32 Backstrom25 Belanger47 Bergeron24 Boogaard96 Bouchard15 brunette8 burns26 foster10 Gaborik29 Harding5 johnsson9 koivu20 miettinen11 nolan2 reitz55 schultz51 Sheppard41 skoula19 Veilleux12 Weller3 ZidlickySPECIAL TEAMS TRULY THAT: The <strong>Wild</strong> finished fourth inthe NHL on the penalty kill with an 85.2 percent kill rate.<strong>Minnesota</strong> was seventh in the league on the power playat 19.0 percent.NEARLY MORE RECORDS: The <strong>Wild</strong> finished its divisionslate 17-11-4, one vic<strong>to</strong>ry away from the team recordfor wins against Northwest opponents (18-8-6, set in2006-07). <strong>Minnesota</strong> tied a team record with 19 road vic<strong>to</strong>ries(19-17-5).FASTEST TO 20, 30: <strong>Minnesota</strong> reached 20 wins in 34games (20-12-2), and 30 wins in 52 games (30-19-3) –both franchise bests.500 CLUB: The <strong>Wild</strong> played its 500th regular season gameOct. 21 vs. COL. The club’s franchise record after 500games of 216-194-90 and 522 points ranks seventh-bes<strong>to</strong>f any active franchise after its initial 500 games.HISTORIC COMEBACK: <strong>Minnesota</strong> rallied from three goalsdown for a 5-4 vic<strong>to</strong>ry over the Edmon<strong>to</strong>n Oilers at Xcel EnergyCenter 12/29, the <strong>Wild</strong>’s largest comeback win ever ina home game. <strong>Minnesota</strong> won despite allowing two shorthandedgoals for the first time in franchise his<strong>to</strong>ry.WORKING OVERTIME: A season after tying for second inthe NHL in shoo<strong>to</strong>ut wins with 10, the <strong>Wild</strong> was just 3-8in shoo<strong>to</strong>uts in 2007-08. The <strong>Wild</strong> allowed goals on 48.6percent of its opponent chances – 28th of 30 teams. <strong>Minnesota</strong>went 43 games in<strong>to</strong> its 2007-08 schedule beforeSEASON NOTESits first shoo<strong>to</strong>ut win, a 6-5 decision Jan. 10 in Detroit.CUTTING IT CLOSE: The <strong>Wild</strong> played 44 one-goal games(25-11-8) in 2007-08, including a run of eight straightwins that ended 12/31 vs. SJ. <strong>Minnesota</strong> ranked tied forfourth in the NHL in one-goal game wins.MAGIC NUMBER OF THREE: The <strong>Wild</strong> went 32-4-5 last seasonwhen scoring more than two goals, and 33-1-0 whenallowing fewer than three.BACK-TO-BACK: The <strong>Wild</strong> played 15 sets of back-<strong>to</strong>-backgames during the 2007-08 season. The <strong>Wild</strong> went 9-5-1in the first game and 9-4-2 in the second game of back<strong>to</strong>-backcontests.ON OUR POND: <strong>Minnesota</strong> finished the regular season25-11-5 (.671) at Xcel Energy Center in 2007-08. The <strong>Wild</strong>went 29-7-5 (.768) at Xcel Energy Center in 2006-07 andranked tied for the second most home wins in the NHLwhile establishing team records in home wins and homepoints (63). The franchise’s all-time record at Xcel EnergyCenter is 149-88-49 (.607), and the team has not yet finisheda season with a home record below .500.ON THE ROAD: The <strong>Wild</strong> went 19-17-5 (.524) on the roadlast season, tying the franchise record for road wins ina season set in 2006-07 when it posted a 19-19-3 markaway from Xcel Energy Center. <strong>Minnesota</strong>’s all-time roadrecord is 104-135-48 (.446).GAME DATE OPPONENT RESULT W L OT RECORD PTS2007-08 GAME-BY-GAME120 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 121DIVISION/CONF. RANKWILD GOALS(BY #)WILDGOALTENDERS1 10/4 CHICAGO 1-0 W 1-0-0 2 t-1st/t-2nd 96 Backstrom *18,5682 10/6 COLUMBUS 3-2 W 2-0-0 4 t-1st/t-1st 96, 25, 8 Backstrom *18,5683 10/10 EDMONTON 2-0 W 3-0-0 6 1st/2nd 8, 39 Backstrom *18,5684 10/13 @Phoenix 3-2 W 4-0-0 8 1st/1st 10, 9p, 25s Backstrom 12,0885 10/14 @Anaheim 2-0 W 5-0-0 10 1st/1st 12, 21 Harding 17,1746 