THE WILD WIRE - #3
Oct 22, 2018THE WEEKEND THAT WAS
As so often is the case in sports, one or two plays can be the difference. After Iowa Wild was swept down in Texas over the weekend, that’s sort of the feeling I was left with.
Maybe the players and coaches saw things differently, but that’s not the vibe I got.
Friday night, the Wild had two one-goal leads, including one early in the third period. Yet, the team fell 5-4.
The next morning, I chatted with Sam Anas. He said he thought there were a lot of positives from the game, despite the result.
Then, Saturday night, the Wild and Stars were knotted up at one about halfway through the third period. Texas eventually prevailed 3-1 in a game which saw the Wild hit a goal post or crossbar a combined four times (by my count).
So, after starting 3-0-0-0, does it absolutely feel like a gut punch to get zero standings points over the weekend? Yes.
However, the Wild played two pretty good games against the defending Western Conference Champions and happened to come up just a little short.
The team is enjoying a day off today and then they’ll get three days of practice under their belts before hosting the Colorado Eagles this weekend.
The Eagles, the AHL’s newest franchise, have won four straight games and will arrive in Des Moines with a 4-1-1-0 record.
ON THE INJURY FRONT
Second-year forward Gerry Mayhew returned to the Wild lineup Saturday night and by the end of the game, he was playing on a line with Colton Beck (left wing) and Justin Kloos (center). On an aside, that line was great together and I’m curious to see if they stick as a trio this week in practice.
It was good to see Mayhew back after it was initially thought he might miss several weeks due to injury. Turns out the Ferris State alum only missed two games.
As for veteran winger Landon Ferraro, he’s missed the last two weeks of game action but is getting close to returning and could practice with the team this week.
Everyone else on the active roster made the trip to Texas and if they were scratched, it was a coach’s decision, not because of injury.
NUMBER 42
No, this isn’t about Jackie Robinson (the baseball Hall of Famer), or for that matter, Kyle Rau (who wears No. 42 for Iowa).
Instead, I’ll conclude this week’s blog with a stick tap for forward Matt Read. Over the weekend, Read became the 42nd different player to dress for both Iowa and Minnesota. Read is no stranger to the NHL. In fact, he spent the majority of his first seven seasons at the game’s highest level with the Philadelphia Flyers. This past weekend he made his Minnesota Wild debut, playing in two games and averaging about 12 minutes worth of ice time. Friday night against the Dallas Stars marked the 439th regular season contest of Read’s NHL career.
His signing in late July gave the organization some added depth and it didn’t take long for Minnesota to need his services. Read’s call-up once again reinforces how important the Iowa Wild organization can be in Minnesota’s attempt at winning the Stanley Cup.
- Wild Joe Radio