Wild, 1 vs. Avalanche, 2 SO

You've got to feel for those 150 or so Wild fans that shelled out the money to go on that road trip to watch a one goal, 17 shots effort by the Wild in a 2-1 shootout loss against the 15th seeded Colorado Avalanche. I think I'm going to have a new way of analyzing Wild games...whether or not it was a complete waste of my time to watch the entire game, because this one was. The Avs dominated play for most of the game, and that's a sad thing to say. The Wild started off the scoring when Marc-Andre Bergeron scored on the powerplay in the first, but John-Michael Liles was able to tie the game 37 seconds into the second period on the powerplay that carried over from the first. You knew that the Wild were doomed when they couldn't get anything going on the 6-minute powerplay that Colorado gave to them in the second (Cody McCormick double minor for high sticking, Ryan Smyth hooking). That entire powerplay sequence basically entailed the Wild dumping the puck into the offensive zone and the Avs getting to the puck first to be able to get the puck out of the zone. The Wild just couldn't for the life of them get the puck out of their defensive end during the latter part of the second and the entire third period, and when they did they couldn't put any sustained pressure on the the Avs in their offensive zone with errant passes and dump ins where the Avs got to the puck first, and it showed in the shot total with the Avs outshooting the Wild 41-17 in the game (38-15 in regulation). Niklas Backstrom was the only reason that the Wild were able to get a point in this game making 40 of 41 saves in the regulation and overtime. Wojtek Wolski (shootout winner) and Milan Hejduk scored in the shootout, while Peter Budaj made saves against Owen Nolan and Mikko Koivu to give the the Avs the extra point.

Is it sad that this is the team that we've seen all season?...and some fans still hold hope that they get another gear to try and make the playoffs (if only to lose in the first round to the Sharks or Wings).

Is it sad that I think that the Wild and Avalanche are similar teams in regards to their on ice performance?...the only difference in the teams is that the Wild have the tandem of Backstrom and Harding, while the Avs have Budaj and Raycroft.

Notes:

• Gaborik skated with the team yesterday in Colorado...yes it's true.
• Doug Risebrough says that there's a potential for signing Marian Gaborik short term. Honestly, bridges have been burned, GET OVER IT...and even if they offer a short term contract, what's the odds that Gaby wants to sign here? Oh, and another question, Gaby has played how many games this season?
• I wonder if McCormick is going to get anything for the head shot on Cal (maybe a response to Cal's check on Foote in the first who sustained a head injury and didn't return, but I don't remember seeing the hit), but knowing the league and how inconsistent Campbell is at doling out discipline, I'm not holding my breath...and how do you get called for a dive when you're crosschecked?
• Here's the Scott vs. McCormick fight from last night, no doubt it was in response to the head shot on Cal, and Scottie was definitely icing his knuckles in the penalty box afterward (I believe this was John Scott's first fight in the NHL?):
  
  
• TWO effin shots in the third period, and their first shot came with 4:23 left in regulations...are you freaking kidding me!

UP NEXT: Saturday @ Dallas Stars, 7:00pm CT