A Look at the Week that's Past and Ahead: Nov 23-29

The Wild went 1-2-0 this week with a shootout win on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins and dropping back to back games at home against the Vancouver Canucks and the St. Louis Blues, their first back to back regulation losses since last November. Obviously the concern with the Wild is the lack of offense, even strength or otherwise. Last week, the Wild were hot on the powerplay and now, it's nonexistent, as is any type of offense. Let's hope that Jacques Lemaire can get some of the key guys who NEED to score in gear because they'll be needing all the offense they can get this week. The stud from last week has got to be Nik Backstrom, who has been solid this entire season, and has really kept the Wild in games.

The Wild will have 4 games this week, finishing their five game homestand with games against the Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning, and then finishing off the week in Nashville to face the Predators. I'm really excited for this week. You see, at the end of last season, I promised all my siblings, all 5 of them, that I'd take them all to see a hockey game this season, and so on Monday, when the Wild face the Capitals, I'm taking my little sister to her first hockey game. How exciting is that, that the first hockey game you're going to you're going be able to watch Alex Ovechkin and the other Backstrom. Then on Friday, I'm taking my two youngest brothers to the matinée against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and they don't have a bad lineup either with Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Steven Stamkos.

Just a note to all you Wild fans that will be at the X for Wes Walz day on Friday that the Hmong New Year will be next door at the RiverCentre that weekend, so traffic and parking downtown is going to be hectic, and hey, if you have some free time before or after the game, I encourage everyone to go check out the festivities at the RiverCentre (don't just stand up there and stare, it makes us feel weird).

Monday – vs. Washington Capitals, 7:00pm CT
Wednesday – vs. Dallas Stars, 7:00pm CT
Friday – vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 1:00pm CT
Saturday – @ Nashville Predators, 7:00pm CT

Games to Watch this Week:
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings, 6:30pm CT
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild, 7:00pm CT

Thursday, November 27, 2008
Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks, 9:00pm CT

Saturday, November 29, 2008
Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames, 9:00pm CT