The Wild hit the ice skating, and promptly took a penalty. They killed it without much trouble, but did not seem to realize it. They remained on their heels for the rest of the first period, though it remained scoreless throughout. It was actually a mistake they didn't make that cost them. Owen Nolan's phantom slash (a light tap on the knee as Sami Lepasto's stick snapped in two from a relatively weak pass) gave Phoenix the power-play needed to open the scoring.
The Wild's top line tried their best to keep the Wild in the game, but a complete lack of secondary scoring from Marty Havenot and his linemates ultimately doomed the Wild. Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettenen, and Mikko Koivu? A combined +6. Every other Wild forward? A combined -6. Not winning numbers.
As far as winning plays go, surrendering another goal nineteen seconds after tying the game is quite the opposite. No movement from the defense as Backstrom allowed his only rebound of the night, after which Scottie Upshall's gliding shot slipped under Nik's pad from a sharp angle. Inexplicable and inexcusable, from both Backs and the defense. We all hoped that these kinds of lapses disappeared. We were wrong. This team is still growing within the little talent they have.
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