wild!

MN Wild player Cal Clutterbuck gears up for 2nd season

With the 2009-2010 MN Wild season quickly approaching, Wild players are getting back into the swing of working-out and skating after having spent the summer playing and enjoying the Land of Hockey. No player seemed to spend more time having summer fun than Cal Clutterbuck, last season's standout rookie. Cal Clutterbuck who started last season with Houston in the American Hockey League, came to Minnesota to finish the season and create a name and NHL record he could be proud of.

Since last season, Cal Clutterbuck has spent a fair amount of time in Minnesota getting used to his new home and having fun. In an interview earlier this week, Clutterbuck told a reporter that he has been getting ready for this season in the same way he did last season, working out and getting in shape as well as just trying to enjoy the last few days of sunshine before he starts practice at the Xcel. One way he has enjoyed the Minnesota Summer is with a batting practice at the Metrodome with Justin Morneau of the Twins. He also had his first fishing experience on local TV with Twins great Kent Hrbek. It seems to me that this Canadian is settling in nicely to his celebrity status here in Minnesota and is going to be ready to prove that he deserves the attention. The Minnesota Wild start their season at the Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday October 6th.

Minnesota Wild Score Big and Win

Loss, Loss, Win – that’s how the Minnesota Wild home stand has been going. The biggest difference between the first two games and the third, besides the obvious? Minnesota Wild offense production.

It seems to this MN Wild Freak that when the Wild score 3 or more goals, they win. We have the defense to shut down the other teams or at least keep the opponents below 3 goals, now we need the offense to score so we can actually win. Youngster Cal Clutterbuck showed how it’s done on Monday when he scored 3 goals against the Capitals, let’s hope the Wild can keep the scoring momentum.

There are still two more games to go sandwiched around Thanksgiving. I am going to try and get out to tonight’s game – If you need tickets, I found a new Minnesota Wild tickets site that looks pretty reasonable and it is run by local folks so I like that. It’s called Hockey Tickets Minnesota.

Upcoming Games:
Wed Nov 26, 2008 Stars@ Wild 7PM

*Happy Turkey Day*

Fri Nov 28, 2008 Lightning@ Wild 1PM