The sweet taste of birthday cake, the celebratory annual occasion that was the birthday party.  Whether it was a fun time spent at home with some friends or a more staged party at a restaurant or an arcade (the places where most of people of our ilk played their first video games) it was a time where it was all about the big day.  You'd open gifts, and relish at being the center of attention for one day each year.  Maybe some of you were generous enough to try to bring in everyone on the celebration by bringing treats to class (which is kind of the current norm by the way).  Yet over time the annual celebration really fades after your 16th birthday doesn't it?  Here's another question you can ask yourself.  At what point in your life did a birthday stop becoming a celebration and more or less a nasty reminder that you are just getting older?  Where now if you happen to go out on your birthday you almost plead with those around you not to remind the restaurant staff that it is in fact your birthday for fear of being serenaded with an embarrassing and sappy 'Birthday Song' because they're not allowed to use trademarked Happy Birthday ditty.  I'm 35, so I wouldn't say I dread this day most of the time but I have to admit it starts to make me put my age into perspective when I think that if I was an NHL'er I'd likely be considered to be in the twilight of my career.  By the way I can hear your jokes about how I'm in the twilight of my blogging career but I'm ignoring them. 

So why am I talking about birthdays?  Well that's because the Wild have a birthday of one of their own to celebrate as the team's captain, Mikko Koivu celebrates the big 3 0 today.  Happy Birthday Mikko!  You could say the Wild have already given Koivu his birthday gift as they still have him signed through the 2017-18 season at a hefty $6.75 million per year.  Its the gift that keeps on giving, to Koivu at least.  So will Koivu and the Wild deliver the fans of Minnesota a birthday treat or will Anaheim supply a nasty birthday spanking? 

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Minnesota Wild (13-9-2)  28pts  1st in the Northwest

2.29 Goals For (26th)

2.42 Goals Against (7th)

16.3% Power Play (20th)

86.5% Penalty Kill (4th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 4G 16A = 20pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 11G 8A = 19pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 1G 17A = 18pts

4. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 3G 11A = 14pts

5. #15 Dany Heatley ~ 8G 5A = 13pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 61 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 32 PIM's

3. #4 Clayton Stoner ~ 20 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (11-6-2)  2.30GAA  .914%SP

2. #35 Darcy Kuemper (1-2-0)  2.02GAA  .924%SP

3. #37 Josh Harding (1-1-0)  2.92GAA  .885%SP  1 SO

Vs.

Anaheim Ducks (18-3-3)  39pts  1st in the Pacific

3.38 Goals For (3rd)

2.46 Goals Against (9th)

27.8% Power Play (1st)

76.8% Penalty Kill (28th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #15 Ryan Getzlaf ~ 10G 21A = 31pts

2. #10 Corey Perry ~ 9G 15A = 24pts

3. #9 Bobby Ryan ~ 8G 13A = 21pts

4. #11 Saku Koivu ~ 7G 14A = 21pts

5. #8 Teemu Selanne ~ 6G 11A = 17pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #25 Brad Staubitz ~ 41 PIM's

2. #39 Matt Beleskey ~ 33 PIM's

3. #44 Sheldon Souray ~ 27 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #30 Viktor Fasth (10-1-1)  1.92GAA  .929%SP  2 SO

2. #1 Jonas Hiller (8-2-2)  2.85GAA  .899%SP  1 SO

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In a sick, twisted way, I love Vancouver Canucks fans.  There is no other fanbase in hockey that is this manic.  Not even Toronto or Montreal fans are this crazy.  See, at least in those two cities, that fans have reasons to be as off-kilter as they are.  They have the storied history,  and the Stanley Cups to match it.  Vancouver, not so much.  Canucks fans live in this bubble, where they seriously think every year, they're going to win the Cup.  It doesn't matter that they've choked in epic fashion, time after time.  Every pre-season, they'll tell you that THIS is the year that they're going to go all the way, and why they're better than last year.  Well fans of other teams around the league, just laugh and shake their heads.  

