Orioles very impressive, taking 2 out of 3 from the Twins

Twins come back from a .500 road trip and now come home for a home stand starting with the Baltimore Orioles. Do the Twins have momentum after winning 3 out of 4 in Boston?

The opening night started out like they were going to answer my question. A 6-0 lead and I felt pretty comfortable that the team is building on momentum only to watch them lose in extra innings. A middle game win followed by a Mothers’ Day loss.

The Baltimore Orioles are for real. They were so impressive in the hits department. 40 hits in 3 games off Twins pitching was hard to watch. This team is a machine and the Yankees better watch out. I thought the Twins did pretty decent themselves collecting 30 in the 3 game series.

Odds and ends of the series:

1)      How about Vance Worley finally getting in the win column? Way to go Vance!!!

2)      Scott Diamond has been pitching strong and then Sunday is on a 6-0 losing side.

3)      Baltimore had 7 doubles in one game alone.

4)      Joe Mauer went 8-12 this weekend with 4 doubles himself.

5)       Jared Burton picked up his first save of the year for the Twins giving Perkins a night of rest

6)      Ryan Doumit hitting his 3^rd home run in the last 4 games. A great sign for the team with another home run threat

Twins lose 2 out of 3 at home yet remain at .500 and are only 2.5 games out of first. This home stand has got to go better in hopes of keeping up the rest of the division.

GO TWINS

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Season of hope ends in the Windy City

The Wild down 3 games to 1 and must win the next 3 against the President’s trophy winner, the Chicago Black Hawks. The backs are to the wall with no tomorrow if a loss occurs Thursday night in the Windy City. Do the Wild pull the upset?

First period typified the series with the Wild dominating the Black Hawks zone. A shot by Jason Pominville created a huge rebound with Captain Miko Koivu coming in for the game’s first goal. The miss was heart wrenching. Oh that would have been sweets to come out with the first goal. The Wild were so active but no results in goals.

 A power play failure again, just another frustrating stat of the playoffs as the Wild go 0-17 on the power play.

Black Hawks Marian Hossa gave the Hawks the lead. A beautiful pass and a one timer by Hossa broke my heart. If only the Wild could take advantage like this. It seemed Goalie, Josh Harding was ready but Hossa found just enough space.

The theme of the playoffs goes like this. The Wild work, work, dominate but cannot score. The Black Hawks survive the onslaught get one chance and all the Wild work goes for not. How many times did we see this occur?

A second period bomb by Wild defenseman, Jared Spurgeon clanks off the post. The sound that came through the TV of the clank was so disappointing. It was such a nice shot as it was placed beautifully only to see it miss my millimeters. Game 1 Jason Zucker clanks one of the goal post in overtime.

The work ethic is there just no finishing ability. The major difference between the 2 squads was made evident in each game.

I felt so bad for Harding when he got pulled. He leaves down 3-0. A man who lived through what he did this year I wanted so badly for him to succeed. I would like to thank Harding for his efforts in net this series.

Wild down 3-0 finally get a goal by Torrey Mitchell. I was so excited knowing we are back in the game and then 35 second later literally the Black Hawks score. What a sick feeling!!!!!!!

The game ends with me going to bed dejected. I wanted so badly to see this team do well.

The questions now begin and decisions now must be made. The Gophers fired Tubby Smith, the Wolves fire David Kahn do the Wild keep Coach Yeo?

I believe the team itself has a bright future as far as players go. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed July 4^th, 2012 for 13 years. They are not going anywhere. The rookies: Jonas Brodin, Charlie Coyle, and Jason Zucker got some great experience and with them being so young I Iook for them to be pillars for quite some time. It will be neat to see how Jason Pominville with a full off season see what he can add.

The names Bouchard, Koivu, Brodziak what do the Wild do with them?

So many questions in the off season will begin Friday. No matter what happens, my hope is the decisions come sooner than later.

The Wild finally after 5 years got the taste of the playoffs as well as the fans so now it is time to build on that. I am already excited for October 2013.

