Hockey Wilderness

With college hockey being such a bore these days, it’s time to give a little love to high school hockey. Kids all over the state are playing a game they love with one common goal: a state title. The snow is flying outside at quite the pace and that can only mean one thing; winter is in full swing, and so is hockey. The NHL and NCAA have been rolling along since October, but high school hockey is just now getting started. In Minnesota, that level can occasionally outshine the college level, and since the WCHA has basically fallen apart with the creation of the Big Ten, high school hockey...

Wilderness, the Wild are up and down. Who knows what’s going on? The goalies are great, they’re awful, they’re great, they’re awful. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ In any case. Let’s jazz it up and walk it up. Wild News Fat lip, heavy game, Jordan Greenway finding his role with Wild | Twin CitiesJordan Greenway abandoned the cage but the gash on his left cheek and lip will have stitches for several more days after the Wild’s true power forward experienced another rite of passage in his first full NHL season. Off the Trail Phildelphia Flyers to Fire Dave Hakstol, Hire Joel Quenneville: Report...

Three fights, two goals against and one key injury as Wild lose to Flames, plus NHL news and notes in the walk The Calgary Flames came to town yesterday, intent on adding insult to injury. And more injury. Without center Mikko Koivu, still out with a lower-body injury sustained from the last time these two teams met, and without Jason Zucker due to an illness, the Wild lost defenseman Matt Dumba towards the end of the first period when he left the game with an undisclosed issue. I say “issue” because head coach Bruce Boudreau was less than forthcoming with information regarding...

The 17-12-2 Minnesota Wild host the 20-10-2 Calgary Flames in St. Paul after winning two of the three games without captain Mikko Koivu. The Wild look to for revenge in today’s matinee game as a lot of bad blood was spilled last Thursday when the two teams met in Calgary. The Flames shutout the Wild 2-0 and the third period was filled with emotion, resulting in a couple of suspensions. This game should be a fun one! The game will be televised on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin. Here are the projected lineups tonight, brought to you by DailyFaceoff.com. ...

After a mini slump of sorts over the past few weeks, the Minnesota Wild have gotten back to back wins at home over the Montreal Canadiens and the Florida Panthers to seemingly get them out of their slump. They can’t let of the gas, however, as they are still not in a playoff position and will likely have to battle all year to get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 7th season in a row. A matinee game against the high flying Calgary Flames on saturday should be a very good test. Wild News Olympian Hannah Brandt skates with Minnesota Wild — ‘That was awesome’ – Twin...

While the Minnesota Wild struggled, the Iowa Wild just kept on chugging. Previously on “The Des Moines Report”, the Wild’s point streak had reached 10 games after a 1-1-1 week that saw the Wild play 3 games in six days, including a trip to the Mile High City and a match-up at home. This time around, the Wild would once again play three games in six days, but this time, the Friday/Saturday back-to-back would be at Wells Fargo, followed up by a trip to the ‘Big D’ for a Wednesday night contest. Could the point streak continue for the 1st place Wild? Let’s find out! Game 24: vs...

After their out burst of seven goals against Montreal, the Wild were back to their dominate ways against Florida in a Friday night showdown at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild would trail for the 21st time in 31 games that they have played this season, but the early goal by the Panthers would not stop the Wild’s performance in a 5-1 victory over Florida. In the first, Florida would score just two minutes and twenty seconds into the game, but from that point on, it was all Minnesota. However, after that Panthers goal, the Wild would have plenty of chances to score before burying their...

The line of Zach Parise, Charlie Coyle, and Nino Niederreiter is red hot after two straight games of putting up big numbers. So, where does Mikko Koivu fit in the lineup when he returns? Let’s Walk. Happy Friyay Wilderness! The Minnesota Wild have won their past two games and for third time in franchise history have scored 12 goals in a pair of games. The Wild defeated the Florida Panthers on home ice last night 5-1, with 3 point nights from Nino Niederreiter and Ryan Suter. Niederreiter extended his goal streak to 3 games by scoring his 6th and 7th goals last night. The Zach Parise,...