Now this season, Canucks fans have been dealing with the saga of Roberto Luongo.  Some get nostalgic, and want to keep Lou.  Most want him gone.  Of course, we have yet to see any deal that sends him anywhere.  I honestly don't think the Canucks will get close to what they want for him or what they think he's worth.  So, we just sit back and watch that soap opera.  However, lately the Luongo soap opera isn't the most humorous I've seen.  The new, and improved reason why the Canucks aren't winning according to Canucks fans, rests solely on the shoulders of their head coach, Alain Vigneault.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Now, if you're like me and you've dealt with Canucks fans for any length of time, you will remember in the not-so-distant-past, that they thought Vigneault could do no wrong, and he was the best coach ever.  Now, the tune has changed, and they're begging for a "real NHL coach."  Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.  If you need a good laugh, I highly suggest you check out the Canucks message boards.  You won't be disappointed.  It will be like the internet version of the 2011 riots after the Game Seven loss in Vancouver to the Boston Bruins.    

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Minnesota Wild (12-9-2)  26pts  2nd in the Northwest

2.22 Goals For (27th)

2.44 Goals Against (7th)

15.7% Power Play (24th)

85.7% Penalty Kill (6th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 4G 15A = 19pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 9G 7A = 16pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 1G 15A = 16pts

4. #15 Dany Heatley ~ 8G 5A = 13pts

5. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 3G 10A = 13pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 59 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 27 PIM's

3. #4 Clayton Stoner ~ 16 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (10-6-2)  2.32GAA  .914%SP  

2. #35 Darcy Kuemper (1-2-0)  2.22GAA  .924%SP

3. #37 Josh Harding (1-1-0)  2.92GAA  .885%SP  1 SO

Vs.

Vancouver Canucks (11-6-6)  28pts  1st in the Northwest

2.70 Goals For (17th)

2.52 Goals Against (11th)

15.7% Power Play (23rd)

80.7% Penalty Kill (17th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #22 Daniel Sedin ~ 8G 15A = 23pts

2. #33 Henrik Sedin ~ 5G 18A = 23pts

3. #14 Alexandre Burrows ~ 5G 9A = 14pts

4. #2 Dan Hamhuis ~ 2G 12A = 14pts

5. #36 Jannik Hansen ~ 6G 6A = 12pts

Top PIM's:

1. #32 Dale Weise ~ 36 PIM's

2. #14 Alexandre Burrows ~ 26 PIM's

3. #3 Kevin Bieksa ~ 26 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #1 Roberto Luongo (5-2-3)  2.19GAA  .912%SP  2 SO

2. #35 Cory Schneider (6-4-3)  2.52GAA  .913%SP  1 SO

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"Your cheatin' heart, will make you weep, you'll cry and cry and try to sleep, The whole night through, Your cheatin' heart, will tell on you, when tears come down, like falling rain, you'll toss around, and call my name, you'll walk the floor, the way I do, your cheatin' heart will tell on you, your cheatin' heart, will tell on you, your cheatin' heart will  pine someday, and crave the love you threw away," that of course is the song Your Cheatin' Heart by country music legend Hank Williams.  That could very well be the song on the minds of fans of the Nashville Predators as Ryan Suter makes his first return to 'Smashville' since signing as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild this summer.  Since that time Suter has been public enemy #1 amongst Music City's hockey fans who saw his pre-signing comments about wanting to stay with the Predators as being disengeneous.  So expect to hear plenty of boo's everytime he touches the puck from the always hostile Predators crowd, especially those up in the 'Cellblock' in section 303 at Bridgestone Arena.  Speaking of boo's, Minnesota hockey fans should be saving their boo's for the Minnesota State High School League for some horrendous late-game officiating that marred a fantastic Class A Championship between Hermantown and St. Thomas Academy.  A very marginal call a long way from the puck gave the Cadets a power play with 1:57 left and then in the closing moments, the Hawks' star defenseman Jake Zeleznikar was just feet from clearing the puck out of the zone as he was tackled on the play and St. Thomas Academy gets the go ahead goal with just over 6 seconds left.  Hermantown Head Coach, Bruce Plante (father of former NHL'er and Stanley Cup winner Derek Plante) was incensed and he berated the officials at the end of the game.  Here is a picture of the blatant non-call in question.  

