| Game Review Archive, Part Nine |
| April 2nd, 2002 vs Edmonton Oilers Marian failed to get his 100th career point, but he did register a team-high four shots in another overtime loss. Jim Dowd was insulted by Jacques Lemaire by lining him up with wingers Hnat Domenichelli and Matt Johnson, two of the Wild's worst players ever (sorry!). The only time the Wild played well offensivley was when they were on the power play with the reunited Dowd-Gaborik-Brunette line. It is imperative that we give Zholtok, Dowd, Walz, Park, Brunette, Dupuis, and Gaborik more ice time, because the other players are just plain terrible (sorry!). The Wild need to acquire another Brunette-like talent for next year's squad, and they need to rid the team of those who do not contribute. Hopefully, the Wild will get the best young player from the Czech Republic in the draft, so that Lemaire can say "relax, the Czech is in the mail." to Wild fans this summer. Benysek concluded the post-game press conference by talking about Edmonton winger Mike Grier, "He (Grier) checked me into the boards pretty good, I am kind of sore, heh, its ironic that he 'checked' me because I am Czech myself, heh." Also, an unidentified woman had a brief conversation with Marian in his Chicago hotel room early in the morning on Easter Sunday. It ended once Marian said, "What are you still doing here?" April 10th at Dallas Stars The Man finally decided to let his fans sleep soundly tonight by scoring his 30th goal of the season and picking up his 100th career point on a wicked one-timer that beat Ed Belfor so bad, he wet himself afterwards. It's only fitting that Marian picked up his milestone on one of the most spectacular goals in his young career. The showman that he is, he took a Sergei Zholtok drop pass and slammed it cross-ice into the upper right-hand corner, to the ovation and jubilation of every Minnesota Wild fan watching. The goal tied the score at 1. Minnesota was so wrapped up in The Man's landmark point that they forgot they had to play the rest of the game, surrendering 3 goals in less that three minutes. Andrew Brunette said it best: "We were all celebrating so hard, that we got a little too drunk off the vodka we snuck into the "waterbottles." Turns out that there were two more periods to play. And uh...falling down...laughed...puke... Lemaire's gum...marmot...tetanus booster...I'm sorry, I'm already drunk." Thankfully the Wild sobered up enough to perform a little magic by scoring the final three goals of the game, two within 20 seconds of each other. To say the Wild rallied big is an understatement. Down three goals in the third period IN Dallas is not a favored position to be in. However, The Wild stuck together and earned the much deserved tie, greatly reducing the possibility of the Stars making the playoffs. We really did them a favor, since the first round would have been against the Detroit Devils. I mean Red Wings. Marian ended up with a goal and an assist and was a +2, which may be the most impressive stat. The Three Wise Men finished up with a goal apiece for 4 points and a plus 4. With a plus 3 this year, Marian is the Wild's only everyday player to be in positive territory. When asked about this, Gaborik replied, "Um, yeah, I mean, it is good, but I just want to help the team....and all that crap...can I get my gift certificate now? I need to buy a nice chain for my fiance's father...long story." Clay Matvik for President WARNING: Dates are now posted in reverse order (latest first) November 10, 2002 at. Anaheim Don't feel bad Marian, not just you were shut out, the whole team was. The Wild were shut out for the first time in 35 games, dating back to last season as they lost a heartbreaker to the Mighty Ducks, 1-0. To be honest, this is the first game I've been able to watch in over a week, and I want my money back. This could have been possibly the most boring Wild game ever. The scoring was finished for the game after Stanislav Chistov's (WHO?) 4th goal of the year at 6:35 in the first period. Don't get me wrong, I like a good defensive game every now and then, (Manny sure wasted a gem in the net, stopping 37 of 38 shots), but there were only 5 penalties also, 3 of which were in the first period. At least if I can't see any goal scoring, show me some glove dropping. I guess our organized crime did take the night off, since Matt Johnson was suspended tonight for a hit in last night's win over San Jose. But I would give anyone to see Richard Park or Ronning rumble with Olausson or even Vishnevski. Give the crowd what they want, or at least what I want. Enough ranting, make sure to check out the Wild at 7:00 at the Xcel on Tuesday night as they take on Edmonton. --Tim November 9, 2002 vs. San Jose Gaborik scores again! THE MAN increased his league lead to 11 goals this season. But we need to see more assists! November 7, 2002 vs. Phoenix I don't want to talk about it...this is NOT what the Wild were looking for. Tim is a jerk. November 4, 2002 vs. LA -- HAT TRICK SPECIAL Marian Gaborik scored on the powerplay, the penalty kill, and with an empty netter in a 5-2 Wild victory. Gaborik now leads the NHL in goals. "For whatever reason, I always play well in SoCal," Gaborik said, "I guess I just wanted to add a little drama to this city." Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was lauded for FINALLY putting THE MAN on the penalty kill. Gaborik and many teammates said they "can't wait" to face Pittsburgh. Those who don't know, the Wild have a big rivalry with Pittsburgh, particularly Mario Lemieux. When the Wild beat them a couple times in the first season, Mario was so upset that he wanted the NHL to switch to 4-on-4 format. Now the two best players will face off against each other in the most lucrative regular season game in NHL history (November 14th). November 2, 2002 vs. Vancouver Gaborik chipped in a goal and an assist in a Wild loss, Sirmarian co-creator Tim was actually at the game tonight, so look for a recap to be posted by him. --Kyle Halloween, 2002 vs. San Jose Although Gaborik had a pointless night, the team that he is on did win the game in overtime complements of Sergei Zholtok. Gaborik said afterwards that he and Sergei are going to go trick-or-treating and dress up like John Buggicross and Barry Melrose of NHL 2Night...scary! --Kyle October 29,2002 vs. Colorado (again) Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was jumping up and down like a little kid after Slovakian Lubomir Sekeras converted a great play by Latvian Sergei Zholtok to win in overtime. Oh yeah, Gaborik also scored a powerplay goal. "The Wild are so confident, we think we could beat the Lakers at basketball...but only as long as I can play 2-guard," Gaborik said. Gaborik was unable to celebrate his goal because he was knocked down by a Colorado player right after he embarassed Swiss goalie David Aebischer. Heh, Swiss cheese, lots of holes... --Kyle October 27, 2002 vs. Colorado Gaborik didn't follow up his six-point effort with good numbers, but he was effective on the penalty kill and helped the Wild to a great 3-3 tie over the mighty Avs. Adam Foote very nearly made the F+L List yet again. More Tuesday. --Kyle October 26, 2002 vs. Phoenix Saint John's University (Minn.) just became the latest luck charm in Marian's quest for a Hart trophy. Forget the World Series, Marian Gaborik and the Wild are on fire. SirMarian, Inc. co-founder Kyle spent the night at SJU and then saw Gaborik explode for a bunch (six) of points against the Coyotes. "I am glad that SJU is a luck charm for me now," Gaborik said, "I just hope my mystique and aura continue to defy goalies and all opponents." Everyone knows that THE MAN plays well in the desert, but no one knows why. SirMarian thinks it is because Coyote Claude Lemieux once broke in Gaborik's Trencin, Slovakia home and tried to steal his hockey gloves, but this is mere speculation. "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard," Gaborik said when told of SirMarian's idea. The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, arrived at America West Arena midway through the 2nd period, "Where the hell did (Marian) come from, what's going on here!" he said as he sat down in his executive's chair. The small band of Wild fans sitting in section 208 heard Wayne and started chanting "Trencin! Trencin! Trencin!" Just at that moment, Wes Walz scored to give Gaborik his fifth point of the night. The same band of Wild fans then started chanting "Contract Extension! Contract Extension!" Clay Matvick asked Gaborik a question during intermission number two: CM: Marian, are you in the zone tonight? MG: "I don't know, I guess." When Gaborik was interviewed after the game, he refused to answer reporters questions and all he said was, "Two words: contract extension," while making a framing gesture with his hands and then he promptly exited the room and the screeching tires of a Cadillac Escalade were heard just moments later. Marian was later spotted in his Escalade driving to a McDonald's in downtown Phoenix where he and teammates Lubomir Sekeras and Pierre-Marc Bouchard ordered a turkey breast sandwich with Dijon horseradish sauce. The drive-thru clerk then said "thats like, not on our menu" and then Marian replied, "not only is it not on your menu, it's not on your radar screen". The three were later spotted enjoying turkey sandwiches with Dijon horseradish sauce at a nearby Subway Restaurant where Marian quipped, "do you think I made that drive-thru burger guy cry?" Sekeras and Bouchard both nodded their heads in concurrence. HUGE game tomorrow versus Colorado, will Gaborik finally get that elusive goal against Patrick Roy...stay tuned. --Kyle |
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