One of my favorite broadcasters is ESPN's Chris Berman.  Berman has always seemed like a guy who just loves his job and he has kept the same sometimes corny style throughout his career which is both shameless and often chuckle worthy.  While I wouldn't say Berman is a great play-by-play man but I think he's great as a studio host where he consistently finds ways to add an element of levity to contrast against the big egos and opinions of retired professional athletes and coaches.  One element of Berman's old school approach to sports is the nicknames he gives players.  Instead of the boring shortening of names like A-Rod, RG3, or hockey's compulsion with adding a y to a player's first name or some condensed last name Berman opted to play on words.  Eric "sleeping with" Bienemy or Ben "Technicolor dream" Coates and during the Wild's improbable playoff run in 2003 he even chimed in with a few including Andrei "suddenly" Zyuzin.  He doesn't give out those kinds of nicknames as frequently anymore, but I think one axiom of his stays with me more than anything else.  When he goes through highlights, and he's talking about a game that from the outset seems like an obvious shutout he prefaces it with "that's why they play the games" to foreshadow the outcome may not match what you think.  I think that applies perfectly for the WCHA teams playing in the NCAA tournament.  No conference had more teams in the tournament than the WCHA which was a tip of the hat to the 'strength' of the conference and the NCAA may be questioning that decision a bit after what has been lousy weekend.  For Minnesota, Wisconsin, Denver, North Dakota, and Minnesota State they all went to the tournament feeling pretty confident and of those clubs on North Dakota managed to advance beyond the first game.  St. Cloud State, a 4th seed in their respective region was the only WCHA team to advance to the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh next weekend.  Good for the Huskies, well deserved, but overall a pretty dismal performance for the WCHA as a whole.  

Last year, the Blues were like a steamroller in the Western Conference after the arrival of Ken Hitchcock as coach.  A super stingy defense and plethora of big bodied, gritty forwards with a dash of skill made for a killer combination in the regular season.  The Wild were not able to match that level of intensity, but things are different.  The Wild are demonstrating they can play with anyone and the once super stingy defense of the Blues isn't quite so air tight.  Can the Wild earn another home victory against a strong opponent like the Blues or will St. Louis give Minnesota a few sour notes?  

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Minnesota Wild (21-11-2)  44pts  1st in the Northwest

2.74 Goals For (14th)

2.50 Goals Against (11th)

18.3% Power Play (16th)

82.2% Penalty Kill (11th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 9G 24A = 33pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 15G 15A = 30pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 3G 25A = 28pts

4. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 7G 18A = 25pts

5. #10 Devin Setoguchi ~ 12G 11A = 23pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 96 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 65 PIM's

3. #44 Justin Falk ~ 36 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (19-7-2)  2.34GAA .916%SP  1 SO

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

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

4. #31 Matt Hackett (0-1-0)  5.02GAA  .848%SP

Vs.

St. Louis Blues (17-14-2)  36pts  4th in the Central

2.79 Goals For (10th)

2.79 Goals Against (19th)

22.4% Power Play (4th)

82.1% Penalty Kill (12th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #25 Chris Stewart ~ 15G 14A = 29pts

2. #57 David Perron ~ 9G 13A = 22pts

3. #20 Alexander Steen ~ 6G 15A = 21pts

4. #74 T.J. Oshie ~ 7G 13A = 20pts

5. #22 Kevin Shattenkirk ~ 2G 18A = 20pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #75 Ryan Reaves ~ 65 PIM's

2. #42 David Backes ~ 44 PIM's

3. #25 Chris Stewart ~ 36 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #34 Jake Allen (8-3-0)  2.45GAA  .906%SP  1 SO