10/16 @Los Angeles 3-4 L (SO) 5-0-1 11 1st/1st 38, 9, 12 Backstrom 14,2397 10/20 @St. Louis 3-1 W 6-0-1 13 1st/1st 38p, 25, 8 Harding 19,1508 10/21 COLORADO 3-2 W 7-0-1 15 1st/1st 21p, 12,p, 9 Backstrom *18,5689 10/24 @Calgary 3-5 L 7-1-1 15 1st/1st 12p, 21p, 37 Backstrom 19,28910 10/25 @Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 4-5 L (SO) 7-1-2 16 1st/2nd 15, 96, 12, 21 Harding 16,83911 10/28 @Colorado 1-3 L 7-2-2 16 1st/2nd 25p Harding 17,04112 10/30 PITTSBURGH 2-4 L 7-3-2 16 1st/2nd 19, 12 Harding *18,56813 11/1 ST. LOUIS 2-3 L 7-4-2 16 1st/2nd 10, 38 Harding *18,56814 11/3 CALGARY 4-1 W 8-4-2 18 1st/2nd 12, 10, 10p, 92 Backstrom *18,56815 11/5 EDMONTON 5-2 W 9-4-2 20 1st/2nd 21p, 96p, 26p, 21p, 19 Backstrom *18,56816 11/11 @Colorado 2-4 L 9-5-2 20 2nd/4th 25p, 96p Backstrom 15,43417 11/13 @Calgary 2-3 L 9-6-2 20 2nd/5th 9, 9p Backstrom 19,28918 11/15 @Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 4-2 W 10-6-2 22 2nd/4th 41, 10p, 26p, 21 BACKSTROM; Harding 16,83919 11/16 @Vancouver 2-6 L 10-7-2 22 2nd/4th 34, 8p HARDING; Backstrom 18,63020 11/18 COLORADO 4-1 W 11-7-2 24 1st/3rd 34, 83, 19, 8 Harding *18,56821 11/21 VANCOUVER 2-4 L 11-8-2 24 2nd/5th 10, 10p Harding *18,56822 11/23 COLUMBUS 0-4 L 11-9-2 24 3rd/9th – Backstrom *18,56823 11/24 @Nashville 4-3 W 12-9-2 26 1st/3rd 34, 83, 10, 92 Backstrom 12,63924 11/28 PHOENIX 3-1 W 13-9-2 28 t-1st/t-3rd 19, 10, 15 Backstrom *18,56825 11/30 ST. LOUIS 3-2 W (OT) 14-9-2 30 t-1st/t-3rd 8p, 12, 10 Backstrom *18,56826 12/2 VANCOUVER 2-1 W 15-9-2 32 1st/2nd 25p, 34 Backstrom *18,56827 12/5 PHILADELPHIA 1-3 L 15-10-2 32 2nd/5th 38p Backstrom *18,56828 12/7 @Detroit 0-5 L 15-11-2 32 2nd/5th – Harding 19,50829 12/8 @Columbus 2-1 W 16-11-2 34 2nd/5th 34, 12 Backstrom 15,66630 12/11 @San Jose 1-4 L 16-12-2 34 2nd/5th 92p Backstrom 17,06431 12/14 @Anaheim 5-2 W 17-12-2 36 2nd/6th 34, 10p, 25p, 12p, 8p Harding 17,17432 12/15 @Los Angeles 2-1 W 18-12-2 38 t-1st/t-3rd 10, 12p Harding 16,64833 12/18 NASHVILLE 3-2 W 19-12-2 40 t-1st/t-3rd 10, 25, 12 Harding *18,56834 12/20 N.Y. RANGERS 6-3 W 20-12-2 42 t-1st/t-2nd 10, 10p, 10p, 96p, 10, 10 Harding *18,56835 12/22 DETROIT 1-4 L 20-13-2 42 t-2nd/t-5th 5p Backstrom *18,56836 12/26 @Dallas 3-8 L 20-14-2 42 3rd/5th 34, 38, 38 Harding 18,53237 12/27 @Phoenix 3-2 W 21-14-2 44 t-2nd/t-5th 25p, 21p, 12p Backstrom 13,75638 12/29 EDMONTON 5-4 W (OT) 22-14-2 46 t-1st/t-3rd 5p, 12, 10, 8, 33p Backstrom *18,56839 12/31 SAN JOSE 2-3 L 22-15-2 46 2nd/5th 18, 21 Backstrom *18,56840 1/3 DALLAS 6-3 W 23-15-2 48 t-1st/t-3rd 10s, 38, 96, 10, 25p, 21 Backstrom *18,56841 1/5 @Nashville 1-4 L 23-16-2 48 3rd/6th 21 Harding 17,11342 1/7 @Dallas 1-3 L 23-17-2 48 3rd/7th 21 Backstrom 17,50243 1/10 @Detroit 6-5 W (SO) 24-17-2 50 3rd/5th 41, 10, 17, 83, 25 Backstrom; HARDING 17,84844 1/11 @Chicago 5-2 W 25-17-2 52 1st/3rd 83, 10, 96, 21, 10 Harding 21,13945 1/13 PHOENIX 4-1 W 26-17-2 54 1st/3rd 38, 15, 25, 10 Harding *18,56846 1/16 CALGARY 2-3 L (SO) 26-17-3 55 1st/3rd 8p, 26p Backstrom *18,56847 1/18 ANAHEIM 2-4 L 26-18-3 55 2nd/6th 55, 9 Harding *18,56848 1/21 @Vancouver 4-2 W 27-18-3 57 1st/3rd 12, 96, 9, 96 Backstrom 18,63049 1/22 @Calgary 1-2 L 27-19-3 57 2nd/6th 12 Harding 19,28950 1/24 @Colorado 3-2 W 28-19-3 59 1st/3rd 17, 12p, 38 Backstrom 15,32151 1/30 ANAHEIM 5-1 W 29-19-3 61 1st/3rd 12, 10, 9, 96, 15 Backstrom *18,56852 2/2 @Columbus 4-1 W 30-19-3 63 1st/3rd 26, 12, 10, 10 Backstrom 18,52953 2/5 DETROIT 2-3 L (OT) 30-19-4 64 1st/3rd 12p, 38 Backstrom *18,56854 2/7 DALLAS 0-1 L 30-20-4 64 1st/3rd – Backstrom *18,56855 2/9 N.Y. ISLANDERS 4-3 W (OT) 31-20-4 66 1st/3rd 26, 12, 12, 8 Backstrom *18,56856 2/10 @St. Louis 2-1 W (SO) 32-20-4 68 1st/3rd 10 Harding 16,47757 2/12 @Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 2-4 L 32-21-4 68 1st/3rd 