Game 80: Stars at Wild

Yeah, it is raining on the Stars. They will not make the playoffs as they are currently seeded 12th in their conference with three games to play. Since this game really has no meaning for the Stars (let's just be honest, OK?), they will more than likely just play their 60 minutes and go home. Minnesota is 37-33-9 (or 37-42, adjusted) and the Stars are 35-34-10 (or 35-44 adjusted). Both teams are still in a hunt for postseason, but the Stars, 12th in the conference, are all but eliminated. The Wild trail 8th place Nashville by three points. The Stars need to win their last three games, and need loses by Nashville, St. Louis, Minnesota, and Edmonton to catch 8th place. Not likely. In fact, the Blues and Predators need to lose their last three games. And it wouldn't hurt for the Oilers and Wild to do the same... again, not likely.

The reality is that both the Wild and Stars are stinking it up. This game tonight will not be defined by the greatness of one team over the other, but by who doesn't stink it up the worst.

Forecast: The Wild doesn't stink it up nearly as bad as the Stars tonight. It is probably due to the Wild playing at home. Stars get officially eliminated from the playoffs with a score of 4-2, Wild.

Home Ice

Game 21: Stars vs. Wild

Dallas is the worst in the west with a record of 6-10-4 (6-14, adjusted) while the Wild is ranked fifth in the west with a record of 12-6-1 (12-7, adjusted). The Stars have yeilded the most goals to date (74) and two teams have scored as many as they have given up (San Jose and Detroit). That is just a way to see how bad the Stars are and that where they are isn't just a fluke, but the result of a number of problems. They did beat the Wild earlier this season, a game that I was in attendance. They used Stephan as goalie. Maybe they should use him for this game.

Stars to Watch:

• Mike Ribeiro: 18 points (-5)
• Brad Richards: 16 points (-3)
• Mike Modano: 15 points (2)
• Loui Eriksson: 14 points (4)
• Marty Turco: 5-9-4 with a 3.53 GAA and a .870 SV%

The Stars have lost six of their last seven games.

Wild to Watch:

• Mikko Koivu: 19 points (4)
• Antti Miettinen: 13 points (-3)
• Andrew Brunette: 11 points (-4)
• Eric Belanger: 10 points (-3)
• Niklas Backstrom: 12-5-1 with a 2.05 GAA and a .930 SV%

The name of the game is to score more than the other team and to keep the other team from scoring as much. It looks like Minnesota is pretty good at doing that.

Forecast: The Stars have beaten the Wild this year and that pulls at me a bit... I mean, the Stars have won against this team, so they could do it again. Will they? Not tonight. Wild take this one in a close one, 3-2.

Home Plate