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32 Backstrom25 Belanger47 Bergeron24 Boogaard96 Bouchard15 brunette8 burns26 foster10 Gaborik29 Harding5 johnsson9 koivu20 miettinen11 nolan2 reitz55 schultz51 Sheppard41 skoula19 Veilleux12 Weller3 Zidlicky2007-08 GAME SUMMARIESand an assist, Eric Belanger and Mark Parrish also scored andNiklas Backstrom made 25 saves...RECORD: 23-15-2, 48 pts.1/10/08 • Minnesota 6 at Detroit 5 (SO): Marian Gaborik posteda goal and two assists and sealed the game with his first careershootout goal in nine attempts, and Josh Harding stopped 26 of27 shots in relief, as Minnesota outlasted Detroit 6-5...Eric Belangerforced OT with 49 seconds left and added an assist, whileJames Sheppard (0-2=2), Mark Parrish (1-1=2) and Matt Foy(1-1=2) each added two points...RECORD: 24-17-2, 50 pts.1/11/08 • Minnesota 5 at Chicago 2: Josh Harding made a career-high41 saves and Marian Gaborik scored twice, lifting theWild to a 5-2 victory over Chicago...Pierre-Marc Bouchard, MarkParrish and Matt Foy also scored for Minnesota, which improvedto 7-1-1 in the second half of back-to-back games on the season...EricBelanger added two assists and Mikko Koivu added ahelper in 19:17 of ice time while returning from a 24-game injuryabsence...RECORD: 25-17-2, 52 pts.1/13/08 • Minnesota 4 vs. Phoenix 1: The Wild scored four unansweredgoals in a 4-1 victory...With the win, Minnesota sweptthe four-game season series with Phoenix...Pavol Demitra, JamesSheppard, Eric Belanger and Marian Gaborik tallied goals for theWild, which improved to 12-0-1 on the season when scoring atleast four times...Josh Harding stopped 26 shots and posted hisfirst NHL assist on Belanger’s goal at 2:11 in the third...BrentBurns also had an assist, establishing a new career high with 26points (8-18=26)...RECORD: 26-17-2, 54 pts.1/16/08 • Minnesota 2 vs. Calgary 3 (SO): Miikka Kiprusoffmade 29 saves and Kristian Huselius scored in regulation andadded the deciding shootout goal, as the Flames bested the Wild3-2 in front of 18,568 at Xcel Energy Center for the Wild’s 300thconsecutive sellout...The Wild, which got a power-play goal eachfrom Brent Burns and Kurtis Foster, dropped to 1-3 in shootoutsituations in 2007-08 (0-1 at home)...RECORD: 26-17-3, 55 pts.1/21/08 • Minnesota 4 at Vancouver 2: Pierre-Marc Bouchardtied his career-high with two goals and four points, leading Minnesotapast the Canucks 4-2 at GM Place...Niklas Backstrommade 38 saves, while Mikko Koivu and Brian Rolston each addeda goal...RECORD: 27-18-3, 57 pts.1/24/08 • Minnesota 3 at Colorado 2: Pavol Demitra notched agoal and an assist, Todd Fedoruk and Brian Rolston also scored,and Nick Schultz tied a career-high with two assists, leading theWild into the all-star break with a 3-2 victory...Niklas Backstrommade 38 saves...RECORD: 28-19-3, 59 pts.1/30/08 • Minnesota 5 vs. Anaheim 1: Brian Rolston, MarianGaborik and Mikko Koivu scored 1:56 apart early in the secondperiod, and Pavol Demitra added two assists for 400 in his NHLcareer, as Minnesota topped the Ducks 5-1 at Xcel Energy Center...Pierre-MarcBouchard added a goal and an assist, JamesSheppard also scored and Niklas Backstrom made 20 saves...RECORD: 29-19-3, 61 pts.2/2/08 • Minnesota 4 at Columbus 1: Marian Gaborik scoredtwo goals, Pavol Demitra had two assists and Niklas Backstrommade 33 saves to lead the Wild past the Blue Jackets at NationwideArena...Brian Rolston extended his goal-scoring streak tofive games, while Kurtis Foster also scored for the Wild, whichwon its third straight...RECORD: 30-19-3, 63 pts.2/5/08 • Minnesota 2 vs. Detroit 3 (OT): Brett Lebda scored 1:37into overtime after Dan Cleary forced the extra session with 1:40left in regulation, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to their eighthstraight win 3-2 over the Wild at Xcel Energy Center...Brian Rolstonset a Wild record by scoring in his sixth straight game...Pavol Demitra also scored and Niklas Backstrom made 35 savesfor Minnesota...RECORD: 30-19-4, 64 pts.2/9/08 • Minnesota 4 vs. N.Y. Islanders 3 (OT): Brent Burnsscored the game-winner with 2:26 left in overtime after BrianRolston’s second goal of the game forced the extra session with3:24 left in regulation, as the Wild downed the Islanders 4-3 onHockey Day Minnesota 2008...Kurtis Foster netted a goal and anassist and Niklas Backstrom made 26 saves for the NorthwestDivision-leading Wild...RECORD: 31-20-4, 66 pts.2/10/08 • Minnesota 2 at St. Louis 1 (SO): Brent Burns securedthe Wild’s second win in as many days when he connected forthe deciding shootout goal on Manny Legace...It was Burns’ firstcareer shootout attempt...Marian Gaborik put the Wild ahead1-0 with his 29th goal of the season at 5:21 of the first period...Gaborik’s goal extended his point streak when facing St. Louis to14 games...Josh Harding posted 20 saves in his first start sinceJan. 