Backstrom disappointed in Wild’s performance

I had hoped the Minnesota Wild would have won on Tuesday night. I was all ready to look up the record for least amount of shots a team has had in a game it’s won. But I guess when you can only muster 11 shots on goal in 65 minutes then you deserve to lose.

The Wild were absolutely hapless against the Florida Panthers, who aren’t exactly renowned for their defensive prowess this season. In fact, Florida is allowing the most shots per game than any other team in the NHL. So what in happened the other night up in Minnesota?

Two of the veterans on the team, Niklas Backstrom and Andrew Brunette, met after an optional practice yesterday, then spoke to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune about their mindset:

“Very disappointing. One of the most disappointing,” Backstrom said Wednesday. “It was a game we must have. We’re fighting for our lives, and that’s how we play.

“You want to go out there and play your best games of the year. You always have a chance to be close to your best game, and we were not close last night.”

What in the world is the thinking behind just having an optional practice the day after such a horrid loss the night before? I understand that the schedule this month is brutal, but that was a must-win for a team on the playoff spot bubble and they embarrassed themselves in front of a home crowd. Wouldn’t you want the team right back out on the ice the next day, trying to figure out what went wrong?

Perhaps the fact that just nine players showed up to the skate is indicative enough of what’s gone wrong with the team this season.