2008–09 Minnesota Wild season

2008–09 Minnesota Wild
Division	3rd Northwest
Conference	9th Western
2008–09 record	40–33–9
Home record	23–11–7
Road record	17–22–2
Goals for	219
Goals against	200
Team information
General manager	Doug Risebrough
Coach	Jacques Lemaire
Captain	Rotating Mikko Koivu (Oct.–Nov., Jan., Mar.–Apr.) Kim Johnsson (Dec.) Andrew Brunette (Feb.)
Alternate captains	Rotating Andrew Brunette (Oct.–Jan., Mar.–Apr.) Marian Gaborik (Oct.–Nov.) Kim Johnsson (Nov.) Mikko Koivu (Dec., Feb.) Owen Nolan (Jan., Mar.–Apr.) Nick Schultz (Feb.)
Arena	Xcel Energy Center
Average attendance	18,568 (102.8%)
Team leaders
Goals	Owen Nolan (25)
Assists	Mikko Koivu (47)
Points	Mikko Koivu (67)
Penalty minutes	Derek Boogaard (87)
Plus/minus	Kurtis Foster (+7)
Wins	Niklas Backstrom (37)
Goals against average	Josh Harding (2.21)

The 2008–09 Minnesota Wild season began October 11, 2008. It was the Wild's ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Pre-season

At the conclusion of the Pre-season, the Wild finished with a 5-2 record.

2008 Pre-season Game Log: 5–2–0 (Home: 3–0–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Recap
1	September 24	Columbus	1–2	Minnesota		Backstrom	18,064	1–0–0	[1]
2	September 26	Minnesota	3–4	Chicago		Harding	18,034	1–1–0	[2]
3	September 28	Minnesota	2–1	Buffalo	SO	Backstrom	17,311	2–1–0	[3]
4	September 30	Chicago	2–3	Minnesota	OT	Backstrom	18,064	3–1–0	[4]
5	October 1	Buffalo	2–3	Minnesota		Harding	18,064	4–1–0	[5]
6	October 3	Minnesota	3–5	Columbus		Backstrom	11,794	4–2–0	[6]
7	October 4	Minnesota	3–0	Montreal		Backstrom	21,273	5–2–0	[7]

Regular season

The Wild were the most disciplined team in the League during the regular season, with just 291 power-play opportunities against. They also allowed the fewest power-play goals, with just 36.

Divisional standings

Northwest Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	y – Vancouver Canucks	82	45	27	10	246	220	100
2	Calgary Flames	82	46	30	6	254	248	98
3	Minnesota Wild	82	40	33	9	219	200	89
4	Edmonton Oilers	82	38	35	9	234	248	85
5	Colorado Avalanche	82	32	45	5	199	257	69

Conference standings

Western Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – San Jose Sharks	PA	82	53	18	11	257	204	117
2	y – Detroit Red Wings	CE	82	51	21	10	295	244	112
3	y – Vancouver Canucks	NW	82	45	27	10	246	220	100
4	Chicago Blackhawks	CE	82	46	24	12	264	216	104
5	Calgary Flames	NW	82	46	30	6	254	248	98
6	St. Louis Blues	CE	82	41	31	10	233	233	92
7	Columbus Blue Jackets	CE	82	41	31	10	226	230	92
8	Anaheim Ducks	PA	82	42	33	7	245	238	91
8.5
9	Minnesota Wild	NW	82	40	33	9	219	200	89
10	Nashville Predators	CE	82	40	34	8	213	233	88
11	Edmonton Oilers	NW	82	38	35	9	234	248	85
12	Dallas Stars	PA	82	36	35	11	230	257	83
13	Phoenix Coyotes	PA	82	36	39	7	208	252	79
14	Los Angeles Kings	PA	82	34	37	11	207	234	79
15	Colorado Avalanche	NW	82	32	45	5	199	257	69

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner
CE – Central Division, NW – Northwest Division, PA – Pacific Division