22 at Calgary...RECORD: 32-20-4, 68 pts.2/14/08 • Minnesota 5 at Vancouver 4 (SO): Mikko Koivunotched his sixth career shootout deciding goal to boost the Wildover Vancouver at GM Place...Stephane Veilleux tallied the firsttwo goals for Minnesota (one in each of the first two periods)while Kurtis Foster and Marian Gaborik scored in the third period...NiklasBackstom stopped 24 shots, moving his record to9-3-2 (.714) since Dec. 15...RECORD: 33-21-4, 70 pts.2/17/08 • Minnesota 5 vs. Nashville 4 (OT): Marian Gaborikscored his 32nd goal with 4.4 seconds left in overtime to givethe Wild a 5-4 win...Petteri Nummelin tallied his second goal ofthe season in the first period and, at 14:19 in the second period,Pierre-Marc Bouchard became the first Wild player other thanBrian Rolston since Jan. 18 to record a power-play goal...NiklasBackstrom collected 24 saves for Minnesota, which moved to6-2-1 following the All-Star break...RECORD: 34-21-4, 72 pts.2/27/08 • Minnesota 3 at Tampa Bay 2: The Wild captured a3-2 win over the Lightning in Minnesota’s first visit to TampaBay since Oct. 25, 2003...Todd Fedoruk opened the scoring forMinnesota with his first career power-play goal at 3:46 of thesecond and Pavol Demitra tallied another goal 1:10 later...BrianRolston scored his team-leading ninth power-play goal to put theWild up 3-1...Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Kurtis Foster collectedtwo assists each and Niklas Backstrom blocked 31 shots for Minnesota,which improved to 26-0-1 when leading after two periodsin 2007-08...RECORD: 35-24-5, 75 pts.2/29/08 • Minnesota 3 at Florida 2: The Wild defeated Florida3-2 in its first trip to South Florida since Oct. 24, 2003...StephaneVeilleux and Brent Burns (PP) added second period goals to giveMinnesota a 3-1 lead...Burns also assisted on Veilleux’s tally tonotch his sixth multi-point effort of 2007-08...Mikko Koivu postedthe lone score of the first period at 9:43 as the Wild improved to6-1-1 all-time against the Panthers...Niklas Backstrom recorded32 saves...RECORD: 36-24-5, 77 pts.3/2/08 • Minnesota 2 vs. Los Angeles 1 (OT): Niklas Backstrommade 27 saves and Marian Gaborik had a goal and an assist inhis first game as captain, as the Wild topped Los Angeles at XcelEnergy Center...Martin Skoula’s fourth goal in two-plus seasonswith Minnesota was the game-winner with 1:15 left in overtime...The Wild moved two points ahead of Calgary for the top spot inthe Northwest Division...RECORD: 37-24-5, 79 pts.3/7/08 • Minnesota 2 at Atlanta 3 (SO): Ilya Kovalchuk pottedhis 44th goal of the season with 45 seconds left in regulation totie the game and Erik Christensen posted the shootout winner tocomplete the Thrashers 3-2 comeback on the Wild...Minnesotanotched both of its goals on the power play as Brian Rolstontallied his 25th goal in the first period and Brent Burns gavethe Wild a 2-1 lead at 17:38 in the third...Burns also assistedon Rolston’s netter, establishing himself as the record holder formost single-season points by a Wild blueliner...Niklas Backstromblocked 24 shots during the game...RECORD: 37-26-6, 80 pts.3/9/08 • Minnesota 2 vs. San Jose 3 (SO): The Wild played in itssecond shootout in as many games, falling to the Sharks in SaintPaul when Patrick Marleau posted the shootout-deciding goal...Brian Rolston scored with 29 seconds left in regulation to forceovertime and Niklas Backstrom tallied 24 saves...Tomas Plihalrecorded the first penalty shot score ever against the Wild at XcelEnergy Center in the first after Milan Michalek scored 46 secondsinto the game...RECORD: 37-26-7, 81 pts.3/15/08 • Minnesota 2 vs. Los Angeles 0: Marian Gaborik scoredhis 200th career goal, Niklas Backstrom made 24 saves for histhird shutout of the season and Brian Rolston added a score, asthe Wild bested Los Angeles at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesotamoved