Well, folks. It's gone from bad to worse as the Wild stumbled into the Christmas break on a four-game losing streak and still sit out of the playoff picture in 10th place in the Western Conference. Among the past four games, there's been two losses to division foes Chicago and Nashville and two overtime losses. Too often lately they've needed to rally and come back in the third period.
As Tuesday night's 5-2 loss to Philly's Flyers wrapped up, I was reminded of a quote from the movie "D2: Mighty Ducks:" "Well, you better get the damn magic."
@hlrule Don Tibbles of Hendrix Hockey.
— Dana Wessel (@DanaWessel) December 24, 2014
Thanks to Dana Wessel for correctly identifying the movie's character.
But seriously, this is very appropriate for the Wild right now. Earlier in the year, it was just that the power play wasn't clicking. Now it's turned into a big mess, from goaltending to lacking an offensive spark.
Goalkeeper shuffle
Youngster Darcy Kuemper really stepped up at the end of last season when Backstrom was out injured. He even started this season well, too, with a lengthy shutout streak. That was when the team in general was functioning on all cylinders.
It's another story with Kuemps these days. The more he plays, the more goals get past him and the more it seems the mental part of the game might be getting to him. Never has the Minnesota Wild pulled its goaltender so much. Kuemps has played terribly at home recently; I think he's gotten the hook in three of his past five home starts or something.
What's been hard to see is the leads quickly evaporating for the Wild. Against Boston the other night, the Wild took 1-0 and 2-1 leads before heading to the locker room down 3-2. That's not good. You obviously can't give up leads like that. It's not to say the defense hasn't had some break downs - it has - but the goaltending needs to be better.
Backstrom is the veteran who can still play well, but he's also getting older, and I saw his game start to slip last season. I don't think he's the answer as the No. 1 goaltender going forward either. Like pitching in baseball, hockey teams require good goaltending. I just don't know how to get it; which players are you willing to give up?
Get mad, or something
There was some press within the past month about Mikko Koivu playing as "Angry Mikko," where he took an aggressive attitude to the ice and notched some points on the scoreboard. I suggest he play like "Angry Mikko" all the time.
Coach Mike Yeo also deviated from his usual coaching style and gave his players some anger and choice words during practice a couple weeks back. It hasn't seemed to do the trick, for whatever reason.
I'd like to see Charlie Coyle use his size more and be a presence in front of the net. If that means getting a little more physical once in awhile, fine.
Turn it up a notch
The team in general needs to remember how long the hockey games last. It's 60 minutes of regulation play broken up into three, 20-minute periods. It may sound trite, but the players must need a reminder because they've had slow starts in a few of their games. Or they decide to take a period off, like they did against Chicago in the second.
Find a spark, something, to get your team going. Score some goals and stop putting yourselves in a position where you always need a third-period rally to win. It's good to know you have the ability to come back; you just can't rely on that ability too much.
Wild players have a few days to celebrate the holidays and gather their playing toughness again before it hits the ice for a home-and-home series against division-rival Winnipeg, starting Saturday in St. Paul. Needless to say, these are two very important games.
The Wild are 10th in the conference at 16-13-3 with 35 points. There's still lots of season left. The Wild needs a turnaround sooner rather than later.
Everyone's all, "It's only December, don't worry..." I get that. But I'm also concerned. Guys need to step up. #mnwild
— Heather Rule (@hlrule) December 18, 2014
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