Wild vs. Oilers (Game #45) 1-12-07 @ 8:00PM CST at Rexall Place

LemaireisGOD · January 12th, 2007, 09:41 AM

MINNESOTA WILD (22-19-3) 47pts 3rd Northwest

123 Goals For (ranked 24th in the NHL)
119 Goals Against (ranked 9th in the NHL)

10th ranked PP (18.3%)
5th ranked PK (86.7%)

Top 5 Scorers:
1. #12 Brian Rolston ~ 22G 18A = 40pts
2. #96 Pierre-Marc Bouchard ~ 10G 25A = 35pts
3. #38 Pavol Demitra ~ 11G 18A = 29pts
4. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 10G 19A = 29pts
5. #28 Todd White ~ 8G 19A = 27pts

Top PIM's:
1. #24 Derek Boogaard ~ 70 PIM's
2. #26 Kurtis Foster ~ 38 PIM's
3. #5 Kim Johnsson ~ 38 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):
1. #35 Manny Fernandez (18-14-1) 2.69GAA .909%SP
2. #32 Niklas Backstrom (4-5-2) 2.09GAA .929%SP

VS.

EDMONTON OILERS (21-18-4) 46pts 4th Northwest

122 Goals For (ranked 20th in the NHL)
125 Goals Against (ranked 14th in the NHL)

25th ranked PP (15.3%)
4th ranked PK (87.3%)

Top 5 Scorers:
1. #71 Petr Sykora ~ 16G 21A = 37pts
2. #16 Jarret Stoll ~ 13G 24A = 37pts
3. #94 Ryan Smyth ~ 21G 11A = 32pts
4. #83 Ales Hemsky ~ 7G 24A = 32pts
5. #14 Raffi Torres ~ 8G 15A = 23pts

Top PIM's:
1. #24 Steve Staios ~ 73 PIM's
2. #2 Matt Greene ~ 57 PIM's
3. #26 Brad Winchester ~ 50 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):
1. #35 Dwayne Roloson (18-15-4) 2.74GAA .909%SP
2. #30 Jussi Markkanen (3-3-0) 2.95GAA .876%SP

The Wild will have to get over the big win, and re-focus and try to start something new, a road WINNING streak. We can all dream can't we? GO WILD!!!

LemaireisGOD · January 12th, 2007, 09:40 PM

GABORIK!!! 1-1 now!!!

LemaireisGOD · January 12th, 2007, 09:41 PM

ROLSTON!!! 2-1 Wild!!!

LemaireisGOD · January 12th, 2007, 09:45 PM

CARNEY!!! 3-2 Wild!!!

LemaireisGOD · January 12th, 2007, 09:46 PM

GABORIK!!! Empty Netter!!! 4-2 Wild!!!

LemaireisGOD · January 13th, 2007, 02:30 PM

The State of Hockey News | MVN - Most Valuable Network » Blog Archive » Gaborik’s goals pace Wild in 4-2 road victory over Edmonton

Gaborik’s goals pace Wild in 4-2 road victory over Edmonton

By Derek Felska | January 13th, 2007

A few days ago, the Wild seemed to be at an absolute low. The road losing streak was hanging over their heads at 11-games (and counting). Marian Gaborik finds his old form Thursday night in Vancouver giving the Wild two big goals to finally get that ugly road monkey off their back. Yet, who would’ve thought the Wild could say they have road winning streak, albeit a 2-game one looking at their road schedule? Gaborik again played a big role providing two goals in a 4-2 road victory over the Oilers.

The game started with the Wild seeming to be a bit more passive than they were the night before in Vancouver. The Oilers seemed fresh and aggressive pressing the attack with great speed. The Wild seemed content to just try to hold on; and one player was determined to keep them in the game, Manny Fernandez. Manny had to be simply outstanding in order to keep the State of Hockey still in the game; making 12 saves. Yet despite the fact the Wild were more passive they did get some chances as well. Both teams in a way seemed a bit wary of each other; and the first period would end with both teams still knotted at 0-0.

In the 2nd, the game would change less than a minute into the period. Just after a Wild penalty expired, Edmonton’s heart and soul Ryan Smyth would slide a pass from down low out to just inside of the left faceoff circle where Shawn Horcoff was waiting to one-time a shot by Manny Fernandez to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead and the sellout crowd something to get excited about. Even though the goal got the 16,839 in attendance at Rexall Place really going the Wild seemed to get the spark and they started to put on a suffocating forecheck. As was the case on Thursday night, the forecheck was a multi-line affair with everyone from the 4th line of Joel Ward, Pascal Dupuis, and Wyatt Smith to the 2nd line of Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Todd White and Brian Rolston. The forecheck started to generate all kinds of chances on former Wild netminder Dwayne Roloson. 5 minutes after Horcoff’s goal, the Wild’s Marian Gaborik would race into the Edmonton zone and fire a puck short-side on Roloson and he stopped the chance but Gaborik would take the rebound and move around from behind the net before snapping off a wickedly quick wrist shot that found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Just 43 seconds after Gaborik’s goal, the Wild would strike again when Todd White would move into the Edmonton zone and fire a shot from the slot that Roloson managed to stop, but “the Captain” Brian Rolston would sweep in and take the rebound and stuff it home to give the State of Hockey a 2-1 lead. The goal seemed to awaken the Oilers to a degree and both teams would trade chances; one area where Edmonton would gain momentum ironically was on the Wild’s power play. The Wild’s power play would give the Oilers some great shorthanded chances but each time Manny Fernandez would come up with the big save (especially on a breakaway chance by Marty Reasoner) to preserve the Minnesota’s lead. The Oilers would equalize the game late in the 2nd when their “Czech line” of Petr Nedved and Petr Sykora would show some of their magic when Nedved would give a pass to Sykora who rifled a shot by Fernandez to make this game 2-2 going into the 3rd.