It is an absolute shame, and the boo's at Xcel Energy Center were loud and continuous as St. Thomas Academy recieved their travesty of a trophy and 1st place medals.  Wild fans can expect the same sort of intense 'hate' being directed towards Suter all game long.  The Wild's little hiatus was nice for fans like myself so we could focus on the best State High School Hockey Tournament in the nation (albeit one marred by some terrible late-game calls).  So will Ryan Suter make his return to Nashville sweet or will he look like a typical hard luck story which is normally the subject of a country song?  

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Minnesota Wild (11-9-2)  24pts  2nd in the Northwest

2.27 Goals For (25th)

2.50 Goals Against (10th)

15.4% Power Play (22nd)

86.8% Penalty Kill (5th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 4G 14A = 18pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 8G 7A = 15pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 1G 14A = 15pts

4. #15 Dany Heatley ~ 8G 5A = 13pts

5. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 3G 10A = 13pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 59 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 27 PIM's

3. #4 Clayton Stoner ~ 16 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (9-6-2)  2.41GAA  .911%SP 

2. #35 Darcy Kuemper (1-2-0)  2.22GAA  .924%SP

3. #37 Josh Harding (1-1-0)  2.92GAA  .885%SP  1SO
 

vs.

Nashville Predators (10-9-5)  25pts  4th in the Central

2.12 Goals For (30th)

2.29 Goals Against (5th)

15.6% Power Play (21st)

77.2% Penalty Kill (27th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #33 Colin Wilson ~ 7G 12A = 19pts

2. #10 Martin Erat ~ 3G 10A = 13pts

3. #6 Shea Weber ~ 3G 9A = 12pts

4. #12 Mike Fisher ~ 4G 6A = 10pts

5. #74 Sergei Kostitsyn ~ 2G 8A = 10pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #16 Rich Clune ~ 46 PIM's

2. #10 Martin Erat ~ 26 PIM's

3. #22 Scott Hannan ~ 20 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #35 Pekka Rinne (9-8-4)  2.15GAA  .917%SP  4SO

2. #30 Chris Mason (1-1-1)  2.89GAA  .900%SP 

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Just Win Baby.  It was the mantra of Al Davis, the flamboyant owner of the Oakland Raiders whose teams were often a colorful collection of players who not only embraced that philosophy but were known for having a few drinks at halftime.  In today's age of the scientifically refined professional athlete its hard to imagine an athlete having a beer between periods or a cigarette.  One of the clubs to have compiled an impressive winning streak like the Wild's opponent tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks was the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens who piled up an impressive 35 wins at home in a row.  This was the same season where Les Glorieux had the greatest goals for / goals against ratio ever at +216.  Just to put that in perspective, the Minnesota Wild have only scored more than 216 goals as a team just 5 times in its 12 seasons of existance.  Even on that team, and perhaps it was a reflection of the 1970's but Guy Lafleur was known to light up a cigarette between periods even during the Habs glory days, as well as lighting up goaltenders as part of one of the greatest NHL teams ever.  How good is the Blackhawks' current points streak?  Its the longest ever points streak without a regulation loss in NHL history.  All good things come to an end, but when will it?  

The Minnesota Wild handed the Blackhawks their first loss of any kind with a win in the shootout at the friendly confines of the Xcel Energy Center.  This time they'll be at the boisterous and mostly hostile United Center where the Blackhawks fans will be hoping their 'Hawks can earn their 20th win.  Can Minnesota put an end to the Blackhawks' historic run, and continue their climb towards the top of the Western Conference?  

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Minnesota Wild (11-8-2)  24pts  2nd in the Northwest

2.24 Goals For (26th)

2.38 Goals Against (7th)

14.5% Power Play (23rd)

86.2% Penalty Kill (5th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 4G 13A = 17pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 8G 7A = 15pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 0G 14A = 14pts

4. #15 Dany Heatley ~ 8G 4A = 12pts

5. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 3G 9A = 12pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 59 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 27 PIM's

3. #4 Clayton Stoner ~ 16 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (9-5-2)  2.21GAA  .917%SP

2. #35 Darcy Kuemper (1-2-0)  2.37GAA  .922%SP

3. #37 Josh Harding (1-1-0)  2.92GAA  .885%SP   1SO

Vs.

