So much for the North Pole

Hockey can be a weird game. Sometimes the team that is obviously dominating play for the majority of the game can lose. Sometimes even the weakest of shots can go in. Sometimes the home team can take a lead in under two minutes, just to squander it away.

The Wild played their most complete game. Throughout the first two periods, they applied tons of pressure to the Nashville defensemen, forcing early and errant passes with the forecheck, which led to turnovers and opportunities on goal. The Wild were all over the ice in the first period, yet Nashville led by two goals at the end of it.

Both of those goals came on "easy" shots, which Niklas Backstrom usually saves. The first was a quick back-hand lob by J.P. Dumont from ten feet. Backstrom used to have a problem with going down too early, and he seemed to get fly happy on this goal, as he went down while the puck went up and over his shoulder to find the net. It wasn't a major defensive lapse, just a poor play by the goalie. The second was a wrister from the blueline on the power play. It did not deflect, and while there was a screen, Backstrom normally would see and stop such a shot. He failed on this chance, completing the Wild's usual early deficit.

The beginning of the second period was a key moment for our Christmas Elves, as they have struggled to maintain effort on the other side of intermissions. Be it solid coaching from Papa Claus or making fewer toys during the break, the Wild kept it up, and finally got something to show for their work. An early power play led to an early wrister and goal for Brent Burns. An unblocked slap-shot from Clutterbuck found the top shelf. Owen Nolan then took the lead on a nice skate-trap and shoot. No, there weren't any shots between those goals. A minute and forty seven seconds and three shots were all the Wild needed to take the lead.

They needed another four to lose it on a four-on-four stemming from some extra-curriculars by Martin Havlat (how quaint). The Predators got a good rush after a failed Minnesota possession. The shot bounced off the toe of a Nashville player whom Marek Zidlicky failed to push away from the goal. It's really hard to buy Z as an actual defensemen. He hasn't made any of his signature bone-headed turnovers yet this season, but he's still held up to his reputation as skilled but soft and small. Maybe he can provide some trade value at the deadline, but I'm tired of having him cost the Wild these types of soft goals.

The third found the Wild starting to fall into a defensive shell, where it was from lack of energy or a strategic decision. It didn't work. When they received a potential game-changing power-play at the ten minute mark. I may have lied about Marek Zidlicky earlier. He HAS made one of his bone-headed turnovers. On that power-play, a round-the-bend dump into the Predator zone cleared the blue line, and Z was unable to corral it. Jerred Smithson did, and took it to the Wild zone, beating Backstrom on a toe-drag to take the lead for Nashville. More than a minute remained on the power-play, but the Wild's sails had lost their wind. A few more scoring chances with the empty net, but there would be no comeback this time.

Yet there were good things to take from this game. The Wild's effort through the first fifty minutes impressed the Hockey Gods enough for them to let some pucks go in. If they can shake off those bad plays instead of letting them ruin the night, they can compete in most games. Winning is the next step after that.