What Happened to the Wild?

Can someone please email me and give me some sort of explanation as to what happened to the Minnesota Wild. They played one of their best ten minutes of hockey this year last night during the overtime period versus the Colorado Avalanche. They played with crazy amounts of intensity and completely outplayed Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche. Tonight they seem to have decided that the series was already won and the have plated flat and on their heels while giving up three first period goals to the Avalanche. How does this team come out flat in the NHL Playoffs and why didn't Jacques Lemaire call a timeout after the second goal? More importantly, what the hell is going on with my favorite NHL team?

Wild Playoff Roster Decisions

Now that we know that it will be Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the NHL Playoffs, it will be interesting to see what the Wild's roster will look like. I am certain that Simon, Boogaard and Fedoruk would have suited up had the Minnesota Wild played the Calgary Flames in the first round. However, I am not as certain that the trio of tough guys will all suit up against Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche. On one hand, the Avalanche tend to play a more up tempo style which doesn't suit guys like Boogaard. On the other hand, last year with the Anaheim Ducks, we saw how important a strong physical presence is in the playoffs. They were able to neutralize the speed of the Marian Gaborik and the Minnesota Wild by intimidating them through their physical play. That style of game seems to really work in the playoffs. This year, it will be fun to watch the Minnesota Wild push instead of be pushed. GO WILD!!!

NHL First Round Playoff Opponent

Now that my favorite NHL team has clinched a playoff spot, it is time to analyze the Western Conference Standings and ever changing NHL Playoff Matchups on a daily basis. If the season ended today, the Minnesota Wild would host Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Minnesota Wild leads the regular season series 5-2, which includes winning the last four games between the two teams. The two teams end the regular season by playing each other on Sunday, April 6th. If the Wild wins this game, they will have beaten the Avs five straight games. In my mind, that statistic is both good and bad. I like that the Wild appears to have their number however it makes me nervous that they will have to try to extend this great streak against a team as talented as the Colorado Avalanche.

The important thing to consider is that the Minnesota Wild is playing solid hockey right now. If they continue to play like Marian Gaborik and the rest of the boys have been playing recently, it probably doesn't matter who they play. However, I am sure that I will continue to check the up to date standings on a daily basis and work myself up into a tizzy. GO WILD!!!