2007–08 Minnesota Wild season

The 2007–08 Minnesota Wild season began October 4, 2007. It was the Wild's eighth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). They won their first Northwest Division title this season.

2007–08 Minnesota Wild
Northwest Division champions
Division1st Northwest
Conference3rd Western
2007–08 record44–28–10
Home record25–11–5
Road record19–17–5
Goals for223
Goals against218
Team information
General managerDoug Risebrough
CoachJacques Lemaire
CaptainRotating
Pavol Demitra (Oct.)
Brian Rolston (Nov.)
Mark Parrish (Dec.)
Nick Schultz (Jan.–Feb.)
Marian Gaborik (Mar.–Apr.)
Alternate captainsRotating
Brian Rolston (Oct., Dec.–Apr.)
Wes Walz (Oct.–Nov.)
Mikko Koivu (Nov., Jan., Mar.–Apr.)
Nick Schultz (Dec.)
Kim Johnsson (Jan., Feb.)
ArenaXcel Energy Center
Average attendance18,568 (102.8%)
Team leaders
GoalsMarian Gaborik (42)
AssistsPierre-Marc Bouchard (50)
PointsMarian Gaborik (83)
Penalty minutesAaron Voros (141)
Plus/minusMarian Gaborik (+17)
WinsNiklas Backstrom (33)
Goals against averageNiklas Backstrom (2.31)

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

Regular season

edit

Divisional standings

edit
Northwest Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 y – Minnesota Wild 82 44 28 10 223 218 98
2 Colorado Avalanche 82 44 31 7 231 219 95
3 Calgary Flames 82 42 30 10 229 227 94
4 Edmonton Oilers 82 41 35 6 235 251 88
5 Vancouver Canucks 82 39 33 10 213 215 88

Conference standings

edit
Western Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 p – Detroit Red Wings CE 82 54 21 7 257 184 115
2 y – San Jose Sharks PA 82 49 23 10 222 193 108
3 y – Minnesota Wild NW 82 44 28 10 223 218 98
4 Anaheim Ducks PA 82 47 27 8 205 191 102
5 Dallas Stars PA 82 45 30 7 242 207 97
6 Colorado Avalanche NW 82 44 31 7 231 219 95
7 Calgary Flames NW 82 42 30 10 229 227 94
8 Nashville Predators CE 82 41 32 9 230 229 91
8.5
9 Edmonton Oilers NW 82 41 35 6 235 251 88
10 Chicago Blackhawks CE 82 40 34 8 239 235 88
11 Vancouver Canucks NW 82 39 33 10 213 215 88
12 Phoenix Coyotes PA 82 38 37 7 214 231 83
13 Columbus Blue Jackets CE 82 34 36 12 193 218 80
14 St. Louis Blues CE 82 33 36 13 205 237 79
15 Los Angeles Kings PA 82 32 43 7 231 266 71

Divisions: PA – Pacific, CE – Central, NW – Northwest
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, pPresidents' Trophy winner