38, 12p Backstrom; HARDING 16,83958 2/14 @Vancouver 5-4 W (SO) 33-21-4 70 1st/3rd 19, 19, 26, 10 Backstrom 18,63059 2/17 NASHVILLE 5-4 W (OT) 34-21-4 72 1st/3rd 33, 21, 96p, 10, 10 Backstrom *18,56860 2/19 VANCOUVER 2-3 L (OT) 34-21-5 73 1st/3rd 10p, 25p Backstrom *18,56861 2/20 @Chicago 0-3 L 34-22-5 73 1st/3rd – Harding 17,81262 2/24 CALGARY 1-2 L 34-23-5 73 2nd/6th 21p Backstrom *18,56863 2/26 @Washing<strong>to</strong>n 1-4 L 34-24-5 73 2nd/6th 92 Backstrom 17,39164 2/27 @Tampa Bay 3-2 W 35-24-5 75 1st/3rd 17p, 38, 12p Backstrom 17,21165 2/29 @Florida 3-2 W 36-24-5 77 1st/3rd 9, 19, 8p Backstrom 16,92766 3/2 LOS ANGELES 2-1 W (OT) 37-24-5 79 1st/3rd 10, 41 Backstrom *18,56867 3/4 CHICAGO 2-4 L 37-25-5 79 1st/3rd 38, 19 Backstrom *18,56868 3/6 @Carolina 2-3 L 37-26-5 79 2nd/6th 38, 9 Harding 16,29769 3/7 @Atlanta 2-3 L (SO) 37-26-6 80 2nd/6th 12p, 8p Backstrom 18,70970 3/9 SAN JOSE 2-3 L (SO) 37-26-7 81 1st/3rd 26, 12 Backstrom *18,56871 3/13 NEW JERSEY 3-4 L (SO) 37-26-8 82 2nd/6th 19, 8, 10 Backstrom *18,56872 3/15 LOS ANGELES 2-0 W 38-26-8 84 1st/3rd 12, 10 Backstrom *18,56873 3/17 COLORADO 3-1 W 39-26-8 86 1st/3rd 8p, 92, 19 Backstrom *18,56874 3/19 @San Jose 3-4 L (SO) 39-26-9 87 1st/3rd 19, 10p, 10p Backstrom 17,49675 3/21 @Vancouver 2-1 W 40-26-9 89 1st/3rd 12p, 92 Backstrom 18,63076 3/22 @Calgary 4-5 L 40-27-9 89 1st/3rd 67, 67, 5, 5 Harding 19,28977 3/24 @Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 3-5 L 40-28-9 89 1st/3rd 55, 6, 17 Backstrom; HARDING 16,83978 3/26 EDMONTON 3-1 W 41-28-9 91 1st/3rd 92, 6p, 12s Backstrom *18,56879 3/28 VANCOUVER 4-0 W 42-28-9 93 1st/3rd 96, 9, 8p, 17 Backstrom *18,56880 3/30 COLORADO 3-2 W (OT) 43-28-9 95 1st/3rd 12, 10p, 10 Backstrom *18,56881 4/3 CALGARY 3-1 W 44-28-9 97 1st/3rd 17p, 10, 10p Backstrom *18,56882 4/6 @Colorado 3-4 L (OT) 44-28-10 98 1st/3rd 21p, 3, 12 Harding 18,007ALL CAPS indicates decision; * indicates sell out, p - power play goal, s-short-handed goalATT.Table of contents Hockey Operations <strong>Wild</strong> THings The Players Team His<strong>to</strong>ry Team Records Playoff His<strong>to</strong>ry The NHL
32 Backstrom25 Belanger47 Bergeron24 Boogaard96 Bouchard15 brunette8 burns26 foster10 Gaborik29 Harding5 johnsson9 koivu20 miettinen11 nolan2 reitz55 schultz51 Sheppard41 skoula19 Veilleux12 Weller3 Zidlicky10/4/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 1 vs. Chicago 0: The <strong>Wild</strong> blanked theBlackhawks 1-0 <strong>to</strong> post the franchise’s sixth straight seasonhome-opening win...Pierre-Marc Bouchard broke the scorelesstie with an even-strength goal at 4:47 in the second period...Niklas Backstrom made 27 saves en route <strong>to</strong> notching his sixthcareer NHL shu<strong>to</strong>ut...The <strong>Wild</strong> are now 4-2-1 in all-time seasonopeners while Jacques Lemaire moved <strong>to</strong> 8-3-2 as a head coachwhen beginning a new campaign...RECORD: 1-0-0, 2 pts.10/6/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 vs. Columbus 2: <strong>Minnesota</strong> rallied <strong>to</strong>defeat Columbus 3-2...Pierre-Marc Bouchard recorded the 50thgoal of his <strong>Wild</strong> career...Bouchard became the third <strong>Wild</strong> playerin club his<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>to</strong> post goals in the first two games of the season(Todd White in 2006-07, Andrew Brunette in 2002-03)...BrianRols<strong>to</strong>n assisted on all three goals, matching a single-game careerhigh...Niklas Backstrom made 19 saves in net...Brent Burnsregistered the game-winning goal at 6:35 in the third...Eric Belangerscored the game-tying tally...RECORD: 2-0-0, 4 pts.10/10/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 vs. Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 0: Niklas Backstrom registeredhis second shu<strong>to</strong>ut of the season <strong>to</strong> guide the <strong>Wild</strong> <strong>to</strong>a 2-0 win over the Edmon<strong>to</strong>n at Xcel Energy Center in the firstNorthwest Division match-up of the season for both clubs...BrentBurns opened the scoring at 12:22 in the first period...PavolDemitra notched his first goal of the season at 7:48 in the secondperiod...Marian Gaborik put away his 86th multi-point game...AMikko Koivu assist accounted for his 50th as a member of the<strong>Wild</strong>...RECORD: 3-0-0, 6 pts.10/13/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 at Phoenix 2: Eric Belanger snappeda tie with a short-handed goal with 3:15 left in regulation, as<strong>Minnesota</strong> rallied for a 3-2 vic<strong>to</strong>ry over the Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena...Mikko Koivu tied the game minutes earlier with apower-play goal and Marian Gaborik scored his first goal of theseason...Niklas Backstrom made 27 saves for his fourth straightvic<strong>to</strong>ry...Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n skated in the 900th game of his NHL career...RECORD:4-0-0, 8 pts.10/14/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 at Anaheim 0: Josh Harding recordeda career-high 37 saves for his third career shu<strong>to</strong>ut, and BrianRols<strong>to</strong>n and Mark Parrish scored a goal apiece, as the <strong>Minnesota</strong><strong>Wild</strong> remained perfect with a 2-0 vic<strong>to</strong>ry over the defendingStanley Cup champion Ducks...Eric Belanger tallied his teamleadingfifth point of the season (2-3=5) when he assisted onRols<strong>to</strong>n’s goal while Branko Radivojevic secured his first helperof the season when Parrish scored...The <strong>Wild</strong> killed off all eightDucks power plays…Wes Walz played in his 600th NHL game...RECORD: 5-0-0, 10 pts.10/20/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 at St. Louis 1: Josh Harding made 33saves and Eric Belanger posted the game-winning goal andadded an assist, leading the <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Wild</strong> <strong>to</strong> a 3-1 vic<strong>to</strong>ry overthe St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center...Pavol Demitra and BrentBurns also scored for <strong>Minnesota</strong>, which finished a four-gameroad trip 3-0-1...RECORD: 6-0-1, 13 pts.10/21/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 vs. Colorado 2: After a scoreless firstperiod the <strong>Wild</strong> <strong>to</strong>ok a 2-0 lead on second period power-playgoals from Mark Parrish and Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n...Colorado responded2007-08 GAME SUMMARIESwith two second period goals of their own <strong>to</strong> tie the game...Mikko Koivu netted the unassisted game-winner with 3:04 left inregulation...Niklas Backstrom made 29 saves and Pavol Demitraadded two assists for the <strong>Wild</strong>...RECORD: 7-0-1, 15 pts.10/24/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 at Calgary 5: The <strong>Wild</strong> jumped out <strong>to</strong> a3-0 lead after the first 20 minutes of play on power-play goalsfrom Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n and Mark Parrish, and an even strengthmarker from Wes Walz...Calgary collected three goals of theirown in the second period and tallied two more times in the thirdperiod <strong>to</strong> earn a 5-3 come-from-behind vic<strong>to</strong>ry...The loss markedthe first time in franchise his<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>Minnesota</strong> lost a game whenholding a three-goal lead...Niklas Backstrom made 19 saves...RECORD: 7-1-1, 15 pts.10/30/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 vs. Pittsburgh 4: Sidney Crosby scoredfour points (1-3=4) in his first game at Xcel Energy Center andEvgeni Malkin had two goals while chipping in a helper, leadingPittsburgh over the <strong>Wild</strong> 4-2...Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n and StephaneVeilleux scored a goal apiece as the <strong>Wild</strong> lost for the first time athome during the 2007-08 season...RECORD: 7-3-2, 16 pts.11/3/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 4 vs. Calgary 1: The <strong>Wild</strong> improved <strong>to</strong>19-0-2 all-time when Marian Gaborik has at least three pointsand snapped a five-game winless slide (0-4-1) with a vic<strong>to</strong>ryover the Flames at Xcel Energy Center...Gaborik had two goalsand added an assist on Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n’s first-period score...BrentBurns notched two assists, giving him a three-game assiststreak – tying his career-high in both categories...Niklas Backstrommade 23 s<strong>to</strong>ps in his first appearance since Oct. 24 at Calgary...BrankoRadivojevic recorded his first goal of the season...RECORD: 8-4-2, 18 pts.11/5/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 5 vs. Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 2: Mark Parrish scored twopower-play goals and Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Kurtis Fosteradded man-advantage goals 11 seconds apart late in the firstperiod, as the <strong>Wild</strong> routed the Oilers 5-2...Mikko Koivu tied hiscareer high with three assists, Stephane Veilleux also scored andNiklas Backstrom made 22 saves <strong>to</strong> improve <strong>to</strong> 6-0-0 lifetimeversus the Oilers...Koivu notched three assists for the secondtime in his career...RECORD: 9-4-2, 20 pts.11/11/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 at Colorado 4: Paul Stastny registeredtwo goals and an assist, while Ryan Smyth and Wojtek Wolskitallied a goal and an assist apiece, leading Colorado past the<strong>Wild</strong>...Eric Belanger and Pierre-Marc Bouchard each scored agoal for <strong>Minnesota</strong>...RECORD: 9-5-2, 20 pts.11/13/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 at Calgary 3: Despite two goals fromMikko Koivu, the <strong>Wild</strong> lost <strong>to</strong> the Flames...<strong>Minnesota</strong> fell <strong>to</strong> 1-9-2in its previous 12 trips <strong>to</strong> Pengrowth Saddledome...Dion Phaneufhelped the Flames claim a 1-0 lead with a power play goal at15:43 in the first period...Koivu then scored twice <strong>to</strong> give the <strong>Wild</strong>a 2-1 advantage before Calgary responded with a pair of its own<strong>to</strong> ice the vic<strong>to</strong>ry...Kristian Huselius paced the Flames with twopoints (1-1=2), including the game-winning goal at 19:07 inthe third...Niklas Backstrom made 25 saves in defeat...RECORD:9-6-2, 20 pts.11/15/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 4 at Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 2: Eric Belanger tied a<strong>Wild</strong> record and set a personal best with four assists, MartinSkoula scored his first goal in 114 games and Marian Gaborikreturned <strong>to</strong> the lineup, after missing three games, tallying a goaland an assist and leading <strong>Minnesota</strong> past Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 4-2 at RexallPlace...Mark Parrish pushed his point streak <strong>to</strong> four gameswith a goal and an assist while Kurtis Foster also scored for <strong>Minnesota</strong>,which overcame two goals from Jarret S<strong>to</strong>ll...RECORD:10-6-2, 22 pts.11/18/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 4 vs. Colorado 1: Matt Foy notched hisfirst points of the season (a first period assist and second