Almost as they did in Vancouver the Wild stepped up their game and dominated most of the 3rd period. One area that seemed to improve in-game was the power play. In the 2nd the power play’s poor play almost cost the Wild a few shorthanded goals, but in the 3rd those turnovers were eliminated and the Wild were moving the puck all over and got some good chances but Roloson was up to the task. The Wild’s Keith Carney was not too happy when he was called for an elbowing call; and his team did a great job of shutting down a rather potent Oilers power play. Carney would get his revenge when he flung a wrister that seemed to have eyes at it passed between at least 4 bodies to beat Roloson 5-hole and give the Wild a 3-2 lead. The Wild’s defense really seemed to take their game to a new level to deny the Oilers the chance to create offense. The Oilers pulled Roloson to try attempt to tie the game; but the Wild won the battles along the boards and Marian Gaborik would salt away the game when slid a puck into the Edmonton net to give the State of Hockey a 4-2 victory.

As good as Marian Gaborik was, it really was Manny Fernandez that brought the victory for the Wild. Fernandez had 32 saves; many of which saw Oilers shooters real close. Two tremendous efforts by Fernandez has been basis of the Wild turnaround on the road. Having Gaborik back has also been a big key as well as the team finally has two solid scoring lines. The two scoring lines also has the team playing its role players on checking lines where they belong instead of trying to use them as scorers where it does not best fit their abilities.

Wild Notes:

~ Wild scratches were Petteri Nummelin, Derek Boogaard, Mark Parrish, and Kim Johnsson all of whom are nursing injuries. With the recent, yet undisclosed injury to Johnsson the team called up Shawn Belle from its AHL affiliate in Houston. Belle played last night sparingly.

~ The Minnesota Golden Gophers lost last night 2-1 to the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Centre, it was the Gophers first WCHA road loss in 21 games, and first conference loss in 26 games. The two teams face each other again tonight.

January 12th, 2007, 09:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	Wild vs. Oilers (Game #45) 1-12-07 @ 8:00PM CST at Rexall Place MINNESOTA WILD (22-19-3) 47pts 3rd Northwest 123 Goals For (ranked 24th in the NHL) 119 Goals Against (ranked 9th in the NHL) 10th ranked PP (18.3%) 5th ranked PK (86.7%) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #12 Brian Rolston ~ 22G 18A = 40pts 2. #96 Pierre-Marc Bouchard ~ 10G 25A = 35pts 3. #38 Pavol Demitra ~ 11G 18A = 29pts 4. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 10G 19A = 29pts 5. #28 Todd White ~ 8G 19A = 27pts Top PIM's: 1. #24 Derek Boogaard ~ 70 PIM's 2. #26 Kurtis Foster ~ 38 PIM's 3. #5 Kim Johnsson ~ 38 PIM's Top Goaltender(s): 1. #35 Manny Fernandez (18-14-1) 2.69GAA .909%SP 2. #32 Niklas Backstrom (4-5-2) 2.09GAA .929%SP VS. EDMONTON OILERS (21-18-4) 46pts 4th Northwest 122 Goals For (ranked 20th in the NHL) 125 Goals Against (ranked 14th in the NHL) 25th ranked PP (15.3%) 4th ranked PK (87.3%) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #71 Petr Sykora ~ 16G 21A = 37pts 2. #16 Jarret Stoll ~ 13G 24A = 37pts 3. #94 Ryan Smyth ~ 21G 11A = 32pts 4. #83 Ales Hemsky ~ 7G 24A = 32pts 5. #14 Raffi Torres ~ 8G 15A = 23pts Top PIM's: 1. #24 Steve Staios ~ 73 PIM's 2. #2 Matt Greene ~ 57 PIM's 3. #26 Brad Winchester ~ 50 PIM's Top Goaltender(s): 1. #35 Dwayne Roloson (18-15-4) 2.74GAA .909%SP 2. #30 Jussi Markkanen (3-3-0) 2.95GAA .876%SP The Wild will have to get over the big win, and re-focus and try to start something new, a road WINNING streak. We can all dream can't we? GO WILD!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

January 12th, 2007, 09:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	GABORIK!!! 1-1 now!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

January 12th, 2007, 09:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	ROLSTON!!! 2-1 Wild!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

January 12th, 2007, 09:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	CARNEY!!! 3-2 Wild!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

