The Minnesota Wild have another pivotal playoff game Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets and they will be without one of their star players tonight and maybe longer.
Okay, I have been sulking for too long. It has nearly been two weeks since the Minnesota Wild lost in overtime to the defending Stanley Cup champions Chicago Blackhawks; and since then I have been in a funk, staring hopelessly at my wall; muttering a phrase that consists of Patrick Kane, and a few profanity words that do not need to be repeated...
Quick, name the last time a Minnesota sports team went to a game seven? How about 10-years ago when the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2004 NBA playoffs. Since then, the four professional teams (Wild,Vikings,Twins, T-Wolevs) are combined 6-17 in the playoffs (not including the Wild wins this playoffs)...
I was at the 10 o'clock practice this morning at Amsoil Arena. I will first start off by saying that the turn out was incredible for a Tuesday morning practice, a lot of fans showing their Wild colors.
Here are some things I took away from the practice...
Yes I know the Minnesota Wild made it into the playoffs, or more like they rolled into the playoffs as the eighth seed, but even after a five year hiatus from the playoffs; the expectations were so much higher coming into this season then finishing tied for eighth place in the Western Conference.
It has been almost 22 years since a Minnesota professional team won a championship (1991 Minnesota Twins), sorry Minnesota Lynx...I know you won a championship in 2011, but this list focuses on the Twins, Vikings, Wild, and Timberwolves. The list will go from least likely to the most likely to win the next championship...
Despite the added star power of Parise and Suter the Minnesota Wild are off to a slow start in the shortened 48 game schedule with a start of 2-5, but have 5 points putting them in a tie for first place in the division with Vancouver.
It is now official. Minnesota Wild have signed free agents Ryan Suter, and Zach Parise. Source have said the deals are 13 years worth $98 million each. Today is one of the biggest days in Wild history.