Oh hey, just what the Wild needed, another road trip.
This time we get three games in four days against the Eastern Conference Canadian Contingent.
You read that right - 12 noon start time today. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
Ottawa might be the best chance on this road trip to catch that elusive first win. But you'll excuse me if I'm less than optimistic. All the HockeyStats in the world can't cover up the fact that the Wild are mixing in some atrociously bad stretches that are costing them games. When those awful 5-minute breakdowns go away, then we'll get to see some wins. Does it happen this week? Part of me wants to see them go 0-10, just to see what Russo writes about at that point.
The Maple Leafs are really good. A road game against Toronto isn't fun for anyone, let alone a team that is allowing more than 5 goals a game. Be sure to tune in for that one, because that'll be the one that the Wild inexplicably pull together and dominate (see last season's decimation of the Lightning in the midst of a truly lackluster second half).
The Canadiens are ... good, I think? I don't know, it's the Eastern Conference, I don't pay attention to these teams. Let's assume that they have been playing better hockey than the Wild. Fair?
GAME 4 RECAP - PITTSBURGH 7, MINNESOTA 4
Four Wild goals!
Yay.
The Wild continued their highly amusing streak of allowing an empty net goal in every game this season. These are the little details that can drive a goal differential past "sad" and into "ludicrous".
Now I need to know the record for consecutive games.
Someone has to have looked this up, but I haven't seen it.
Can't find a streak finder on hockey-reference. The Wild have given up four while no other team is above two. Last year the leader, the Rangers, gave up 18. The Wild tied with three others at 17.
The announcers might fall asleep in this one.
0-0 after 1.
Wild shooting 0 for 11, scoreless on 1.5 power plays.
The second period was .... exactly the same.
0-0 after 2.
Wild shooting 0 for 23, scoreless on 5 power plays.
Power Play #6 coming up. I'm a sucker, but I think this is the one.
It wasn't.
Still time for that empty net goal.
C'mon Bruce! Pull the goalie in a 0-0 game! It's so crazy it just might work!
I have no interest in the Wild this year but the game logs are entertaining!
Holy fuck.
The Wild scored.
Today's shooting percentage up to 3.1%
Now they won't lose from the empty net goal!
There's never been a better time to pull the goalie. The logic is unassailable.
I did a double take ... that this log was for a live game.
There might only be one of us watching the game.
I didn't read the article to realize it was a day game or I would have put it on for noise if nothign else.
DG, your banner misspelled “nothign”...
I thought about it for a little bit.
I appreciate the copy editing
An empty-netter!
For the Wild. Apparently that's allowed?
Now they won't even tie if they give up one! How many games get two empty net goals, from opposing teams no less?
Accurate.
Guys, the Wild scored again.
the Wild are mixing in some atrociously bad stretches that are costing them games
Yep.
We're 12 minutes in, so far no atrocious play by the Wild.
It's the small victories.
Dammit, Fiala.
Canadiens score on a Fiala giveaway, and the Wild take two penalties to go down 5 on 3.
Montreal scores immediately. 3 minutes and two goals against.
Oh boy, this team.
Edit - 3-0 now. Montreal scores as the second penalty expires.
Just so there's no confusion. The Wild are playing terribly and losing horribly. It's not a fun team to watch/listen to/be aware of right now.
Yet you keep making us aware
I just hate fun. Is that so wrong?
i "appreciate" it at least.
Very tempted to use the Bruce Boudreau "Darn" gif as the header for the next Wild post.