Envisioning the Wild hoisting the Cup in June

The win by the Minnesota Wild Monday night in Vancouver is just one more reason to love Minnesota sports. Stats can be hard to look at suggesting sometimes a win should not happen.

Minnesota came into Vancouver with a record of 0-9-2 with the last win coming back in 2009. The streak cannot keep going there has to be an end so I hoped.

It is the last meeting in Vancouver this season and the last of this division rivalry as the teams get realigned next season

It would be so nice to end on a positive note and give Wild fan hope that the future looks more like a playoff spot in the end.

As you know by now the Wild did pull of a major win. Goalie Nicklas Backstrom and the boys played their hearts out.

The names of Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu, who get much of the attention and deservedly so are getting team support. The youth on the Wild team is coming through with names like Jonas Brodin, Charlie Croyle, Jason Zucker.  Veterans Devin Setoguchi, Matt Cullen to name a couple are playing top notch as well.

It seems every night through this past 10-4 record that someone different is stepping up. I believe the one man who is playing the most consistent is Ryan Suter.

Zenon Konopka got into the Wild record books Monday as he becomes the first Wild player to win 100 percent of the face offs he was involved. Konopka went 10 for 10 beating the old record of 9 for 10. This man has brought his toughness to the team in more ways than one. His fighting ability is awesome to watch but the ability to win face offs is even better.

This team has me so excited but I also know the season has a ways to go. Minnesota goes to Detroit Wednesday which will be aired on NBC Sports Network “Wednesday Night Rivalry. The guys to call the game are Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick along with analyst Eddie Olcyzk and ‘Inside the glass’ analyst, Pierre McGuire. What a night to get ready for two great teams with great TV coverage.

I grew up a North Stars fan going to several home games at the Old Met. The 1990-91 Stanley Cup run I felt like it would be the North Stars year. I was wrong as Pittsburgh Penguins won the series 4-1. This Wild team has me thinking it can happen again the way things are starting to fall into place.

How can you forget that Stanley Cup run with Dave Gagner, Brian Bellows, Neal Broten, Mike Modano, Bobby Smith, Curt Giles just to name a few. How about the name Jon Casey in the nets for the North Stars?  Casey was born in Grand Rapids,Minnesota.

The Wild have Konopka for toughness while the North Stars had a couple of players who spent some time in the penalty box. Do you remember Shane Churla and Basil McRae?

The Wild did make a run to the Western Conference finals in the 2002-2003 season which was so much fun, but I feel this team has the capability of going to the Stanley Cup.

The mix of veterans and rookies give fans a lot of hope and if Backstrom can stay healthy and play like he did Monday night perhaps I will be writing a blog in June celebrating a Minnesota title.

GO WILD

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

March madness and more

March Madness is here but also Timberwolves and Wild bring plenty to talk about as well. All I can say is Minnesota sports is a never ending talker.

Minnesota Timberwolves score the final 6 points of the game Sunday and win at home vs. New Orleans 97-95. Ricky Rubio’s 80^th game of his pro career Sunday seems like he has played longer than that. Nikolai Pekovic and Andrei Kirilenko both return the lineup. Pevovic comes through with the biggest rebound of the game late and gets fouled in the process. He makes 2 free throws to put the team up late. Kirileno makes the block of the year to seal the win. Derrick Williams comes through with a career high 28 points. It all adds up to winning 2 out of the last 3 games and 2 in a row at home.

The Wild had a great week last week going 3-1 including a home and home win over Colorado. The team is grabbing points left and right and climbing in the standings. The week coming up is by no means easy as they travel to Vancouver and Detroit before coming home to face San Jose. All 3 of these teams are part of the hotly contested Western Conference. A huge statement week facing this talented Wild team but must stick to the old one game at a time.

The realignment was announced last week and I for one love it. I grew up a huge North Stars fan living 15 minutes away from the Old Met. I loved the old Norris Division with Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit and Minnesota in it. I see with the new alignment Chicago and St. Louis will join the Wild. Dallas Stars join the division which will be huge with fans from the old North Stars who will never forget them leaving for Dallas and now the Wild will face the Stars. I can’t wait to see how this relationship materializes. Colorado, Nashville and Winnipeg will also come making it 7 teams. I am disappointed Detroit is going to the East but who knows maybe a Stanley Cup matchup between the Wild and Red Wings. Would that be crazy or what?

