ST. LOUIS -- Marek Zidlicky and Mark-Andre Bergeron had better get a pool together. They owe St. Louis-area Dairy Queen franchisees $43,850 for 19,150 free 'Blizzard' treats, courtesy of their rotten defensive play Sunday night.
The St. Louis Blues surgically stuck a dagger in the dying playoff hopes of the Minnesota Wild, driving starting Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom out of the nets and into the warm March night as the Blues defeated the Wild 5-3 at Scottrade Center on what was billed as 'Free Food Night'.
Nine different Blues' players earned points tonight, as the Wild were out-played, out-hustled and out-gunned by the younger, stronger, and quite frankly, hungrier Blues team as the Wild were out-shot 36-22, including a 29-11 shot advantage in the first two periods.
It is apparent, at least to this blogger, that the party is indeed over for this season's Wild team. As March has dragged on, the play of the Wild has steadily declined, despite the protestations of President/GM Doug Risebrough to the contrary.
With Brent Burns out indefinitely (possible concussion), Marian 'I'll play when I want to' Gaborik possibly not playing at all, and two key forwards (Andrew Brunette and Owen Nolan) playing despite serious injuries, this Wild team is on life support, with a very grave prognosis.
The goaltending should bail them out occasionally. However, occasionally does NOT mean every single night, game in, game out.
When T.J. Oshie gets two assists and isn't even selected as a game star, because eight other players have tallied points in the same game, that's saying something, folks. Sadly for the Wild, it's not something the 'Team of 18,000' wants to necessarily hear.
Oh, well, at least I get a little time on Monday to enjoy that Blizzard. Now, which flavor do I want...
The Assembled Multitude was found after the game bemoaning the night's play:
Chicken Little: The defense laid down and died tonight. I hope you're all happy now!
Pollyanna: Kurtis Foster would have been better than MAB or Zidlicky tonight. Come to think of it, Bananas Foster probably would have done a better job as well. And yes, I meant the flaming dessert!
Bottom Line: The Wild are done like dinner.
Stud: Yeah, right.
Dud: Anyone in a Wild sweater who didn't go thru the 'Free Food Game' lines.
Next: vs. Colorado, Tuesday, Mar. 17 (St. Patrick's Day), 7:00 PM Central (6 PM Mountain) Time, Xcel Energy Center. (TV: FSNorth (includes FSWisconsin) in HD, Altitude; XM Ch. 238)
WRT (happy he actually DID get Tums while exiting Scottrade Center)
No comments:
Post a Comment