January 12th, 2007, 09:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	GABORIK!!! Empty Netter!!! 4-2 Wild!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

January 13th, 2007, 02:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	The State of Hockey News \| MVN - Most Valuable Network » Blog Archive » Gaborik’s goals pace Wild in 4-2 road victory over Edmonton Gaborik’s goals pace Wild in 4-2 road victory over Edmonton By Derek Felska \| January 13th, 2007 A few days ago, the Wild seemed to be at an absolute low. The road losing streak was hanging over their heads at 11-games (and counting). Marian Gaborik finds his old form Thursday night in Vancouver giving the Wild two big goals to finally get that ugly road monkey off their back. Yet, who would’ve thought the Wild could say they have road winning streak, albeit a 2-game one looking at their road schedule? Gaborik again played a big role providing two goals in a 4-2 road victory over the Oilers. The game started with the Wild seeming to be a bit more passive than they were the night before in Vancouver. The Oilers seemed fresh and aggressive pressing the attack with great speed. The Wild seemed content to just try to hold on; and one player was determined to keep them in the game, Manny Fernandez. Manny had to be simply outstanding in order to keep the State of Hockey still in the game; making 12 saves. Yet despite the fact the Wild were more passive they did get some chances as well. Both teams in a way seemed a bit wary of each other; and the first period would end with both teams still knotted at 0-0. In the 2nd, the game would change less than a minute into the period. Just after a Wild penalty expired, Edmonton’s heart and soul Ryan Smyth would slide a pass from down low out to just inside of the left faceoff circle where Shawn Horcoff was waiting to one-time a shot by Manny Fernandez to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead and the sellout crowd something to get excited about. Even though the goal got the 16,839 in attendance at Rexall Place really going the Wild seemed to get the spark and they started to put on a suffocating forecheck. As was the case on Thursday night, the forecheck was a multi-line affair with everyone from the 4th line of Joel Ward, Pascal Dupuis, and Wyatt Smith to the 2nd line of Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Todd White and Brian Rolston. The forecheck started to generate all kinds of chances on former Wild netminder Dwayne Roloson. 5 minutes after Horcoff’s goal, the Wild’s Marian Gaborik would race into the Edmonton zone and fire a puck short-side on Roloson and he stopped the chance but Gaborik would take the rebound and move around from behind the net before snapping off a wickedly quick wrist shot that found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Just 43 seconds after Gaborik’s goal, the Wild would strike again when Todd White would move into the Edmonton zone and fire a shot from the slot that Roloson managed to stop, but “the Captain” Brian Rolston would sweep in and take the rebound and stuff it home to give the State of Hockey a 2-1 lead. The goal seemed to awaken the Oilers to a degree and both teams would trade chances; one area where Edmonton would gain momentum ironically was on the Wild’s power play. The Wild’s power play would give the Oilers some great shorthanded chances but each time Manny Fernandez would come up with the big save (especially on a breakaway chance by Marty Reasoner) to preserve the Minnesota’s lead. The Oilers would equalize the game late in the 2nd when their “Czech line” of Petr Nedved and Petr Sykora would show some of their magic when Nedved would give a pass to Sykora who rifled a shot by Fernandez to make this game 2-2 going into the 3rd. Almost as they did in Vancouver the Wild stepped up their game and dominated most of the 3rd period. One area that seemed to improve in-game was the power play. In the 2nd the power play’s poor play almost cost the Wild a few shorthanded goals, but in the 3rd those turnovers were eliminated and the Wild were moving the puck all over and got some good chances but Roloson was up to the task. The Wild’s Keith Carney was not too happy when he was called for an elbowing call; and his team did a great job of shutting down a rather potent Oilers power play. Carney would get his revenge when he flung a wrister that seemed to have eyes at it passed between at least 4 bodies to beat Roloson 5-hole and give the Wild a 3-2 lead. The Wild’s defense really seemed to take their game to a new level to deny the Oilers the chance to create offense. The Oilers pulled Roloson to try attempt to tie the game; but the Wild won the battles along the boards and Marian Gaborik would salt away the game when slid a puck into the Edmonton net to give the State of Hockey a 4-2 victory. As good as Marian Gaborik was, it really was Manny Fernandez that brought the victory for the Wild. Fernandez had 32 saves; many of which saw Oilers shooters real close. Two tremendous efforts by Fernandez has been basis of the Wild turnaround on the road. Having Gaborik back has also been a big key as well as the team finally has two solid scoring lines. The two scoring lines also has the team playing its role players on checking lines where they belong instead of trying to use them as scorers where it does not best fit their abilities. Wild Notes: ~ Wild scratches were Petteri Nummelin, Derek Boogaard, Mark Parrish, and Kim Johnsson all of whom are nursing injuries. With the recent, yet undisclosed injury to Johnsson the team called up Shawn Belle from its AHL affiliate in Houston. Belle played last night sparingly. ~ The Minnesota Golden Gophers lost last night 2-1 to the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Centre, it was the Gophers first WCHA road loss in 21 games, and first conference loss in 26 games. The two teams face each other again tonight. __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)