Greg Zanon News

No one had to explain things to Dan Bylsma. When he and Todd Richards coached the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins three years ago, eager to initiate fresh ideas, Bylsma said it required 20 or 25 games for the new culture to fully take hold.

The problem right now is that the Wild aren't sure who or what they are. They know what they used to be.

Unusual suspects push Canucks past Wild Vancouver Canucks' Mikael Samuelsson and Ryan Kesler, second from right, celebrate teammate Mason Raymond's goal on goalie Niklas Backstrom, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov.

Crosby was crying like a baby all night, Zidlicky did a good job getting under his skin .

Is it just me, or has the play of the Minnesota Wild improved lately with Kim Johnsson out of the lineup? I'm sure most of the so-called experts in the media will say it's just me but warped minds never did believe much in coincidence.

Minnesota Wild's Marek Zidlicky, left, of the Czech Republic, fights with Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct.

Things have lightened up for the Wild. Just in time. After dropping eight of their 10 previous games, the Wild had a relaxed optional practice Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center followed by a loose-goosy morning skate Friday before going onto the ice and that evening and stopping the New York Rangers for a 3-2 home win.

MIN PIT 12:11 1 0 14:48 1 1 19:59 2 1 MIN PIT 2 1 MIN PIT 2 1 PITTSBURGH -- Niklas Backstrom finally stole a win for the Minnesota Wild on the road, and in the most unlikely of places.

Halloween, or All Hollow's Eve however you wish to say it, its a night that kids relish for the opportunity to dress up as just about anything they wish and then gorge themselves on lots of cheap candy.

Preview: The Wild, 0-8 on the road, visits the Igloo for the last time. The Wild is 6-2-1 all-time vs.

Reunions week continues on Wednesday for the Minnesota Wild, as the Nashville Predators visit the Xcel Energy Center.

2. Dave Bolland, Blackhawks: Scored a goal and made Martin Havlat's presence only a rumor in the final 50 minutes.

There were times last season when defenseman Greg Zanon resembled a human bruise, times when he would walk through the Nashville locker room after games with three or four ice bags wrapped around injured limbs.

This is still the team Doug Risebrough put together. A This is still the team that used to rely on the system of Jacques Lemaire to escape with points.

A national TV audience got a chance Monday night to see a pretty good hockey team.

Just like your high school reunion, where you spent hours in front of the mirror, put on your finest duds and sucked in your gut, a bunch of motivated hockey players --and one executive -- will make an effort to show off and look their very best this week.

Take a look at side-by-side pictures of St. Louis goalie Chris Mason and Wild defenseman Greg Zanon , and they might as well be brothers.

Cal Clutterbuck scored 1:55 into overtime and the Minnesota Wild beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 Saturday night.

Minnesota Wild's Greg Zanon, left, and St. Louis Blues' Cam Janssen get tangled along the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Oct.

Mikko Koivu congratulates Martin Havlat on his second period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wachovia Center on September 29, 2009 in Philadelphia.