National Hockey League preview roundup for Tuesday, February 7, 2012 (Part III)
Continued from part II...
Minnesota at Columbus (7.00 p.mp ET)
Columbus Blue Jackets’ last game victory might not help the observers to think of the team as a resurging group. However, the team can surely mark a strong impression if it beats the visiting Minnesota Wild in a National Hockey League (NHL) game on Tuesday,
February 7, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus is ranked at the bottom of the NHL Western Conference with meagre 34 points after 52 games.
On Friday, Columbus snapped its six-game losing streak by defeating Anaheim Ducks, 3-2, in overtime.
During the losing streak, the Columbus could only score two or less goals in every encounter, while the team conceded more than two goals in every game.
The victory against Ducks was a welcome development, but the start of that game was also not very impressive.
However, Columbus scored a goal in the final period to level the score, forcing the game to overtime where it scored another to get victory.
Columbus’ interim coach, Todd Richards, was the head coach of Minnesota Wild last year and is going to face his former team for the first time.
He is a bit nervy and emotional about the matchup. He said:
“The best way for me to explain it would be to go back to my high school years. When you have a girlfriend in high school and she breaks up with you, when you see her again the first time in the hallway, there's some emotion.”
He added that:
"It was like that the first time, but every other time you see her in the hallway it becomes a little easier."
Minnesota, unlike, Columbus is playing relatively well as it is ranked at eight spot in the Western Conference with 58 points after 52 games.
The last two months were quite discouraging for the Wild in which the team underwent a prominent slump, which also includes an eight-game losing streak.
However, Minnesota is getting back into rhythm gradually and this matchup can provide it the much needed morale booster.
Minnesota has won three of its last five games, but the team is struggling to perform completely as a unit.
Minnesota was defeated in last game by Dallas Stars, 2-1, in shootout. However, the team was not disappointed after the loss.
Wild’s coach, Mike Yeo, said after the game that:
“There was very little disappointment on our side after that game. If anything, you should feel very encouraged and even more confident about where we're at and where we're going."
To be continued...
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