Chicago Blackhawks (19-0-3)  41pts  1st in the Central

3.04 Goals For (4th)

1.73 Goals Against (1st)

17.9% Power Play (13th)

89.7% Penalty Kill (3rd)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #88 Patrick Kane ~ 11G 15A = 26pts

2. #19 Jonathan Toews ~ 9G 9A = 18pts

3. #81 Marian Hossa ~ 9G 8A = 17pts

4. #10 Patrick Sharp ~ 5G 12A = 17pts

5. #2 Duncan Keith ~ 1G 12A = 13pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #52 Brandon Bollig ~ 40 PIM's

2. #2 Duncan Keith ~ 27 PIM's

3. #19 Jonathan Toews ~ 19 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #50 Corey Crawford (10-0-3)  1.41GAA  .945%SP  2SO

2. #30 Ray Emery (9-0-0)  2.02GAA  .926%SP

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This weekend, I taught at a Technology Camp where I live.  I taught a few classes regarding applications related to Google, and I had time between my classes so I took an old school video game system I owned which allows a person to play the old Nintendo Entertainment System games, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.  I hooked up to my SMARTboard at school (which is where Tech Camp was being held) and played some of the old games on there.  A colleague joined me and pretty soon we were tearing it up playing the Konami classic Blades of Steel.  In a back and forth game, my team, Minnesota prevailed 11-8 over Chicago.  Blades of Steel is considered by many as one of the best hockey video games ever made, let alone one of the all time classic titles for the NES and we had a blast.  One of the big things Blades of Steel introduced to the video gaming world was fighting which of course is still a part of professional hockey in North America.  The only difference between the real deal (which has random fights between players) is that play instant resumes at the conclusion of the fight and the winner basically wins control of the puck.  Imagine if that's how the NHL handled fighting instead of making those players sit in the penalty box 5-minutes or longer?  Would it be better or worse.  So imagine if that was true what could've happened when Edmonton's Taylor Hall knee'd Cal Clutterbuck?  Would this make the game more or less safe?  

As the picture above correctly states, fighting in hockey is a form of communication.  Sure its brutal, but differing messages are sent when players square off and drop the gloves.  It is a message meant to rally their team, or to stand up for a teammate.  Or it can be a message about what happened the last time these two clubs faced one another, but Wild fans are going to be deprived of that form of communication as Hall is out with a hamstring injury he sustained in their game against St. Louis.  So what other messages might the Wild send tonight; perhaps someone on the Wild might try to send a message to Ben Eager?  Most importantly, what message will the Wild send to its fans at home after two reasonable efforts on the road?  

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There is just something incredible about going to the State Tournament, the excitement of your school, perhaps your classmates participating in the ultimate contest for any high school athlete.  When you toss in a raucous student section and a little media buzz you have the makings for a true event.  But what is it like when you don't have that crowd?  Case in point, this weekend was the Wisconsin State Boys' Hockey Tournament held at Madison's Alliant Energy Center.  Alliant Energy Center just seats just over 10,000 compared to the Xcel's 18,000+ potential but as the pictures below will tell you, that the Wisconsin State Tournament did not nearly need that many seats to watch Eau Claire Memorial defeat Verona 6-1 for the state title.  To quote JPerpich from Twitter, "Not much beyond parents and girlfriends."  The lack of a crowd made for a stale environment that matched the pedestrian-level of play both teams had.  For anyone that has been fortunate to have attended the State Tournament in St. Paul whether at Xcel Energy Center or its predecessor the St. Paul Civic Center and its infamous clear boards the high level of play and energy of the crowd adds to the drama of it all.  Even if you don't have any direct connection to the teams playing its tough not to get caught up in that atmosphere.  

(top to bottom) Minnesota State Tournament & Wisconsin State Tournament

16 schools are vying for the ultimate prize of a State Championship and only two of them will accomplish that goal.  There are lots of familiar faces in this year's tournament but as usual they are a few newcomers.  We are guaranteed to see a new Class AA Champion as defending champ Benilde-St. Margaret's was eliminated in section play.  While at the Class A level, defending champ St. Thomas Academy hopes to bring its school one last championship at that level before moving up to Class AA next year.  Who will come out on top?  

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