Dabura

Now the game's just trolling us.

I'm willing to bet that it's not just Holland. Does Mike Babcock seem especially "kid friendly"?

I've tried to convince myself that it was the right call. But at the end of the day, we traded our best prospect for an aging veteran on an expiring contract, after saying ad nauseam that we would in no way, shape, or form be trading away key pieces of our future for short-term payoff. The sort-of irony here being that we felt we needed legitimate veteran experience to lead us down the home stretch here and back to the postseason - but it's been Gustav Nyquist who's singlehandedly kept us competitive, a point which I could unpack but won't. One thing I really don't understand is why Jarnkrok couldn't just be moved to the wing. It worked for Nyquist, no?

Not unreal. More or less what you'd expect from the best prospect we had. He's getting an opportunity to shine and he seems to be running with it. Not unlike Nyquist.

Yeah but we shouldn't be interested in him because reasons and stuff.

Or he's just really old. Or both. I fear it's both.

Personally, I don't think Sproul is ready. I fear he'd be a whipping boy next season. Ouellet could use another season on the farm, IMHO. Marchenko, I think he's ready. But not as a top-four difference-maker. That's what we need, a difference-maker. Someone who can step right in and turn things around. In a perfect world, we sign Boyle and trade for Ehrhoff.

Imagine how much better we could be with an actual D corps, not "Kronwall et al."

Jimmy stepping up. I like.

I hate Quincey.

It'd be nice to have him right now, given our injuries. But I don't think it'd make a big difference.

Sheahan is the s***.

Also: really hate to say it, but Howard really does need to figure it out or GTFO. He makes at least a couple fantastic saves a game, but then, don't most NHL goalies? We don't need "most NHL goalies." We need a wall, an impenetrable fortress, a source of strength, a shot in the arm. He's not getting paid the big bucks for "Well, you can't totally blame him for that goal. Or that one. Or that one. Or that one. Or that one. OK, maybe that one. But not that one. Or that one. Or..." At some point, it's on him. Indeed, as Babs has explicitly stated, this team - injured or healthy - will go as far as Jimmy Howard takes it.

He's capable of doing it. That's what makes the fact that he's not doing it so maddening.

This is something that really boggles my mind. It's been an issue all season long, and it's actually gotten worse and worse, to the point where we've been botching probably about a third or a quarter of our passes. If there's one thing you don't want your team to struggle with, it's passing. If you can't pass, you're toothless and vulnerable in all three zones. Mirror regrouping, breaking out, charging through the neutral zone, cycling - it all becomes an adventure. Compound that with our injuries, Howard's struggles, and everything else, and it really is a wonder that we're still in the playoff picture. PICK IT UP IN THE SECOND BOYS. STOP SUCKING.

Which is exactly why we probably won't.

bahahaha Perfect. Because the subject matter, and because the song is absolutely terrible. (I love the Chili Peppers, FTR.)

We kind of suck at this whole must-win game thing.

Granted, it's largely a testament to how weak the East is. But still.

He's having a rough stretch, but, again, his career numbers are quite good, especially when you consider the team he's been playing for. Just saying, a Howard-Reimer tandem could be pretty sweet. Maybe.

It really is pretty incredible. I mean, we're all bent out of shape about our team not getting it done (and justifiably so, I guess), but, like, look at it from the perspective of a Wild fan. We should've been an easy four points for them. No team has any business being as competitive as we've been with the injuries we're dealing with. (Yeah, I know, the Penguins. But everyone knows that's a lame comparison.) And now we may be getting a bit healthier. So, yes, losing this game sucks. But that we're even upset about this loss is a remarkable thing. Our season should be over. We should be in free fall mode like the Sens. None of this should matter. And yet, here we are, holding down a playoff spot.

Or was Bertuzzi on the fourth line tonight? Whatever. Sounds like he should be ready to go on Thursday.

Nyquist Legwand Franzen Tatar Sheahan Alfredsson I think I'd like to see that on Thursday. I guess Jurco would be on the third line, in Bertuzzi's spot.

OK, forget I ever said anything about scratching Franzen, lol. In retrospect, it's a wholly stupid idea. A better idea: Franzen and Nyquist on the same line. Maybe also a bad idea, given how red-hot Nyquist is - but the thought is that Nyquist seems to succeed with anyone and everyone he plays with while also making his linemates better. And he definitely has some chemistry with Franzen. I just don't like that we're getting consistent production from only one line. One guy, actually.

I mean, it's probably a bad idea and it certainly won't happen. But you at least see where I'm coming from, right? The guy's absolutely ice cold right now and at times looks pretty ok with that. I dunno.