Thanks Wild for a season to remember

Go Wild

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

Road trip end on a high

The Twins just completed their 10 game road trip ending it 5-5. They state out losing 2 out of 3 to Detroit and end it taking 3 out of 4 from the Boston Red Sox. This team after losing 90 plus the last 2 is starting out 2013 with promise.

The Twins gave us many thrills in the Boston Series:

Joe Mauer 5 doubles

3 Twins hit their first home runs of the year: Brian Dozier, Ryan Doumit and Pedro Florimon.

Florimon in the 15-8 win got a home run and a double in the same inning and to think he got those from different sides of the plate.

 Doumit hit a 2^nd home run in the series and has raised his average from .197 on April 25^th to .237 after the May 9^th games in Boston. 40 points is great and much appreciated as he is helping this team score.

Twins turned 6 double plays in the 4 game series with 4 in one game and 2 in another.

Oswaldo Arcia who turned 22 on Thursday turned in an unbelievable series going 7-13 which included a triple and home run on his birthday. He now has a 7 games hitting streak and has hit safely in 9 of the last 10. What a rookie campaign he has started.

Twins starters, 2 were good and 2 not so good. How about Scott Diamond pitching 7 innings of 3 hit ball at Fenway? Kevin Correia picks up his 4^th win of the season as he wins the series finale.

Relief pitcher Ryan Pressly got his first major league victory in the 15-8 win. Congrats to Ryan!!!

The 15-8 Wednesday win was a game I did not want to end. 11 runs in the first 2 innings by the Twins have not happened in 26 years. The year 1987 and what happened that year? The World Series was won by the Twins.

The 15 runs were the most scored since May 25^th 1965, the year I was born.

In a thought the only loss the Twins suffered in Boston the Twins had a 41 lead only to lose in extra innings. It is a selfish thought sweeping the Red Sox. Heck, 3 out of 4 I will take as well.

Way to go Twins!!!!   A game over .500 is a great mark, but now the Twins return home and look to take care of business against the Baltimore Orioles.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Can the Wild repeat the 2002-2003 season magic?

The Wild are only down 2 games to 1 with a huge game at the X and a chance to even the series before the teams head back to Chicago. I had just finished watching the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins to even up that series. I thought if New York can tie up Pittsburgh that got me even more psyched to watch the Wild game.

Pittsburgh and Chicago, the two number 1 seeds in their respective divisions and playing the 8^th seeds, and struggling thus far.

The Wild come in with everything on the line. We saw Sunday what a crowd can do for this team and the team responded with a great overtime win. Game 4 is ready to begin. It had been a long day waiting for 8:30 and the time had come so what will the outcome be?

Josh Harding back in nets has playing unbelievable thus far in the series. I believe he should be the Wild MVP thus far. Jason Pomniville gets the clearance after being out for much of the last part of the season. The home crowd waving their hankies wildly, Pominville is back, and a chance to even up the series with so much excitement how can the Wild not win?

The first period the Wild came out and dominated the Black Hawks. The Wild get chance after chance but yet a turnover and Black Hawks capitalize. I thought, oh no this is the last thing the Wild needed. The unthinkable happens next to this snake bitten team, watching Harding get run into and now we are down 2 goalies. What more can this team take?

Darcy Kuepmer gets his shot and I thought maybe this would be the boost to get the Wild sparked. Black Hawks score on their first shot on goal. I really thought after that Kuemper played very well before surrendering a terrible angle goal in the third.

The goals by Zucker in game 3, and Bickell in game 4 were terrible angles just proves fire on net and see what happens.

I am in shock sitting here writing with so much hope and so many storylines that should give the Wild the extra momentum.

I cannot remember any hockey game where one team had such a major advantage on the power play. The refs gave Minnesota every chance to tie the game if not destroy the Hawks with Minnesota getting 6 power plays and coming up empty.

The Wild puck movement was awesome to watch, the problem was Chicago played Minnesota hockey and blocked everything we shot at them.

It got harder and harder to watch the failures of the power play knowing one goal would ignite this team and really get the crowd behind them.

The Wild have too many wasted chances and the Black Hawks have few chances but the chances they had cashed in.