The Gophers got the invite to the big dance and all I can say is I hope this team can pull it together and make what happened at the end of the regular season all forgot. It starts Friday as the 11^th seed face the 6^th seeded UCLA Bruins. Good Luck Gophers!!

The Twins season starts two weeks from Monday as the Detroit Tigers roll in. The amount of snow we have seen and maybe will see soon makes a person wonder just what kind of weather April 1^st will be. We can only hope for no April’s fool joke as we see another foot of snow. Please spring come soon I miss you.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Minnesota Wild first half schedule in the books

The thought of no hockey was scary with the strike on going leaving fans wondering would we see hockey this year.

Yes, the strike was resolved and the schedule was handed out to teams. A 48 game schedule was announced only to play the Western Conference teams.

It was earlier this week the first half came to an end and with that left me the feeling the Wild will be a playoff team.

On July 4^th the Wild signed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter giving fans hope as we watched the Wild roll out that kind of money to bring these All Stars in.

The team has been dominating at home with a 9-3-1 record. The Wild in the first half have 6 two game winning streak and 2 three game losing streaks.

The team the last few games going into the end of the first half is starting to score more goals. The best so far is 4.

The juggling of lines to start the season was hard to watch as I wonder how will there be chemistry of the guys keep getting juggled.

It is starting to smooth out and the results speak for themselves as lines are starting to heat up. I love the first line with Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and youngster 21 year old, Charlie Coyle.

The team has implemented youth in there as 19 year old, Jonas Brodin and all he has done is made it hard to believe he is a teenager and getting so much action and playing a steady defense.

Jason Zucker, 21 has made himself known also coning up from Houston and scoring 4 goals already.

Zenon Konopka is one of my favorite new additions this season. I love his toughness and his ability to win the face offs.

The 2 big money free agents have not disappointed. I do not know if I have seen a harder worker than Parise. He is constantly around the net and does such a god job of getting the puck out of the boards.

Ryan Suter I see why he was so coveted. His leadership shows every night and now seems to get at least an assist a night on a goal.

Goaltender Niklas Backstrom has really played well but seems to have such bad luck on weird goals allowed. I do not know if I have seen a goalie that has this kind of luck. Opponents throwing pucks from behind the net and they seem to bounce of players for fluke goals.

I look for a great second half and going to the playoffs for a deep run. In the end my hope along with all Wild Fans is the Stanley Cup will be coming to Minnesota.

Go WILD

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

What a night at Target Center

Wednesday night I got the best surprise as I went to the Timberwolves-San Antonio game. I always hope the team can win but sometimes you just don’t get your wish.

I sat in a sparse upper deck in fact I counted 22 people in my section. It is a work night and the team has been struggling but this night was worth all the heartache.

I was so disappointed when the announcers said Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were scratches for the game. I was anxious to see these guys in action. It was my first Timberwolves-San Antonio game.

The way the game started for San Antonio jumping out to a 12 point lead early I thought Parker and Duncan out and we are still down by double digits.

One thing amongst many things I enjoy about this team is they don’t quit. Yes they have lost a lot of games but I still have seen positive signs from this roster.

The Spurs are without Duncan and Parker while the Wolves are without Kevin Love, Brandon Roy, Andrei Kirilenko, Chase Budinger and Nikolai Pekovic.

The Timberwolves at least for this night played I think the best game they have played all year. The shooting this team conducted was one of beauty. The clean swishes over and over by JJ Barea, Luke Rindour and Rubio I did not want the game to end.

I do not know if Rubio has played a better game in his Timberwolves career but at least for Wednesday I can say I was at the game where Rubio had his first career triple double.

The guy plays with such passion. I have said it before but it never gets old to see a guy consistently hustle and either near stealing or actually stealing. What a thrill to watch!!

JJ Barea, Alexey Shved both played huge games tonight especially from behind the 3 point line. I was hoping the Wolves would stay close and make it a respectable game. I guess I was wrong as the Wolves took it to the Spurs by 24.

