The Minnesota Wild Have Got to be Killing Gary Bettman Inside
|
Ladies and gentleman, the Minnesota Wild and Crazy Guys/Fightin' Adjectives/Abstract Concepts, whatever you want to call them, are on a mission to make Gary Bettman's head explode. With a victory over the Anaheim Ducks tonight, the Wild have moved to 5-0, surrendering the un-Godly amount of four goals during that time. That lack of goal scoring alone is probably giving Bettman a hernia, so don't tell him that the Wild are averaging an even more ridiculous 2.2 goals per game during their current streak. The Wild are simply sick nasty, folks.
When is the last time a team started the season undefeated and averaged around two goals per game? I don't know, but I would assume it's been a while. One thing is for sure, the Wild are launching a full scale attack on NHL HQ. They don't like goals, and aren't phased by any of your fancy, shmansy rule changes.
Another surprise from Minnesota is whom the Wild started in net tonight. When I first saw that they had beaten Anaheim 2-0, I figured Niklas Backstrom had earned his third shutout of the season and my fantasy team was going to bust some more heads in. Not so fast. Backstrom had started all four games for the Wild so far and got some much needed rest tonight. Instead, Guy Probably No One Has Heard of Outside of Minnesota, also known as Josh Harding, got the start tonight.
With so much hubbub surrounding Backstrom, it's no surprise this is my first encounter with Minnesota's second round pick from all the way back in 2002 (wayyyy to long ago to remember). I'm a Harding virgin, or a Har-gin, if you will. Harding stopped all 37 shots the Ducks threw at him, and earned his third career shutout in only his eighth career start. It was also Minnesota's third shut out in five games this season. Yikes. If you're of the belief that scoring is going to win back fans, you've really got to hate the Wild right now. I'm looking at you, Gary.
So there you have it folks, the Wild, Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding; singlehandedly trying to give the commissioner an ulcer.
Labels:
Gary Bettman,
Minnesota Wild
Posts
I hate your fantasy team. Paul Stastny AND Backström. You lucky bastard/good drafter!
ReplyDeleteI don't care how many goals the FA's score, just so long as they keep putting up those W's.
ReplyDeleteBut this is certainly not a good way to get novices to watch hockey.
What the Wilds lack in goals, they make up for in Boogaard fights. That's how they keep the fans happy up here.
ReplyDeleteIf it were to get rid of Lil' Gary, a season without goals might not be too high a price to pay.
ReplyDelete@casualhockey: true, very true
ReplyDelete@wild/FA/AC whatever: Godspeed you on your mission to cause Betty's head to a splode. Godspeed.
But this is certainly not a good way to get novices to watch hockey.
ReplyDeleteNot true. At least in my case. I started liking hockey after the lockout, with my home team Penguins--so I mean, there's obviously been a tiny bit of excitement there. I'm now in Minnesota for college, and I have never been as excited about hockey as I am about the Wild right now.