Wild Getting Booed Against Philly

On Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:00:22 -0600, The Chief Instigator
<patrick.DeleteThis@io.com> wrote:

>"Yathinkso" <yathinkso.DeleteThis@idontknow.net> writes:
>
>>Boy, if it wasn't for the power play, the Wild might have only had single
>>digit shots on goal. Backstrom let in an awful goal from outside the blue
>>line which basically put the game away for the Flyers. The fans really gave
>>it to Backstrom when he made his next save. Talk about being
>>unfair. Backstrom has played very well. Sure that shot should have been
>>stopped, but it appeared he lost sight of the puck. The fans were also
>>restless on the Wild power play. I have never heard as many boos from the
>>fans as I did during tonights game. I think the honeymoon is over and the
>>fans now have higher expectations. I can' really blame them...they had two 5
>>on 3's and came away empty handed. They appeared to be more interested in
>>moving the puck than shooting it. On a positive note, I liked Voros on the
>>Gabby line, he is a hustler, but I still think the line needs a finese type
>>that can skate with Gabby and Demitra and has good hands and can act as a
>>setup guy. Has Bouchard been given a shot on that line? In any case Voros
>>drew at least 3 penalties and is probably as good a fit as anyone right now.
>
>I saw bits and pieces of that up at SRO tonight, and I saw the long-shot
>goal...ouch! And *ten* shots on goal in six power plays? (And I thought the
>Aeros had problems with the extra man...)

That's one of the striking differences I noticed when watching that
game last night. The Flyers are like 3rd best in the NHL on the power
play, and it really shows why. They get the advantage and just start
shooting. Imagine that.

The Wild always look so damn tentative on the power play...
trying to set up just the right shot, and usually taking few,
(if any) during the advantage. I am constantly yelling "shoot, shoot!"
when they get the advantage, because it drives me crazy that
they just pass back and forth without taking shots.

The Wild have had better success with the power play this season,
but are still way too cautious and tentative when they have the
advantage, IMO.

That slapper by Coburn from beyond the blue line was just
a lucky shot, but that's what you get when you "shoot first, ask
questions later". Although, I do agree that the crowd booing
Backstrom was a little uncalled for. That was just a lucky
slapshot....but that's why guys take those shots...once in a
while they will sneak through like that.

All in all, the Wild played a tough and gritty game last night.
Especially the defensive guys like Hill, Johnsson and Carney.
The Wild had several nice scoring attempts and opportunities,
but they just didn't get past Nittimaki, who had a pretty good
game for Philly.

That was a tough loss before the Wild hit the road on a tough
road trip...the Wings, Jackets, Sharks, Ducks and Kings. Ouch.
And I heard that Scott Niedermayer is coming back for the
Ducks. Great. :-/

The Wild proved last night that they can play physical with a
tough, and somewhat intimidating, team like the Flyers. But the
Wild really need to take better advantage on the power play
by actually SHOOTING THE PUCK! ;-)

Hopefully they can hold their own on this road trip. Should
be some great games.

Go Wild!!!





- Scott Smith: scott.smith.DeleteThis@iphouse.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/choppersmith
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