NHL: Minnesota Wild Defense Struggling

The Minnesota Wild are in defensive trouble.

True, they’re first in the Northwest Division, but at this moment, it’s a one-point lead over Calgary, and Vancouver is only three points behind.

The Wild lost nine of twelve, between Feb. 19 and March 13, but they are 3-2 in their last five games, so there may be hope yet.

Wild fans were hoping that this was the year their team, gets closer than ever, to the Cup.

Then, the parade of injuries started. Gaborik missed most of last season due to groin injuries, but to the great relief of fans, that hasn’t been an issue this season.

·         Mikko Koivu missed 24 games with a broken leg.

·         Derek Boogaard missed 15 games with a back injury, then another 22 games with another back injury.

·         Demitra missed nine games with a groin injury.

·         Eric Belanger has missed seven games so far this month with a broken toe.

The picture isn't pretty.

Right now, Kurtis Foster is the latest injured player.

In a race for the puck against San Jose defenseman, Torrey Mitchell, Foster crashed headfirst into the boards. He had surgery to insert a steel rod to correct a displaced fracture of the femur. Obviously, he’s done for the season.

So what does this mean for the Wild and their defense in particular, in these final crucial games?

The answer:  An awful lot.

The Houston Aeros’ (the Wild’s AHL affiliate), top scorer, defenseman, Erik Reitz, has an ankle injury.

What about the other Houston Aeros defensemen? “Forget about it,” Coach Jacques Lemaire says.

That leaves, Brent Burns, Nick Schultz, Martin Skoula, Kim Johnsson, Keith Carney and Sean Hill. 

Carney and Hill have had limited ice time (when they even make the lineup, that is).

Carney has been a scratch 19 times. Hill was suspended 19 games, scratched 18, and missed ten because of an ankle injury.

Hill, who finished third in the NHL last season, with 252 hits and 6th with 202 blocked shots, has struggled this season. He has a team worst, minus-15 in only 27 games. In the past six games, he’s minus-8.

Last Thursday he was the focus of Lemaire’s wrath. “He’s got to play better. That’s a fact,” Lemaire said. Hill claims his struggles are due to a lack of playing time, and to be fair to Hill, maybe they are. Lemaire is skeptical.

What will the Wild do if Hill doesn’t improve?

“Call 9-1-1,” Lemaire replied.