Schedule and results

2008–09 Game Log
October: 6–2–1 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 11 Boston 3–4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 1–0–0 2 [8] 2 October 14 Minnesota 4–2 Atlanta Backstrom 11,843 2–0–0 4 [9] 3 October 16 Minnesota 6–2 Florida Backstrom 12,106 3–0–0 6 [10] 4 October 18 Minnesota 1–0 Tampa Bay SO Backstrom 15,191 4–0–0 8 [11] 5 October 23 Buffalo 4–3 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 4–0–1 9 [12] 6 October 25 Columbus 1–2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 5–0–1 11 [13] 7 October 27 Chicago 2–3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 6–0–1 13 [14] 8 October 29 Minnesota 2–4 Dallas Backstrom 18,431 6–1–1 13 [15] 9 October 30 Montreal 2–1 Minnesota Harding 18,568 6–2–1 13 [16]
November: 8–5–0 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 4–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Minnesota 3–2 Phoenix Backstrom 14,817 7–2–1 15 [17] 11 November 4 Minnesota 1–3 San Jose Backstrom 17,183 7–3–1 15 [18] 12 November 6 Minnesota 3–1 Colorado Backstrom 14,562 8–3–1 17 [19] 13 November 8 Minnesota 0–2 Vancouver Backstrom 18,630 8–4–1 17 [20] 14 November 13 Phoenix 0–4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 9–4–1 19 [21] 15 November 15 Columbus 2–3 Minnesota SO Backstrom 18,568 10–4–1 21 [22] 16 November 18 Minnesota 2–1 Pittsburgh SO Backstrom 16,971 11–4–1 23 [23] 17 November 20 Vancouver 3–2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 11–5–1 23 [24] 18 November 22 St. Louis 2–1 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 11–6–1 23 [25] 19 November 24 Washington 3–4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 12–6–1 25 [26] 20 November 26 Dallas 4–3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 12–7–1 25 [27] 21 November 28 Tampa Bay 2–4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 13–7–1 27 [28] 22 November 29 Minnesota 6–2 Nashville Harding 13,990 14–7–1 29 [29]
December: 4–9–1 (Home: 4–3–1 ; Road: 0–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 1 Colorado 6–5 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 14–8–1 29 [30] 24 December 3 St. Louis 0–4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 15–8–1 31 [31] 25 December 5 Vancouver 2–1 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 15–9–1 31 [32] 26 December 6 Minnesota 0–1 Nashville Harding 14,408 15–10–1 31 [33] 27 December 11 Minnesota 1–3 Phoenix Backstrom 13,296 15–11–1 31 [34] 28 December 13 Minnesota 1–3 Los Angeles Backstrom 14,857 15–12–1 31 [35] 29 December 14 Minnesota 2–4 Anaheim Harding 16,577 15–13–1 31 [36] 30 December 17 Calgary 3–2 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 15–13–2 32 [37] 31 December 19 NY Islanders 1–4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 16–13–2 34 [38] 32 December 20 Minnesota 2–4 St. Louis Backstrom 19,150 16–14–2 34 [39] 33 December 23 Carolina 2–3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 17–14–2 36 [40] 34 December 28 Chicago 4–1 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 17–15–2 36 [41] 35 December 29 Minnesota 1–2 Calgary Harding 19,289 17–16–2 36 [42] 36 December 31 San Jose 2–3 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 18–16–2 38 [43]
