Shane Hnidy News

Andrew Ebbett is tired of living out of a suitcase and bouncing from team to team.

With many spectators eager to witness the first Twin Cities visit of the New York Islanders' star taken first overall in last June's NHL draft, the old man taken No.

Owen Nolan's goal with 67 seconds remaining, his second of the game, sent the struggling Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday night.

It was a grim-faced Chuck Fletcher who took his accustomed position atop the lower section of seats at the Xcel Energy Center to watch Wild practice Thursday morning.

Radim Vrbata had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 24 saves in the Phoenix Coyotes' 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night.

After 20 of 82 games, the Minnesota Wild are in trouble. The team sits last in their division and 14th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference with seven wins and 16 points.

If Robbie Earl continues at this pace, Gophers fans who double as Wild fans might have to start to love a former Wisconsin Badger.

Preview: A battle between the worst teams in the East and West, and history can be made.

Josh Harding had something to prove. He did just that. Goalies like to talk about playing with amnesia, forgetting about what happened previously.

Ryan Malone scored the equalizer with 14.7 seconds left in regulation, while Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos had goals in the shootout to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

The Maple Leafs hope Martin Havlat stays dormant for at least one more game. The Minnesota Wild sniper, who was tough on the Leafs as a member of the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks and has eight points in 11 career games at the Air Canada Centre, has just one goal in 14 games as the Wild prepare to meet the Leafs tonight.

2. Cal Clutterbuck, Wild: Scored first career shorthanded goal, had six shots, three hits and even played the power-play point on a 4-on-3. 3. Martin Havlat, Wild: No points, but best game of the season.

The first month of the season is over and, honestly, the Minnesota Wild are probably relieved.

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.

Three stars: 1. Dave Bolland, Hawks. Scored a goal and was a key defensively as a penalty-killer; played 20 minutes, more than any other Chicago forward.

Patrick Kane scored a spectacular third-period goal just 3:25 after Minnesota had made it a one-goal game and the Chicago Blackhawks went on to win 3-1 Monday night, dropping the Wild to 0-8 on the road.

James Sheppard's NHL matriculation hasn't always been smooth, but the young center had never really been scratched - not since he became a regular during his rookie season in 2007-08. But after nine games with no points and a minus-5 in the plus/minus column, coach Todd Richards decided to sit the team's first-round pick in the 2006 entry draft.

MICHAEL RUSSO Blues' quick start dazes Wild in latest poor showing on road - October 24, 2009 Blues' quick start dazes Wild in latest poor showing on road - The Wild have lost seven straight on the road a ' four shy of the franchise record.

Goaltender Niklas Backstrom #32 of the Minnesota Wild pauses for a moment during a NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings on April 5, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

For the first time in franchise history, the Wild's been forced to get creative to sell tickets.