periodgoal) as the <strong>Wild</strong> dispatched Colorado at Xcel Energy Center...Aaros Voros found the net for the second straight game <strong>to</strong> givethe <strong>Wild</strong> a 1-0 lead...Brent Burns also picked up a goal for thesecond game in a row with his fifth of 2007-08 in the third period...JamesSheppard posted two assists and Stephane Veilleuxnotched a goal in the second period...Josh Harding received thewin, s<strong>to</strong>pping 27 shots in his first vic<strong>to</strong>ry since Oct. 20 at St.Louis...RECORD: 11-7-2, 24 pts.11/24/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 4 at Nashville 3: Branko Radivojevic talliedthe game-winning goal at 18:07 in the third period <strong>to</strong> liftthe <strong>Wild</strong> over Nashville at Sommet Center...Aaron Voros, Matt Foyand Marian Gaborik also scored for <strong>Minnesota</strong>, which led 3-2after the second period...Both Foy and Dominic Moore posted twopoints while Niklas Backstrom faced 43 shots for the second timein his career...<strong>Minnesota</strong> moved <strong>to</strong> 9-2-1 when scoring more thantwo goals this season...RECORD: 12-9-2, 26 pts.11/28/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 vs. Phoenix 1: Niklas Backstrom made21 saves while Stephane Veilleux, Marian Gaborik (GW) andJames Sheppard scored a goal apiece, as <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>to</strong>pped theCoyotes 3-1 at Xcel Energy Center...Aaron Voros also notched twoassists as the <strong>Wild</strong> moved in<strong>to</strong> a first-place tie with Vancouver...RECORD: 13-9-2, 28 pts.11/30/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 vs. St. Louis 2 (OT): Marian Gaborikscored his second career overtime game-winner with 2:39 left inthe extra session, as the <strong>Wild</strong> defeated St. Louis...Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>nand Brent Burns also scored while Niklas Backstrom made 22saves for the <strong>Wild</strong>...RECORD: 14-9-2, 30 pts.12/2/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 vs. Vancouver 1: Aaron Voros posted thegame-winning goal at 16:45 in the second period for the <strong>Wild</strong> ina 2-1 win over Vancouver...When Eric Belanger scored his sixthgoal of the season at 16:38 in the first period, the <strong>Wild</strong> snappedRober<strong>to</strong> Luongo’s shu<strong>to</strong>ut streak at 210 minutes, 34 seconds...The assist from Sean Hill on Belanger’s goal was his first sincejoining <strong>Minnesota</strong> as a free agent...Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n also assistedon the play, his third point in the previous two games (1-2=3),as the <strong>Wild</strong> stayed undefeated (14-0-0) on the season when allowingtwo goals or less...RECORD: 15-9-2, 32 pts.12/8/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 at Columbus 1: Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n tallied thegame-winning goal at 2:22 in the third period <strong>to</strong> help <strong>Minnesota</strong>edge the Blue Jackets 2-1 at Nationwide Arena. <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>to</strong>oka 1-0 lead when Aaron Voros scored his fifth goal of the season...NiklasBackstrom made 31 saves as <strong>Minnesota</strong> capturedits second franchise win over the Blue Jackets in Ohio (2-7-3)...2007-08 GAME SUMMARIESRECORD: 16-11-2, 34 pts.12/14/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 5 at Anaheim 2: Aaron Voros (1-1=2)opened the scoring with an unassisted first period tally and the<strong>Wild</strong> recorded a franchise-record tying four power-play goals inthe second period on the way <strong>to</strong> a 5-2 win...The five goals tieda season high...Marian Gaborik, Eric