I am not convinced Chicago is showing why they are the number 1 seed yet and that is why I feel Game 5 is winnable. Will the Black Hawks come in overconfident knowing they are one win away from advancing?

The next story line is who gets the call in nets for the Wild?

The old saying applies here, “It’s not over until it’s over.” Wild fans we have to believe this team can win the next 3. I BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Twins still hanging around the .500 mark

The 2012 Twins took 12 out of 18 from the Cleveland Indians and now face the Indians for the first time in 2013. The Indians have added Twins killer ex-Yankees Nick Swisher. What do the Indians have in store for the Twins?

The answer is the Twins did a copy and paste from the prior series with Detroit. The first 2 go to the bad guys and the good guys take game 3.

It was a series that saw Justin Morneau get his 800th rbi as a Twin in Game 1which makes Justin only the 5^th Twins ever to do this. He joins Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett and Tony Oliva to hit this milestone in Twins history.

Brian Dozier had a 3-4 day as the leadoff batter in the first game if the series. These stats were not enough as Twins lose.

The next two saw a pitching flip flop. Kevin Correia and Red Sox’ Clay Buchholz were the only 2 American League starts to go 5 straight starts to go at least7 innings. Kevin did not have such good luck this start, but still what a way to start his Twins career. Sunday’s starter Mike Pelfrey had been struggling only to see him pitch a strong game Sunday in getting a win.

The home run department saw this weekend Twins rookie, Aaron Hicks get his first home run of the year. A first pitch no doubter. It would have been nice if the Twins would have been able to get the win that day making it more special for Hicks.

Twins 3^rd baseman, Trevor Plouffe had a nice weekend connecting on home runs in two different games this weekend.

The no quit Twins do it again winning the final game of the series keeping the team close to .500 with a record of 13 wins and 14 losses. The Twins now move on to Boston for the next 4 games ending this 10 game road trip.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Secret to success: Play physical and shoot high

The Wild down 2-0, coming into game 3 where a win is an absolute  must especially playing in front of the home crowd.

I attended the game and took in the pregame festivities outside the X. They had a band playing, food vendors were set up along with a playoff merchandise tent. KFAN radio was doing a show and the tent next to that was more KFAN where a Stanley Cup replica made by KFAN was available to hold up and get your picture taken with it.

I found another tent with ex North Stars players who were signing autographs for fans. It was a thrill to meet Don Beaupre, Brad Maxwell, Jack Carlson and Tim Young. Oh the memories of the old North Stars. What a great treat to have the pleasure to meet these 4 former Stars.

In walking outside I noticed a tremendous amount of Black Hawks fans that made the trip. It was a lot of red outside with people where their Wild jerseys and the Black Hawk fan that wore their red jerseys.

The game itself started with Jack Jablonski taking the hockey flag and bringing it to center ice. It was extremely emotional watching this young man come across the ice in his wheel chair holding the State of Hockey flag. Jack’s Dad and brother called out the Lets play hockey.

There was so much emotion in the stadium. The playoff towels that were laid on each earing were being waved furiously. The fans were really into the game. The Black Hawks score leaving an eerie feeling and hearing people talk about oh no here we go.

The Wild tie it on a late goal and really got the crowd as loud as it had been all day. The Wild I felt outplayed the Black Hawks badly yet a tie score.

The second period goal by Zach Parise got the X so jacked. I could hear the chants towards Black Hawk goalie, Crawford as fans were chanting sieve, sieve, sieve.

I felt so good about the Wild winning this game. It seemed everything was going right. I look at the clock with 6 minutes left in the game hoping the time would speed up.

The Wild’s worst nightmare occurred as the fans got to watch the Black Hawks being relentless in cycling the puck around and around. The Wild could not get the puck out of the zone. It is a bad feeling sitting and watching helplessly as it seemed just a matter of time before the Hawks would score.  It happened as the Hawks tie it up. Fans were so upset so much than 3 fans in front of me left the game saying we are going to lose.

Overtime started with so much pressure on the Wild as the Black Hawks seemed to have taken the game over late in the Third.

