It's early, but Wild already in deep hole

Following an 0-5 road trip, the Wild returned home trying to find a quick fix before the young season completely spirals out of control.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: October 18, 2009 - 11:31 PM

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WILD OFF DAY Up next: 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Colorado • Xcel Energy Center • TV: FSN (830-AM)

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — For the first time in franchise history, the Wild's been forced to get creative to sell tickets.

There has been "companion games," free-ticket giveaways, shared season-ticket programs.

This week, the Wild might have to start up the "Save the Season" campaign because a hole -- a large one -- already has been dug.

Realists could have predicted a slow start to this season.

New coach. New players. New philosophy. Heavy road schedule. Often times, that equates to early-season struggles.

But even the biggest skeptics couldn't have predicted the Wild would be swept on its five-game, 11-day road trip out west. The Wild only has the sheer incompetence of the winless Toronto Maple Leafs to thank for not being dead last in the NHL.

Of course, 29th isn't a whole lot better.

The Wild, which lost forwards Martin Havlat, Petr Sykora and Cal Clutterbuck on the trip to injury, returned home Saturday night with a 1-6 record, already seven points behind eighth place in the West.

"We just kind of wipe the slate clean and start over," said veteran Andrew Brunette, one of the only bright spots because despite coming off reconstructive knee surgery, he leads the Wild with five goals and has at least one point in all seven games. "We're five games under .500, and we just go from there. You can beat yourselves up over it, but I thought we did some good things on this trip.

"Day by day, I think we're getting a little better. At times, we look like we're getting it. But all of us keep making mistakes that's killing us."

The pressure's on now. The Wild has a stretch of six of nine at home, and if it doesn't start racking up victories now, this is going to be a painful season.

"I'm sure it'll be tough for everyone to enjoy a day off [Sunday], but it's a mental day and physical day where they can just recover," Richards said. "And then we'll have to come back [today] and get to work."

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