Exactly seven nights ago, Guillaume Latendresse said this after scoring the tying goal with 1:33 left to erase a four-goal third-period deficit: "I don't think that [comeback's] going to happen every year."
EVERY YEAR! The Wild's trying to do it every week! And as Latendresse mentioned last week, it's not too easy. For the second consecutive Saturday, the Wild fell behind 5-1 in the third period. Latendresse's final two goals of his first career hat trick and an Owen Nolan tally cut it to 5-4 with 5:17 left.
It looked like miracles do happen once a week. Nope. Justice prevailed. The Wild's much-deserved loss was ironized when Radim Vrbata's flip shot deflected off Nick Schultz's glove and in with a minute left.
Fourth straight road loss. Sixth in eight games. League-leading 16th regulation road loss.
The Wild was two points back of eighth Wednesday night after four straight home wins. That momentum's gone. The Wild's lost the first two games of this three-game trip and could be six back of a playoff spot if Vancouver holds on to win tonight. If Vancouver loses in regulation, the Wild's five out.
Oh, and the Wild's on its way to Dallas, where it hasn't won since 2003! Or, in other words, I have not seen a Wild win in Dallas since I've been the beat writer.
For the second straight game, the Wild came out flat in the first period. Phoenix just dominated with speed. The Wild couldn't keep up. Speed-wise and thinking-wise, the Wild was like three steps behind.
The odd-man rushes were plentiful, and that would go to the bitter end. The eventual winner -- who could have imagined at the time because the goal made it 5-1? -- was on a 3-on-1 shorthanded chance -- the Wild's league-leading NINTH shorthanded goal against.