For those who have wondered what kind of perks come with distance running -- aside from good health, chafing and other expected things -- last night was a prime example. When we did the Twin Cities Marathon way back in October, we received a voucher for 2-for-1 lower level Wild tickets. The vouchers sat there for a few months before we finally put them to good use, buying tickets for us and Rocket for last night's Avalanche game.
There were some expected outcomes in this game. There were also some upsets. Here is a recap:
THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES
*It was a classic Wild victory. The local club managed to get outshot for the game and severely outplayed for a long stretch of the second period, falling behind 2-1 to a team that has won exactly one game since the beginning of February. But a classic Andrew Brunette goal (batted a rebound out of mid-air at the side of the net) drew Minnesota even near the end of the second, and the Wild played with requisite desperation in the final 15 minutes or so to take control of a badly needed two points. It was hardly dominant, but it was effective. The 5-2 final score didn't tell the whole story, but it rarely does with the Wild.
*The game wasn't overly chippy, but Avs goalie Peter Budaj drew a late penalty for sitting upon and pounding on a Wild player in the crease (we believe it was The Tenderness), and then after a final-whistle scrum broke out, Budaj skated down past the red line and looked ready to mix it up. He left the ice to a well-deserved chorus of jeers.
*Rocket seemed particularly distressed that the Wild won 5-2 (six of the seven goals were scored on the end we were sitting on) instead of the glorious 0.5-0 victories enjoyed during the previous era of Wild hockey.
THE UPSETS
*The Tenderness (Guillaume Latendresse) played!