The Wild look to continue on the winning path. Some players come in red hot - namely Mikael Granlund, who drops passes on a dime better than Kirk Cousins, and Matt Dumba, whose stick might as well be the Sword Excalibur for vanquishing the enemies one after another. The defensive pairs were returned to normal (their early season status) and the Wild protected Devan Dubnyk enough for him to get the win allowing just a single goal. A win is great and all, but two wins is better. They can't get three wins in a row without getting two. The Panthers and Jonathan Huberdeau are in town. Florida...

Wild look to build on their last performance tonight against Florida, Charlie Coyle trade talk and other NHL news and notes in the walk. 71 percent of the time, the Wild win every time. At least when it comes to tonight’s opponent. The Wild have historically done well against the Florida Panthers (16-6-1), and have been even better at Xcel (9-1-1). This year’s Panthers currently reside in the cellar of the Atlantic Division and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Things are so bad that even referees are scoring goals against them. Sounds like a perfect opportunity for the Wild...

The Wild put a 7-1 hurting on the Montreal Candiens. Sorry, not sorry. Scoring was not in short order last night as the Minnesota Wild put up 7 goals against the Montreal Canadiens. If it weren’t for an early 3rd period goal from Montreal, Dubnyk would have likely finished the game pitching a shutout. It was all system go for the Wild who were a perfect 4 for 4 on the power play and even notched a short handed goal on their lone penalty kill. While it would be nice if they Wild could stretch out this kind of offensive production, the Wild will likely not be putting up 7 goals ever night....

Wild turn things around to dominate the Canadians, beer can technology on pucks, #GrittyForOscarsHost and other NHL News and Notes in the walk Um... what? The Minnesota Wild scored 7 goals. At home. Against an Eastern Conference team. Nino Niederreiter had a goal and an assist. Charlie Coyle scored a beauty. Shorthanded. Mikael Granlund fed Matt Dumba for a beautiful power play goal. Twice. Devan Dubnyk looked completely in control. For three periods. A perfect 4-for-4 on the power play. 1-for-1 on the kill. Again... what? I feel like if we talk too much about last night’s game, we’ll...

Minnesota dominates Montreal to start 4-game home-stand The Wild needed a quick start Tuesday night to try and snap out of this skid they are currently in. 3-7 in their last 10, and are currently losers of two straight. Their opponents tonight however have been no slouch to the start of the season. Coming into tonight the Canadians were holding down the 2nd Wild Card spot in the East, while the Wild sit 3 points out of a playoff spot. That quick start I mentioned about above happened tonight for the Wild. And something happened in a Minnesota hockey game that VERY rarely happens. That, in a...

The Wild commence a four game home stand tonight. The Montreal Canadiens are in town, and the Wild hope to rediscover their game. In the line up is Luke Kunin, who's come on strong in Iowa as of late. He enters, while Mikko Koivu is sidelined with what Michael Russo said was an MCL sprain. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM CST. Lines: MINNESOTA WILD Jason Zucker - Eric Staal - Mikael Granlund Zach Parise - Charlie Coyle - Nino Niederreiter Jordan Greenway - Joel Eriksson Ek - Luke Kunin Marcus Foligno - Eric Fehr - J.T Brown Ryan Suter - Matt Dumba Jonas Brodin - Jared Spurgeon Nick Seeler - Greg...

Luke Kunin is back in a Minnesota Wild uniform just in time for the Wild to faceoff against the Montreal Canadiens. After a less than successful road trip through Western Canada, the Minnesota Wild are back tonight to play against the Montreal Canadiens at home. In addition, Luke Kunin is accompanying them for the first time since March, when he tore his ACL. If the lines remain the same as yesterday, Kunin will play on a line with Jordan Greenway and Joel Eriksson Ek. #mnwild back on the ice for practice this morning. Forwards...