Wild stink it up against banged up Canucks

The Wild was terrible in last night's 5-2 defeat against Vancouver. Thoughts and links below...

• The first goal of the game is largely being blamed on James Sheppard but Shane Hnidy passed the puck right into the skates of Derek Boogaard and Boogey did nothing to try to handle the pass. It showed up on Sheppard's stick and yes he should have immediately flipped the puck to center, but instead he used his backhand to try to pass back to Hnidy which was intercepted and turned into a goal. To me, Shepard hold some responsibility, but Hnidy deserves the bulk for a brutal break out pass.
  
• Which brings me to the next rant and that is that Hnidy and John Scott were not good at all last night. I just don't think they are so strong defensively that they are worth having back there and adding nothing to the breakout or offensive side.
  
• Guys who usually don't disappoint, did last night. Nicholas Backstrom was not up to par. Mikko Koivu's effort was lacking defensivley a few times. On Vancouver's fourth goal, it was from a terrible angle and shouldn't have gone in, but that was Koiuvu's man in the defensive zone who shot the puck and Mikko was roaming around at the end of a shift.
  
• Eric Belanger was injured and this is not good since he was one of the few consistent players this year. This may give Benoit Puliot a chance to get back into the lineup and for the record I don't think he has played nearly as bad as other media and apparently the coaches did.
  
• Kyle Brodziak scored two goals and was the first Wild player to do that all year!
  
• Cal Clutterbuck gets sometimes too much praise from the Wild announcers, but on Minnesota's first goal he did what more players need to do. The goalie had the angle on him and he had really no chance of trying to pick a corner. So he shot it low and hard and hit the net forcing the goalie to actually make a save. The rebound bounced right to Brodziak. BRILLIANT!
• Todd Richards is noticeably frustrated with Marty Havlat and Petr Sykora judging from playing time. But he still needs to give them the minutes that is required for them to turn this thing around. And part of his frustration with them is the level that they are capable of, but that doesn't mean that other players are that do receive their ice time are playing any better.
  
• The sarcasm is strong here and amongst Wild fans and the negativity level is high. But these first 15 games from an effort standpoint is something Wild fans have NEVER had to deal with.

Watch Game Highlights HERE
Read Michael Russo-Star Tribune Game Story HERE
Read Michael Russo's Blog about the Game HERE
Read Bruce Brothers-Pioneer Press Game Story HERE
Read Tom Powers-Pioneer Press Identity Crisis Column HERE
Read Jim Souhan-Star Tribune New GM Scott Fleter Column HERE
ReadWild.com Game Story HERE