January: 7–5–1 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 3 Detroit 3–2 Minnesota SO Harding 18,568 18–16–3 39 [44] 38 January 4 Minnesota 2–0 Colorado Backstrom 14,125 19–16–3 41 [45] 39 January 6 Minnesota 1–0 Boston Backstrom 16,272 20–16–3 43 [46] 40 January 8 Minnesota 1–3 Philadelphia Backstrom 19,596 20–17–3 43 [47] 41 January 10 Minnesota 2–4 Columbus Harding 16,605 20–18–3 43 [48] 42 January 13 Phoenix 3–6 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 21–18–3 45 [49] 43 January 15 Edmonton 1–5 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 22–18–3 47 [50] 44 January 17 Anaheim 3–0 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 22–19–3 47 [51] 45 January 19 Minnesota 4–1 Chicago Backstrom 21,320 23–19–3 49 [52] 46 January 20 Los Angeles 5–2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 23–20–3 49 [53] 47 January 27 Toronto 1–6 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 24–20–3 51 [54] 48 January 30 Minnesota 1–3 Edmonton Backstrom 16,839 24–21–3 51 [55] 49 January 31 Minnesota 4–3 Vancouver OT Backstrom 18,630 25–21–3 53 [56]
February: 5–5–2 (Home: 4–2–2 ; Road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 4 Anaheim 0–3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 26–21–3 55 [57] 51 February 6 Nashville 2–0 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 26–22–3 55 [58] 52 February 8 Edmonton 2–3 Minnesota SO Backstrom 18,568 27–22–3 57 [59] 53 February 11 Colorado 2–3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 28–22–3 59 [60] 54 February 12 Minnesota 2–4 Detroit Harding 20,066 28–23–3 59 [61] 55 February 14 Ottawa 5–3 Minnesota Harding 18,568 28–24–3 59 [62] 56 February 19 Calgary 3–2 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 28–24–4 60 [63] 57 February 21 Detroit 2–5 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 29–24–4 62 [64] 58 February 22 Minnesota 2–1 Chicago Harding 22,443 30–24–4 64 [65] 59 February 24 Los Angeles 2–1 Minnesota SO Backstrom 18,568 30–24–5 65 [66] 60 February 27 Minnesota 1–4 Calgary Backstrom 19,289 30–25–5 65 [67] 61 February 28 Minnesota 2–3 Edmonton Harding 16,839 30–26–5 65 [68]
March: 6–6–4 (Home: 2–0–2 ; Road: 4–6–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 62 March 3 Minnesota 2–4 Vancouver Backstrom 18,630 30–27–5 65 [69] 63 March 5 Minnesota 4–3 San Jose OT Backstrom 17,496 31–27–5 67 [70] 64 March 7 Minnesota 3–4 Los Angeles Harding 18,118 31–28–5 67 [71] 65 March 8 Minnesota 3–2 Anaheim Backstrom 17,300 32–28–5 69 [72] 66 March 10 San Jose 5–4 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 32–28–6 70 [73] 67 March 12 Minnesota 1–2 Colorado SO Backstrom 14,213 32–28–7 71 [74] 68 March 14 Minnesota 2–3 Dallas OT Backstrom 18,584 32–28–8 72 [75] 69 March 15 Minnesota 3–5 St. Louis Backstrom 19,150 32–29–8 72 [76] 70 March 17 Colorado 2–3 Minnesota SO Backstrom 18,568 33–29–8 74 [77] 71 March 20 Minnesota 0–4 New Jersey Backstrom 17,625 33–30–8 74 [78] 72 March 22 Edmonton 0–3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 34–30–8 76 [79] 73 March 24 Minnesota 1–2 NY Rangers Backstrom 18,200 34–31–8 76 [80] 74 March 25 Minnesota 6–2 NY Islanders Backstrom 13,332 35–31–8 78 [81] 75 March 28 Minnesota 2–3 Calgary Backstrom 19,289 35–32–8 78 [82] 76 March 29 Minnesota 3–2 Edmonton Backstrom 16,839 36–32–8 80 [83] 77 March 31 Vancouver 2–1 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 36–32–9 81 [84]
April: 4–1–0 (Home: 3–0–0 ; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 3 Calgary 0–4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 37–32–9 83 [85] 79 April 5 Minnesota 2–3 Detroit Backstrom 20,066 37–33–9 83 [86] 80 April 7 Dallas 1–3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 38–33–9 85 [87] 81 April 10 Nashville 4–8 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 39–33–9 87 [88] 82 April 11 Minnesota 6–3 Columbus Harding 19,013 40–33–9 89 [89]
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

