Minnesota Wild ticket info

Looking for Minnesota Wild tickets? Better wait in line. If ever there was an exemplary model for a NHL expansion team, the Wild would be it. Listen up, Phoenix: the Xcel Energy Center’s Minnesota Wild beat out the favorite top-seeded Colorado Avalanche in their second season in existence despite a later 4-0 sweep at the hands of the Ducks.

THE COACH

Wayne Gretzky’s sudden losing streak with the Coyotes aside (hey, he had to lose someday), a surefire way to start a great team is to put in a winning player. Jacques Lemaire racked up the Stanley Cup a whopping eight times during his time as a center for the Montreal Canadiens, scoring not one but two Stanley Cup-winning goals before his induction to the Hall of Fame in1984. After retiring from the NHL in 1979, Lemaire walked across the Atlantic Ocean where he began his coaching career in Switzerland.

THE STAR

Despite the propriety of mild-mannered Slovakian star Pavol Demitra, the pair of skates to watch belong to oft-captain Brian Rolston. With 79 points last season and a career culminating in 224 goals in just 11 seasons, Rolston’s leadership is sure to galvanize the Wild as they leave the stables in a steady gallop with 4 consecutive wins. Combined with a dynamic lineup and a team most have yet to peg as either a winner or a loser (hey, Phoenix!), Rolston’s Wild will be a team to watch this season.

THE TEAM

Goalie Manny Fernandez’s 91.9% save percentage puts the Wild at a formidable position in defense. In addition, the rotating captainship and combined forces of Wes Walz and Martin Skoula make for a fluid strategy most opposing defensemen can’t consistently predict. The Wild’s recent first-round draft pick of James Sheppard makes for new blood and good hockey.

THE ARENA

Built on the ruins of the St. Paul Civic Center, Xcel Energy Center is located in Minnesota’s largest city and opened its doors to the public in 2000. Housing both the NHL and the NLL (National Lacrosse League), the Xcel Energy center seats 18,834 and will host the 2008 Republican National Convention.

 

Past Minnesota Wild ticket info

Minnesota Wild tickets may be the surprise ticket of the NHL this year. Sure, the Wild came back from the lockout to find some gaps in the lineup, but those gaps are nothing but a window of opportunity for the Wild’s younger players to step up and contribute to the long term success of the team. The Xcel Energy Center will see the likes of Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard moving in to occupy full-time positions. Minnesota is ready to take it’s place as one of the best teams in the Northwest Division, making Minnesota Wild tickets a must-have item for hockey fans in the Land of Lakes.

The Minnesota Wild are only two seasons removed from a playoff berth and a Western Conference Finals appearance. In 2002-2003, the Wild got off to a fast start, winning eight of their first 11 games. Minnesota’s new NHL franchise locked up its first ever postseason appearance by finishing at 42-29-10-1, good enough for a 3rd place finish in the Northwest Division. Facing the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, few NHL hockey experts gave Minnesota much of a chance. The Wild fell behind 3-1 in the series. Then they rallied in Game 5 with a 3-2 win. They forced a 7th game with an overtime win in the Xcel Energy Center. Finally, in front of a hostile crowd in Colorado, they iced the Avalanche with an OT win. The second round had the Wild once again falling behind 3-1 only to force a 7th game in the series against the Vancouver Canucks. After trailing 2-0, the Wild came back with four unanswered goals, moving on to the Western Conference Finals. The dream ended for Minnesota in a four-game sweep by the Mighty Ducks.

Minnesota Wild tickets are offering the chance to see some of the NHL’s younger players grow up and become stars in their own right. Brent Burns has been waiting in the wings. Pierre-Marc Bouchard has been biding his time. Now they’re ready to take center stage and, along with Mikko Koivu and Marian Gaborik, are prepared to push the Wild through the Northwest Division and into the post-season. Get out to the Xcel Energy Center to see these emerging stars in the NHL with Minnesota Wild tickets.