into a first-place tie with Colorado atop the NorthwestDivision with 84 points...RECORD: 38-26-8, 84 pts.3/17/08 • Minnesota 3 vs. Colorado 1: With two points (1-1=2)from Brent Burns and 29 saves by Niklas Backstrom, the Wildderailed the Avalanche 3-1 at Xcel Energy Center...Branko Radivojevicbroke a 1-1 deadlock with his fifth goal of the season toput the Wild up for good at 9:42 in the second period...StephaneVeilleux added an empty netter to seal the Wild’s 39th win of2007-08...RECORD: 39-26-8, 86 pts.3/19/08 • Minnesota 3 at San Jose 4 (SO): Marian Gaborik scoredtwice in the third period as the Wild rallied from three one-goaldeficits to force overtime and gain a point in a 4-3 loss...The Wildtied the game for the third time on Gaborik’s goal with 29 secondsremaining in regulation on a 6-on-4 advantage...StephaneVeilleux also scored and Brian Rolston registered two assists forMinnesota...Jeremy Roenick opened the scoring for San Jose andnetted the deciding shootout goal...Niklas Backstrom made 30saves for the Wild...RECORD: 39-26-9, 87 pts.3/21/08 • Minnesota 2 at Vancouver 1: Brian Rolston recorded2007-08 GAME SUMMARIESa second period power-play goal and Branko Radivojevic’s goal1:33 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as theWild earned a 2-1 road win in Vancouver...Pavol Demitra recordedan assist on both Minnesota goals and Niklas Backstrom made30 saves in his season-high seventh consecutive start...SamiSalo scored a third period power-play goal for the Canucks...RECORD: 40-26-9, 89 pts.3/26/08 • Minnesota 3 vs. Edmonton 1: Niklas Backstrom made32 saves for his franchise-record-tying 30th win of the season,Branko Radivojevic and Sean Hill (1-1=2) each scored a firstperiod goal and Mikko Koivu had three assists, as the Wild defeatedthe Oilers 3-1...Minnesota moved into sole possession offirst place in the Northwest Division by one point over Calgary...The Wild trimmed its magic number to clinch a playoff spot tofour points...RECORD: 41-28-9, 91 pts.3/28/08 • Minnesota 4 vs. Vancouver 0: With 28 saves by NiklasBackstrom, the Wild posted its 40th franchise shutout in a 4-0win over Vancouver at Xcel Energy Center...Mikko Koivu notched agoal and an assist and Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored for the firsttime in 19 games while Brent Burns and Todd Fedoruk added agoal apiece as Minnesota moved three points ahead of secondplaceCalgary in the Northwest Division...The Wild trimmed itsmagic number to clinch a playoff spot to one point after wrappingup its 2007-08 regular-season series against Vancouverwith an overall record of 5-2-1...RECORD: 42-28-9, 93 pts.3/30/08 • Minnesota 3 vs. Colorado 2 (OT): Marian Gaborik’ssecond goal of the game and franchise-record 40th of the seasoncame with 1:50 left in overtime, and Brian Rolston tallied a goaland an assist, as the Stanley Cup Playoff-bound Wild edged theAvalanche 3-2...Niklas Backstrom made 24 saves to extend hisunbeaten streak to 10 games...RECORD: 43-28-9, 95 pts.4/3/08, Minnesota 3 vs. Calgary 1: Marian Gaborik scored a pairof third period goals and added an assist, and Niklas Backstrommade 26 saves, as the Wild clinched its first-ever NorthwestDivision title and gave Head Coach Jacques Lemaire his 500thcareer regular season coaching victory with a 3-1 win on FanCelebration Night...Todd Fedoruk tied the game with a first periodpower-play goal as the Wild completed their final homestand ofthe regular season 4-0-0... RECORD: 44-28-9, 97 pts.4/6/08, Minnesota 3 at Colorado 4: The Wild closed out its2007-08 regular season with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche,the team Minnesota faced in the first round of the 2008NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Keith Carney posted his first goalof the regular season and Pierre-Marc Bouchard added to hisfranchise record single-season assist total with his 50th on thesecond-period scoring play that put the Wild up 2-1. Josh Hardingblocked 33 shots and RW Pavol Demitra skated in his 750thcareer game. Minnesota finished 2007-08 with a 3-8 record inshootout situations...RECORD: 44-28-10, 98 pts.124 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 2008-09 MINNESOTA WILD TEAM GUIDE 125Table of contents Hockey Operations Wild THings The Players Team History Team Records Playoff History The NHL