The Minnesota Wild failed to qualify for the 2009 NHL Playoffs. after qualifying in 2006-07 and 2007–08

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals 

Regular season

Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Mikko Koivu 79 20 47 67 +2 66 Andrew Brunette 80 22 28 50 -5 18 Pierre-Marc Bouchard 71 16 30 46 -5 20 Owen Nolan 59 25 20 45 +5 26 Antti Miettinen 82 15 29 44 -1 32 Marek Zidlicky 76 12 30 42 -12 76 Eric Belanger 79 13 23 36 -5 26 Marc-Andre Bergeron 72 14 18 32 +5 30 Brent Burns 59 8 19 27 -7 45 Kim Johnsson 81 2 22 24 -3 44 James Sheppard 82 5 19 24 -14 41 Marian Gaborik 17 13 10 23 +3 2 Stephane Veilleux 81 13 10 23 -17 40 Cal Clutterbuck 78 11 7 18 -5 76 Martin Skoula 81 4 12 16 -12 10 Nick Schultz 79 2 9 11 -4 31 Benoit Pouliot 37 5 6 11 +1 18 Dan Fritsche† 34 4 5 9 -3 10 Peter Olvecky 31 2 5 7 +1 12 Colton Gillies 45 2 5 7 -2 18 Krys Kolanos 21 3 3 6 +3 16 Kurtis Foster 10 1 5 6 +7 6 Craig Weller 36 1 2 3 -3 47 Derek Boogaard 51 0 3 3 +3 87 Erik Reitz‡ 31 1 1 2 -2 41 Tomas Mojzis 4 0 1 1 -1 2 John Scott 20 0 1 1 -1 21

Goaltenders

Note:  Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO Niklas Backstrom 71 4088 37 24 8 159 2.33 2059 1900 .923 8 Josh Harding 19 869 3 9 1 32 2.21 453 421 .929 0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Wild. Stats reflect time with Wild only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Wild only.

Awards and records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Niklas Backstrom	100th NHL Game	October 11, 2008
Colton Gillies	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 11, 2008
Kim Johnsson	600th NHL Game	October 14, 2008
Antti Miettinen	100th NHL Point	October 27, 2008
Andrew Brunette	800th NHL Game	November 6, 2008
Erik Reitz	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	November 15, 2008

Transactions

Trades

June 20, 2008	To Minnesota Wild 23rd pick in 2008 (Tyler Cuma)	To New Jersey Devils 24th pick in 2008 (Mattias Tedenby) 3rd round pick in 2009 (Alexander Urbom)
July 1, 2008	To Minnesota Wild Marek Zidlicky	To Nashville Predators Ryan Jones 2nd round pick in 2009 (Charles-Olivier Roussel)
June 10, 2008	To Minnesota Wild Marc-Andre Bergeron	To Anaheim Ducks 3rd round pick in 2009 (Brandon McMillan)
July 11, 2008	To Minnesota Wild Corey Locke	To Montreal Canadiens Shawn Belle
January 21, 2008	To Minnesota Wild Robbie Earl	To Toronto Maple Leafs Ryan Hamilton
January 29, 2008	To Minnesota Wild Dan Fritsche	To New York Rangers Erik Reitz

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms Antti Miettinen Dallas Stars 3 years, $7 million Owen Nolan Calgary Flames 2 years, $5.5 million Andrew Brunette Colorado Avalanche 3 years, $7 million

Player New team Todd Fedoruk Phoenix Coyotes Brian Rolston New Jersey Devils Pavol Demitra Vancouver Canucks Joel Ward Nashville Predators

Draft picks

Minnesota's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, Ontario.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	23 (from Washington via New Jersey)	Tyler Cuma	(D)	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
2	55	Marco Scandella	(D)	Canada	Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
4	115	Sean Lorenz	(D)	Canada	U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
5	145	Eero Elo	(LW)	Finland	Lukko (Finland Jr.)

See also

• 2008–09 NHL season