The Spurs are one game away from 50 wins and at least Wednesday night they have to wait another game.

One player that needs mention and that is Chris Johnson who had a career high 6 blocks in this game. I will say if ever there was a team win Wednesday was a great example.

Congrats to Ricky Rubio for his first career triple double and thank you Wolves for giving me a happy ride home.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

Sports and more sports, just can't get enough

The Minnesota teams have a chance this week to really make a statement in one team’s case and the other has a chance to be a spoiler while the college team is hoping to survive.

The Minnesota Wild schedule this week:

Sun Mar 10- vs. Vancouver

Tue Mar 12- vs. Anaheim

Thu Mar 14- vs. Colorado

Sat Mar 16 @ Colorado

It is a great chance this week to defend home ice and make a statement in the race. The Vancouver game is for first place as the Canucks have 28 points and the Wild 26. A Wild win and they would be tied for first in the Northwest Division in points.

The Anaheim game will be tough but at home should be advantage Wild. The Ducks sit alone in first place in the Pacific Division with 37 points which is 2^nd overall in the West behind Chicago who has 45. This would be a great confidence booster when the Wild takes down the Ducks.

The Colorado games are home and home with the Wild currently 4 points ahead as of Sunday. A pair of wins could really help separate the two teams in the standings.

Summary- 3 Home games and 1 road with 2 of the home games against 1^st place teams. Let’s Go Wild!!!!

The Minnesota Timberwolves schedule this week:

Sun Mar 10- vs Dallas Mavericks

Tue Mar 12- vs San Antonio Spurs

Wed Mar 13- @ Indiana Pacers

Fri Mar 15- @ Houston Rockets

Two home and two away with three of the four games against current top eight in each conference and if the season ended today these teams would be in the playoffs.

Sunday’s home game against Dallas who is the current 11^th seed and the Timberwolves are 12^th. A win by Minnesota could help climb the playoff chain with still a lot of work ahead of them.

Tuesday the team is home to the number one seed in the West Conference, and is a game I will attend.

Wednesday the team faces as of Sunday the 3^rd seeded the Indiana Pacers.

Friday the team travels to the number seven seed in the West, the Houston Rockets coached by Kevin McHale.

The struggling Minnesota Gophers got the number 9 seed and will face the 8^th seeded, Illinois Fighting Illini in the Big Ten Tourney Thursday morning at 11am.

The overall picture is a Minnesota team will play every day this week except Monday. What a great sports week ahead. We are also 7 days from selection Sunday to see which teams get invited to the Big Dance and which teams will be sitting home.

Let’s Go Wild, Timberwolves and Gophers and also keep in the back of your mind the Twins opening game is Monday April 1^st when they host Torri Hunter and the Detroit Tigers. What a great way to start a season with a divisional opponent coming to Minnesota.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Saturday, a full day of action

Saturday’s Minnesota sports fan had a schedule to love with all teams in action and It started early at 11am with the Gophers basketball team in Purdue and the day ended with the Timberwolves in Denver for a 8 pm start.

It is unfortunate the Gophers struggled once again on the road today. The big win at home vs. Indiana followed by a dominating win once again at home vs. Purdue only to end with 2 road losses.

The team finally hit the .500 record in conference after the Penn State win only to end with an 8-10 record and falling to a 9^th seed in next week’s Big Ten Tourney in Chicago.

The hopes we as fans have it is a neutral sight game the rest of the way with anything possible. It is the one hope I have left to hang onto. I really felt the way this team started out playing well in the non-conference and then to start the Big Ten schedule 3-0 including a win at home vs. Michigan State and a road win in Illinois I really thought we were on our way.

Let’s hope things go well next week and although I have read the Gophers will be in the Big Dance but if they can’t get things turned around who knows?

The Minnesota Wild come into Nashville Saturday night with road wins hard to come by. It is Ryan Suter’s return back to Nashville where he played 7 seasons. How will the emotion affect both teams?

As a Minnesota fan losing the likes of Kevin Garnett, Torri Hunter, Marion Gaborik and more I understand when a star comes back home.

It was nice to see the Wild score on a power play and who gets an assists? Ryan Suter assists on the goal by Zach Parise.

Suter took a penalty and Nashville scored the tie breaker. I was concerned that Nashville would take this energy boost after the goal. Suter’s home coming 1 assist and one penalty and also seemed to take a lot of late hits from his ex-teammates. It was nice to see the Wild come to Suter’s defense.

Wild Goalie Nicklas Backstom came up huge Saturday especially after his last start ended early as he was benched in the Chicago game. It was huge to see his confidence did not seem shaken.

The game went into overtime with no scoring setting up the shootout. Matt Cullen and Mikko Koivu came through beating a goalie who is 6’4” with beautiful goals. What an important 2 points the team got on the road and now return home Sunday vs. the first place, Vancouver Canucks. The Excel Energy Center will be rocking Sunday night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves played in Denver and were down by only one at half. I was feeling good that Minnesota may steal one on the road.

The wheels fell off quickly late 3^rd quarter and the rest of the game. It is amazing how a deficit of 6 can go to almost 20 in a short span.

Nugget’s have 2 ex-Timberwolves players Corey Brewer, 7^th pick in the 2007 draft and Ty Lawson, 18^th pick in the 2009 draft. A note on Lawson even though the Wolves drafted him the team did a same night trade with the Denver.

The Nuggets scored 111 for the game and of that Brewer had 15 and Lawson 32 combing for 47 of the 111 which is 42 percent of the team’s total. Ex-Minnesota players come to haunt a team again.

The game on Saturday marked the one year anniversary in which Ricky Rubio went down for the season at home against the LA Lakers.

The season has had more downs than ups but the one positive is the play of Ricky Rubio.

The Vikings have Adrian Peterson go down for the season only to come back 9 yards shy of the all-time rushing mark and now Rubio is getting closer to his first triple double seemingly every night after last year’s season ending injury. These 2 men are an inspiration to people who work hard and have desire will be successful.

The Wolves on the road late in Denver add in daylight savings time must return home Sunday with a game against Dallas followed by Tuesday home against San Antonio Spurs.

I am hoping Sunday is a sweep for the Minnesota teams with the Wild and Timberwolves both at home.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Wednesday had the makings and then......

Wednesday had a chance to be big for the Minnesota basketball teams but in the end only 1 was in the W column. Yes, the Timberwolves finally broke their losing streak of 6.

The team shows so much grit but that does not always show in the final score.  The hustle by Ricky Rubio is so encouraging and I would think eventually rub off on teammates.

His 6 steal in the game and 4 of those in the 4^th quarter is so fun because as you watch the game he is centimeters from stealing even more. His leadership at point each night for me is a thrill. The passes he makes just do not get old to watch. The creativity he presents makes you want more.

Chris Johnson and Mickael Gelabale joined the team recently and now signed through the end of the season. They are not big household names but do show that they can contribute. The scoring numbers by these 2 do not jump out but there hustle up and down the court is noticeable. Johnson and Gelabale each had 6 last night. The jumping ability by Johnson is a nice feature to have on the team. How about Gelabale assignment on Monday against Miami as he had to guard LeBron James? The experience they are getting is valuable for next season whether it is here in Minnesota or another NBA team.

A great team win and a much needed one as they now travel to Denver on Saturday with Daylight savings times and then come home for Dallas Sunday and San Antonio Tuesday.

The Minnesota Gophers came into the Nebraska game on a 2 game winning streak. The Gophers back on January 29 beat Nebraska by 19 at Williams Arena.

My thought is a 2 for 2 for wins in basketball. There is no way Minnesota will lose. The Gophers finally made the .500 mark at 8-8 and Nebraska came in 4-12. The odds are in Minnesota’s favor so I thought.

It was the last basketball game in the Devaney Center as a new one opens next year. There is a lot of incentive for Nebraska to pull the upset.

It is hard to believe the winning team shot 36 percent for the game. It is even harder to believe Gophers Senior forward, Rodney Williams had 0 points.

This Gophers just struggle on the road and factor in the team shot 50 percent at the free throw line going 10-20. They lose by 2 and miss 10 free throws what if the players could have converted.

It is strange to say as I watched both games even though one won and one loss it is incredible the free throws these teams miss. They are free points.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick