Wild puts on matinee horror show

Columbus' Rick Nash flipped the Wild's Mark Parrish into the air during Saturday's game. Parrish was injured but returned to finish the game.

Threats of roster shakeups and all, nothing seemed to rouse the team, which wasted nine power play chances.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: November 26, 2007 - 12:16 AM

Either the Wild is hard of hearing, can't read or had tryptophan oozing from its pores during Friday's Post-Thanksgiving Matinee Horror Show.

Uninspired by the acquisition of Todd Fedoruk and management's public threat of more personnel changes to follow, the Wild needed to be checked for a pulse during an unsightly 4-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The imploding Wild, losers of 10 of 14, looked like it ate turkey leftovers for breakfast, its pregame meal and in-between period snacks. The result was the worst home shutout loss since November 2001 and the most lopsided home loss since losing to San Jose 5-1 on March 25, 2006.

"We just couldn't connect," left wing Mark Parrish said. "We couldn't make two passes in a row. We couldn't make one pass. Pucks were bouncing over sticks, we were not getting to pucks, not winning the battle for pucks, not getting the puck to the net. The list could go on and on

"It was just one thing after another. Frustrating, very frustrating."

As has been the norm this month, the Wild's special teams were indeed special.

The Wild, booed throughout by the aggravated home crowd, surrendered two power-play goals, went 0-for-9 on the power play and gave up one shorthanded tally to a Columbus club that was also having a hard time finding victories.

The Blue Jackets had one victory in their past eight games, but were lifted by Pascal Leclaire's NHL-leading sixth shutout.

"We have to fight through the tough and difficult moments to be stronger," said Niklas Backstrom, who couldn't be faulted on Columbus' first three goals. "The biggest thing is for us to believe we can change it.

"It's tough for us now, so every goal they score, it's a big goal for the other team."

Aaron Voros was in the box for the Blue Jackets' two power-play goals.

In the first period, Michael Peca scored from the blue line when defenseman Sean Hill jumped in front of Backstrom and the puck deflected off him. In the second period, defenseman Martin Skoula -- purposely -- blocked Duvie Westcott's point shot with his right skate into the slot. That set up David Vyborny beautifully for an easy open-netter.

"We make one mistake, puck goes in the net," coach Jacques Lemaire said.

In between, the Wild failed miserably on three consecutive power plays. Then, with the Blue Jackets up 2-0 and the Wild on a power play, defenseman Brent Burns, while retreating to set up the breakout, carelessly skated the puck into Backstrom's crease with Dan Fritsche on his tail.

Burns lost the puck and was deserving of the assist on Fritsche's easy goal.

"That goal seemed to unnerve them. We were able to get quite a few odd-man rushes after," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said.

After the game, Burns bailed from the arena within minutes, but Lemaire said, "He's been like this lately. He's got to stay within his limits. When you're going 100 miles per hour with the puck, if you do it all the time, it's going to get off that stick."

Somehow the Wild needs to rediscover what made it successful during its 7-0-1 start.

"We're not all pulling in the right direction on the rope," said Brian Rolston, goalless in eight games.

"We're giving up more odd-man rushes than I've ever seen. We have to identify what's wrong and get back to playing tight hockey."

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

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