Belanger, Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n(1-2=3) and Brent Burns (1-1=2) tallied second period goalsand Kim Johnsson notched two assists...Josh Harding made 28saves in his first win since Nov. 18...RECORD: 17-12-2, 36 pts.12/15/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 2 at Los Angeles 1: <strong>Minnesota</strong> completeda five-game road trip with a 2-1 win at Staples Center...MarianGaborik opened the scoring 3:48 in<strong>to</strong> the game and BrianRols<strong>to</strong>n scored the game-winner during a 5-on-3 power play at6:06 of the second period...Josh Harding made 35 saves and losthis shu<strong>to</strong>ut bid when Rob Blake scored with 1:12 remaining inthe contest...The <strong>Wild</strong> denied all nine of the Kings’ power-playopportunities...RECORD: 18-12-2, 38 pts.12/18/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 vs. Nashville 2: Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n’s goal– his 600th career point – snapped a tie with 1:08 left in regulation,lifting the <strong>Wild</strong> <strong>to</strong> a 3-2 vic<strong>to</strong>ry over Nashville in Jacques Lemaire’s1,000th NHL regular season game as a head coach...EricBelanger scored a goal and assisted on Rols<strong>to</strong>n’s game-winner,Marian Gaborik added a goal and Josh Harding made 30 saves...Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard each added two assists...RECORD: 19-12-2, 40 pts12/20/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 6 vs. N.Y. Rangers 3: Marian Gaborik talliedfive goals – the NHL’s first five-goal game in nearly 11 years– and an assist in leading the <strong>Wild</strong> past the Rangers 6-3 in theBlueshirts’ first trip <strong>to</strong> Xcel Energy Center since Oct. 10, 2003...Pierre-Marc Bouchard added a goal and an assist and JoshHarding made 32 saves for his fourth straight win...RECORD:20-12-2, 42 pts.12/27/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 3 at Phoenix 2: The <strong>Wild</strong> converted threeof its four power-play chances, including one power-play markerin each period in a 3-2 win at Phoenix...Eric Belanger led the waywith three points (1-2=3)...Mark Parrish and Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n alsoscored and Brent Burns notched two assists...Niklas Backstrommade 46 saves for his sixth win in six career starts against Phoenix...JoelPerreault and Enver Lisin scored for the Coyotes, whooutshot the <strong>Wild</strong> 48-26...RECORD: 21-14-2, 44 pts.12/29/07 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 5 vs. Edmon<strong>to</strong>n 4: <strong>Minnesota</strong> overcamea 4-1 second period deficit by scoring the final four goals in thegame <strong>to</strong> claim a 5-4 overtime vic<strong>to</strong>ry over the Oilers...PetteriNummelin (1-1=2) registered the game-winner on the powerplay 1:50 in<strong>to</strong> the extra session...Niklas Backstrom made 23saves <strong>to</strong> improve his career record against Edmon<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> 8-0-0...Kim Johnsson, Brian Rols<strong>to</strong>n (1-1=2), Marian Gaborik and BrentBurns scored in regulation for the <strong>Wild</strong> and Pierre-Marc Bouchardadded three assists...RECORD: 22-14-2, 46 pts.1/3/08 • <strong>Minnesota</strong> 6 vs. Dallas 3: Marian Gaborik scored twogoals and added an assist, Pierre-Marc Bouchard netted a goaland two helpers and Brent Burns added a career-high three assists,as <strong>Minnesota</strong> routed the Stars. Pavol Demitra added a goal122 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 123Table of contents Hockey Operations <strong>Wild</strong> THings The Players Team His<strong>to</strong>ry Team Records Playoff His<strong>to</strong>ry The NHL
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