2. #41 Jaroslav Halak (6-5-1)  2.19GAA  .897%SP  3 SO

3. #1 Brian Elliott (3-6-1)  3.65GAA  .851%SP  

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Twitter really is the crack of the instant information world that we live in.  People hang on tweets made by 'insiders' hoping to have that first glimpse of information before everyone else.  It gives the vast majority of the Twitterverse, the followers that feeling as though they too are an insider.  I'll admit it, I'm guilty of that as well, whether its retweeting a glorified rumor by TSN's Darren Dreger or the Star Tribune's Michael Russo people enjoy the little bursts of information and then race to retweet it as if it makes them and their followers some sort of 'exclusive' information that is so exclusive its now readily available to the rest of the world.  Yet we want to be that 'first' person to move it forward.  Why?  If I'm the first one to retweet from Darren Dreger or ESPN's Pierre LeBrun that Jarome Iginla is being traded to the Boston Bruins what does that get me?  That I'm the first Twitter follower to retweet a false piece of information?  I have to admit, I was probably like thousands of other NHL fans out there that as TSN's Aaron Ward tweeted that Jarome Iginla being dealt to Boston was a done deal we all woke up the next morning surprised to hear that he wasn't going to Boston afterall but instead to Pittsburgh.  For Western Conference fans, with the lone exception of those in Calgary I'm sure the reaction was a shrug of the shoulders and the happy feeling one gets to see a formidable player leave the conference.  Still, it goes to show you a pitfall in this uber competitive, must get the scoop at all costs world that Twitter, Facebook and other parts of social media have given us.  As much as the compulsion to be the first to break the big story is, there is that nearly equal compulsion of the followers to be the first to see that information come across their screen whether it be from their computer (like me) or their phone.  Because really, how bad would it be to hear that the Flyers acquired defenseman Kent Huskins from Detroit from someone else?  How embarassing?!?!  (facepalm)     

All jokes about Twitter aside, it can be a rather handy tool and as a person who loves to tweet and re-tweet its also a great opportunity to have a dialogue with people we normally never would otherwise.  Whether you're communicating with the 'insiders' or perhaps with some of the players of this great game it probably is not going away anytime soon.  Not until we can get special contacts for our eyes that have Twitter streaming across it.  This way we can even follow Twitter in our sleep.  So what will the tweets say about tonight's game between the Minnesota Wild and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings?  Will they be tweets to savor or will they be a grim monologue of disaster? 

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Minnesota Wild (20-11-2)  42pts  2nd in the Northwest

2.73 Goals For (15th)

2.48 Goals Against (11th)

18.1% Power Play (16th)

83.8% Penalty Kill (9th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 9G 22A = 31pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 14G 14A = 28pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 3G 24A = 27pts

4. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 6G 18A = 24pts

5. #10 Devin Setoguchi ~ 12G 10A = 22pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 96 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 65 PIM's

3. #44 Justin Falk ~ 36 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (18-7-2)  2.32GAA  .917%SP  1 SO

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

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

4. #31 Matt Hackett (0-1-0)  5.08GAA  .848%SP

Vs.

Los Angeles Kings (19-12-2)  40pts  2nd in the Pacific

2.91 Goals For (7th)

2.46 Goals Against (9th)

18.3% Power Play (15th)

82% Penalty Kill (13th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #11 Anze Kopitar ~ 10G 21A = 31pts

2. #77 Jeff Carter ~ 18G 4A = 22pts

3. #14 Justin Williams ~ 5G 17A = 22pts

4. #23 Dustin Brown ~ 13G 8A = 21pts

5. #10 Mike Richards ~ 8G 13A = 21pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #5 Keaton Ellerby ~ 50 PIM's

2. #13 Kyle Clifford ~ 41 PIM's

3. #10 Mike Richards ~ 38 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Jonathan Quick (12-10-2)  2.51 GAA .895%SP  1 SO

2. #45 Jonathan Bernier (7-2-0)  1.94GAA  .923%SP

Famous physicist Albert Einstein once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results."  Is that always true?  The Wild find themselves in a dogfight for 1st place in the Northwest Division between itself and rival Vancouver Canucks.  Both clubs have trading 1st place with each win.  The Wild have done so by starting Niklas Backstrom each night throughout that span.  There were signs that Backstrom was starting to fatigue, esepecially over the last two games after giving up 7 goals over that span.  So tonight Matt Hackett gets the start despite glowing reports about Josh Harding's condition.  I am glad Hackett is getting the start and perhaps it will help refocus the team in a game that will likely garner a very inspired effort from the Stars.  On Monday the Wild won in a crazy 7-4 game in Dallas, ending a 10-year winless drought.  It was an embarassing performance for Dallas, and they will be looking for revenge tonight.  

Minnesota followed up its high scoring game in Dallas with a bizarre overtime win at home against Phoenix. The team understood they escaped with 2 points, and we can only hope this served to keep the Wild level headed enough to dig deep and take away another victory in Dallas.  Will the Wild show they can win with a different goaltender in the crease or will be wishing we accepted a little more insanity?  