I had seats where I got to see the Wild score 2 goals down in front of me so the Overtime if the Wild were to win I would have to watch at the other end. It would be so worth it.

I saw the greatest moment at the other end as Jason Zucker scored the winning goal. Wild players jumped the bench onto the ice in jubilation, fans were waving the hankies. The place went bananas in my greatest hockey moment in attending a game.

I loved the Wild play from start to finish. I thought Pierre Marc- Bouchard was the game MVP. The determination by each and every player on the Wild was huge. The hits the Wild laid on the Black Hawks never got old.

I believe the key to beating the Black Hawks is 2 things: 1) hit the pretty boys because they do not have their feathers ruffled and 2) shoot high on Crawford he can’t stop the puck. A jacked up crowd doesn’t hurt either.

Game 4 is now the biggest game of the year with a Wild win making it 2-2 or Black Hawk win only leaves the Hawks needing one more.

Sunday’s game was the best money I have spent in quite some time. It was a blast seeing the Wild knock off the Stanley Cup favorites, the Black Hawks.

Go Wild

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

 

Sorry Black Hawks, series is far from over

The Black Hawks escape with an overtime win in Game 1 and now come into Game 2 with a chance to go up 2-0 before heading to Minnesota. A split in Chicago I will take. It is a tremendous challenge for the underdog Wild. The pressure is on so how will the Wild perform?

First period I held by breath a lot with all the quality chances the Black Hawks had. Goalie Josh Harding came to play once again only giving up 1 goal in 15 shots. We survived the onslaught for now. I felt only down 1-0 after watching the Hawks dominate there might be hope.

The second period Wild finally gets a power play and I thought a chance to tie it up making the crowd a little nervous.    What a time to give up the Wild’s first shorthanded goal of the year. Oh boy down 2-0 on the road against the Stanley Cup Champ favorite do we have a chance? Devin Setogughi answered on the beautiful feed from Cullen making it 2-1. My thought still continues I really feel we have a chance to steal one on the road. The Wild just do not quit and I love that about this team.

Black Hawks score making it 3-1 as my heart was breaking giving me the feeling like this team is in trouble. Chicago up 4-1 and then Wild make it 4-2 again a sign of fight to the end. Empty net goal Hawks win 5-2 and go up 2-0 in the series.

I have to take the positives I saw because I am sorry I just do not believe the Wild are out of this series. Yes, we are down 2-0 but the Wild showed me some grittiness in not quitting.

The blocking of Black Hawks shots continues to be a story line in the first 2 games. The goaltending by Harding is unbelievable. In facing over 80 shots by this high powered Black Hawks team Harding has been the team MVP thus far. The goals he gave up Friday I do not know of too many goalies that could have stopped these.

Black Hawks have scored 7 in the first 2 but none by Patrick Kane or Jonathon Toews as of yet. I will say that Kane is unbelievable with the puck and how he makes it look so effortless.

The Wild power play looked extremely good in the 2nd period with Parise having 7 shots alone jabbing and jabbing away in one of the opportunities.

I am concerned with the punishment the Hawks dished out to Koivu with no penalties called. The one where he clearly gets punched in the head and of course gets the penalty on retaliating. Has Koivu ever taken 3 penalties in one game? The sign of frustration is concerning.

The Black Hawks did what they had to and that was winning both at home. The scene moves to Minnesota where the State of Hockey will be behind these players 100%.

I am not convinced Black Hawk goalie Crawford is good enough to make the Cup run. I am hoping the Wild put 50-60 shots on goal. The hope is to see the team shoot high on him. They can beat him just shoot, shoot, shoot. Please don’t look for the perfect pass just pepper away.

A win is a must, making the series 2-1 giving the Hawks some doubts and worry after the last 2 years going out in the first round.

The Black Hawks are the best team in the NHL to date but I feel a home crowd will put this Wild team over the edge. It can and will be done. A win on Sunday is the medicine the doctor ordered. Wild will win 4-1

I will be at the game Sunday. It will be my first playoff game ever including the North Stars years. This Wild team has showed they can play with the Hawks. We need to be more physical and just shoot the heck out of the puck and a victory we will see at the X.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick