Clutterbucked

The Wild continued their inspired effort at the Xcel Energy Center, and they would need every bit of it to top the Hurricanes.

They got a boon of returning injured players, as Petr Sykora and Cal Clutterbuck made their way back to the ice. Yes, the same Clutterbuck who was supposed to be out for weeks, laced up and took the rink. The two wingers replaced centers James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot: two young players, two top-ten Risebrough draft picks, and two healthy scratches for their lackluster hustle and results (though I thought Pouliot had been playing better).

The Wild hit the ice running... uh... skating and really took it to the 'Canes, drawing two penalties in the first ten minutes of play. Their power play looked pretty good, but the Wild again did not finish the chances they generated. After the consecutive power plays, Shane Hnidy would commit one of his own, and the Wild's penalty killing streak finally ended. They kept their energy up for most of the first period, and finally equalized on Andrew Brunette's savvy power play goal. He got behind the goal, and shot it off Cam Ward's back and into the goal. Nice.

In the second period, the boys in green finally got a break, as Owen Nolan's forecheck/dump-in went straight to Kyle Brodziak, who made a nice fake over to his backhand past Cam Ward. It was the kind of finish the Wild have lacked this season.

Of course, with that kind of luck, karma would strike back. A half-rink pass left Antti Miettinen all alone but flat-footed in the Carolina zone. He stood still while his teammates and opponents caught up, and made the wrong choice by back-handing towards the middle instead of bouncing it off the boards. It cost him and the Wild, as the 'Canes intercepted the pass, and scored on the two-on-one rush that followed.

As usual, the Wild gave up more than one of those odd-man rushes, but yet again Niklas Backstrom bailed the Wild out. He didn't make as many saves as his very capable counterpart, but the saves he did make were essential, spectacular, and game-saving. He had some help as well.

Greg Zanon is a beast. He had six blocked shots, one crouching in the net, another clear of a puck in the crease, and the primary assist on the game winning goal. He's easily been the Wild's best defender and best free-agent signing from the summer.

Cal Clutterbuck is the highlight of the night, and of the Risebrough era. Captain Koivu entered the zone as the overtime ticked away, and snapped a wrister towards the net. The puck bounced off of the 'tender Ward, right onto the tape of Zanon. Chuck Fletcher's best move found the post, but Risebrough's best move was there. The puck bounced off Clutterbuck's face, and landed in the slot as Cal leaped, lunged, and fell as he back-handed the puck into the open net. It was gritty and spectacular at the same time. The Wild's best goal this season appropriately won them the game.

The next step will be having those energetic, offensively and defensively active sticks follow the Wild away from the XCel. With their healthy bodies getting back into the swing of things, I'm optimistic. Though that optimism's been misplaced before.