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Minnesota Wild (20-10-2)  42pts  2nd in the Northwest

2.72 Goals For (14th)

2.41 Goals Against (8th)

17.9% Power Play (17th)

85.9% Penalty Kill (4th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 9G 21A = 30pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 14G 14A = 28pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 3G 24A = 27pts

4. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 6G 17A = 23pts

5. #10 Devin Setoguchi ~ 11G 10A = 21pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 82 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 55 PIM's

3. #44 Justin Falk ~ 31 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (18-7-2)  2.32GAA  .917%SP  1 SO

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.

Dallas Stars (15-14-3)  33pts  4th in the Pacific

2.69 Goals For (15th)

3.00 Goals Against (24th)

17.2% Power Play (21st)

82.2% Penalty Kill (12th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #68 Jaromir Jagr ~ 14G 11A  = 25pts

2. #21 Loui Eriksson ~ 9G 14A = 23pts

3. #14 Jamie Benn ~ 6G 16A = 22pts

4. #11 Derek Roy ~ 4G 16A = 20pts

5. #20 Cody Eakin ~ 5G 12A = 17pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #60 Antoine Roussel ~ 63 PIM's

2. #4 Brendan Dillon ~ 53 PIM's

3. #24 Eric Nystrom ~ 43 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Kari Lehtonen (12-8-2)  2.56GAA  .919%SP  1 SO

2. #31  Richard Bachman (2-3-0)  4.27GAA  .838%SP  

3. #41  Cristopher Nilstorp (1-3-1)  3.09GAA  .897%SP  

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"Happy days are here again, the skies above are clear again, so let's sing a song of cheer again, altogether shout it now, there's no one, who can doubt it now, so let's tell the world about it now, happy days are here again," this was Milton Ager and Jack Yellen's song Happy Days Are Here Again and was the anthem of America after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.  I think its a bit early to say the Wild are going to be free of set backs or bad times (knock on wood) but I think any Wild fan would have to admit its been a wonderful last two weeks.  A six game winning streak, ending long droughts of futility in Detroit and Dallas respectively and an offense which seems to have found itself in a major way (knock on wood) have been pleasant signs this team is living up to the potential of its roster.  Its been a while since the Wild's fanbase has felt so confident from night to night that its team had a better chance of winning than losing.  That is part of being a Minnesota sports fan in general where the mantra is always, "We'll believe it when we see it."  We're no strangers to disappointment after expectations have been raised.  From the Vikings, to the Twins and even to the lowly Timberwolves, Minnesota fans know to temper their excitement in the midst of good times because when it all comes crashing down the fall doesn't hurt as much.    

So can the Wild keep their winning streak going?  Can the offense continue to light the lamp with regularity? Can the fans allow themselves to get carried up in the good times and actually believe that happy days are here again?  Maybe.  The Phoenix Coyotes love the role of spoiler and with a season that as of right now has them looking on the outside of the playoff window they would love to leave Wild fans with a sour taste in their mouth.  The good times have been fun, but sports fans memories are always short and its all about what have you done for me lately.  If the Wild want to really show they're 'for real' another victory is needed this evening.  Will Minnesota have its fans cheering or howling mad tonight?  

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Minnesota Wild (19-10-2)  40pts  2nd in the Northwest

2.68 Goals For (15th)

2.39 Goals Against (6th)

18.5% Power Play (13th)

85.6% Penalty Kill (6th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 8G 20A = 28pts

2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 14G 13A = 27pts

3. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 2G 24A = 26pts

4. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 5G 17A = 22pts

5. #10 Devin Setoguchi ~ 11G 10A = 21pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 77 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 55 PIM's

3. #44 Justin Falk ~ 24 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (17-7-2)  2.30GAA  .918%SP  1 SO

2. #37 Josh Harding (1-1-0) 2.92GAA  .885%SP  1 SO

3. #35 Darcy Kuemper (1-2-0)  2.22GAA  .924%SP

Vs.

Phoenix Coyotes (13-15-4)  30pts  5th in the Pacific

2.47 Goals For (23rd)

2.72 Goals Against (16th)

15.5% Power Play (22nd)

82% Penalty Kill (13th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #89 Mikkel Boedker ~ 6G 13A = 19pts

2. #23 Oliver Ekman-Larsson ~ 3G 16A = 19pts

3. #19 Shane Doan ~ 11G 7A = 18pts

4. #3 Keith Yandle ~ 5G 12A = 17pts

5. #50 Antoine Vermette ~ 7G 7A = 14pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #24 Kyle Chipchura ~ 43 PIM's

2. #3 Keith Yandle ~ 34 PIM's

3. #53 Derek Morris ~ 30 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #41 Mike Smith (11-10-3)  2.83GAA  .901%SP  4 SO

2. #1 Jason LaBarbera (1-5-0)  2.35GAA  .923%SP  

3. #31  Chad Johnson (1-0-1)  .98GAA  .952%SP  1 SO

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Before I say anything else, I would like to send my condolences to the family of actor Larry Hagman after losing his fight with cancer earlier this year.  Hagman would have fit in with most hockey players as he was a free spirit who loved a good practical joke.  It is with the memories of Hagman the fun-loving person that I write the rest of this introduction.  Larry Hagman's most famous character was the devious and ever scheming Oil baron J.R. Ewing on the primetime drama Dallas.  I watched Dallas a lot as a kid and even though his character often lacked ethics and did a lot of terrible things he was my favorite character on the show.  Hagman's J.R. Ewing character was calculated but had just enough charm so you didn't totally hate him but the same cannot be said for another devious corporate tycoon in the much-reviled Norm Green.  Green didn't make his fortune in oil, but rather in shopping malls he tried to be the charming owner of the Minnesota North Stars before taking the team and running to Dallas.  It is not a big surprise that Norm Green hasn't returned to the State of Hockey since he left back in 1993, not that we were hoping for a reunion anyways.  Both people, one a fictional character the other a real-life villain were greedy, lying businessmen who angered lots and lots of people.  Some things don't really change.  

Another example of this is the Wild's current losing streak in Dallas.  The team has not won a game in Dallas since 2003 when Wes Walz scored in overtime to give Minnesota a 3-2 victory.  The Wild have ended some impressive streaks already this season, ending an 11-game long losing streak in Vancouver and earning as well as ending a long droughts in Detroit and Nashville as well.  If the Wild need any inspiration at all all they have to do is look to Minneapolis where the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers' women's hockey team finished a perfect 41-0 season (49 consecutive victories and counting) and with their 2nd NCAA Championship in a row.  Can the Wild end this dubious losing streak tonight or will it continue?  

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Minnesota Wild (18-10-2)  38pts  2nd in the Northwest

2.53 Goals For (19th)

2.33 Goals Against (4th)

18.9% Power Play (14th)

86.2% Penalty Kill (3rd)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 7G 19A = 26pts

2. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 2G 24A = 26pts

3. #11 Zach Parise ~ 12G 12A = 24pts

4. #10 Devin Setoguchi ~ 11G 9A = 20pts

5. #7 Matt Cullen ~ 4G 16A = 20pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 77 PIM's

2. #27 Mike Rupp ~ 41 PIM's

3. #44 Justin Falk ~ 22 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Niklas Backstrom (16-7-2)  2.23GAA  .921%SP  1 SO

2. #37 Josh Harding (1-1-0)  2.92GAA  .885%SP  1 SO

Vs.

Dallas Stars (15-13-3)  33pts  3rd in the Pacific

2.64 Goals For (15th)

2.87 Goals Against (22nd)

16.8% Power Play (20th)

81.9% Penalty Kill (13th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #68 Jaromir Jagr ~ 13G 11A  = 24pts 

2. #14 Jamie Benn ~ 6G 16A = 22pts

3. #21 Loui Eriksson ~ 9G 12A = 21pts

4. #11 Derek Roy ~ 4G 14A = 18pts

5. #20 Cody Eakin ~ 5G 12A = 17pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #4 Brendan Dillon ~ 53 PIM's

2. #60 Antoine Roussel ~ 51 PIM's

3. #24 Eric Nystrom ~ 43 PIM's

Top Goaltender(s):

1. #32 Kari Lehtonen (12-7-2)  2.39GAA  .923%SP  1 SO

2. #31 Richard Bachman (2-3-0)  4.27GAA  .838%SP  

3. #41 Cristopher Nilstorp (1-3-1)  3.09GAA  .897%SP

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