Schedule and results

edit
2007-08 game log
October
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
1 October 4 Chicago 0 – 1 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 1–0–0 2
2 October 6 Columbus 2 – 3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 2–0–0 4
3 October 10 Edmonton 0 – 2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 3–0–0 6
4 October 13 Minnesota 3 – 2 Phoenix Backstrom 12,088 4–0–0 8
5 October 14 Minnesota 2 – 0 Anaheim Harding 17,174 5–0–0 10
6 October 16 Minnesota 3 – 4 Los Angeles SO Backstrom 14,239 5–0–1 11
7 October 20 Minnesota 3 – 1 St. Louis Harding 19,150 6–0–1 13
8 October 21 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 7–0–1 15
9 October 24 Minnesota 3 – 5 Calgary Backstrom 19,289 7–1–1 15
10 October 25 Minnesota 4 – 5 Edmonton SO Harding 16,839 7–1–2 16
11 October 28 Minnesota 1 – 3 Colorado Harding 17,041 7–2–2 16
12 October 30 Pittsburgh 4 – 2 Minnesota Harding 18,568 7–3–2 16
November
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
13 November 1 St. Louis 3 – 2 Minnesota Harding 18,568 7–4–2 16
14 November 3 Calgary 1 – 4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 8–4–2 18
15 November 5 Edmonton 2 – 5 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 9–4–2 20
16 November 11 Minnesota 2 – 4 Colorado Backstrom 15,434 9–5–2 20
17 November 13 Minnesota 2 – 3 Calgary Backstrom 19,289 9–6–2 20
18 November 15 Minnesota 4 – 2 Edmonton Backstrom 16,839 10–6–2 22
19 November 16 Minnesota 2 – 6 Vancouver Harding 18,630 10–7–2 22
20 November 18 Colorado 1 – 4 Minnesota Harding 18,568 11–7–2 24
21 November 21 Vancouver 4 – 2 Minnesota Harding 18,568 11–8–2 24
22 November 23 Columbus 4 – 0 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 11–9–2 24
23 November 24 Minnesota 4 – 3 Nashville Backstrom 12,639 12–9–2 26
24 November 28 Phoenix 1 – 3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 13–9–2 28
25 November 30 St. Louis 2 – 3 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 14–9–2 30
December
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
26 December 2 Vancouver 1 – 2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 15–9–2 32
27 December 5 Philadelphia 3 – 1 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 15–10–2 32
28 December 7 Minnesota 0 – 5 Detroit Harding 19,508 15–11–2 32
29 December 8 Minnesota 2 – 1 Columbus Backstrom 15,666 16–11–2 34
30 December 11 Minnesota 1 – 4 San Jose Backstrom 17,064 16–12–2 34
31 December 14 Minnesota 5 – 2 Anaheim Harding 17,174 17–12–2 36
32 December 15 Minnesota 2 – 1 Los Angeles Harding 16,648 18–12–2 38
33 December 18 Nashville 2 – 3 Minnesota Harding 18,568 19–12–2 40
34 December 20 N.Y. Rangers 3 – 6 Minnesota Harding 18,568 20–12–2 42
35 December 22 Detroit 4 – 1 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 20–13–2 42
36 December 26 Minnesota 3 – 8 Dallas Harding 18,532 20–14–2 42
37 December 27 Minnesota 3 – 2 Phoenix Backstrom 13,756 21–14–2 44
38 December 29 Edmonton 4 – 5 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 22–14–2 46
39 December 31 San Jose 3 – 2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 22–15–2 46
January
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
40 January 3 Dallas 3 – 6 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 23–15–2 48
41 January 5 Minnesota 1 – 4 Nashville Harding 17,113 23–16–2 48
42 January 7 Minnesota 1 – 3 Dallas Backstrom 17,502 23–17–2 48
43 January 10 Minnesota 6 – 5 Detroit SO Harding 17,848 24–17–2 50
44 January 11 Minnesota 5 – 2 Chicago Harding 21,139 25–17–2 52
45 January 13 Phoenix 1 – 4 Minnesota Harding 18,568 26–17–2 54
46 January 16 Calgary 3 – 2 Minnesota SO Backstrom 18,568 26–17–3 55
47 January 18 Anaheim 4 – 2 Minnesota Harding 18,568 26–18–3 55
48 January 21 Minnesota 4 – 2 Vancouver Backstrom 18,630 27–18–3 57
49 January 22 Minnesota 1 – 2 Calgary Harding 19,289 27–19–3 57
50 January 24 Minnesota 3 – 2 Colorado Backstrom 15,321 28–19–3 59
51 January 30 Anaheim 1 – 5 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 29–19–3 61
February
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
52 February 2 Minnesota 4 – 1 Columbus Backstrom 18,529 30–19–3 63
53 February 5 Detroit 3 – 2 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 30–19–4 64
54 February 7 Dallas 1 – 0 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 30–20–4 64
55 February 9 NY Islanders 3 – 4 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 31–20–4 66
56 February 10 Minnesota 2 – 1 St. Louis SO Harding 16,477 32–20–4 68
57 February 12 Minnesota 2 – 4 Edmonton Harding 16,839 32–21–4 68
58 February 14 Minnesota 5 – 4 Vancouver SO Backstrom 18,630 33–21–4 70
59 February 17 Nashville 4 – 5 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 34–21–4 72
60 February 19 Vancouver 3 – 2 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 34–21–5 73
61 February 20 Minnesota 0 – 3 Chicago Harding 17,812 34–22–5 73
62 February 24 Calgary 2 – 1 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 34–23–5 73
63 February 26 Minnesota 1 – 4 Washington Backstrom 17,391 34–24–5 73
64 February 27 Minnesota 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Backstrom 17,211 35–24–5 75
65 February 29 Minnesota 3 – 2 Florida Backstrom 16,927 36–24–5 77
March
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
66 March 2 Los Angeles 1 – 2 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 37–24–5 79
67 March 4 Chicago 4 – 2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 37–25–5 79
68 March 6 Minnesota 2 – 3 Carolina Harding 16,297 37–26–5 79
69 March 7 Minnesota 2 – 3 Atlanta SO Backstrom 18,709 37–26–6 80
70 March 9 San Jose 3 – 2 Minnesota SO Backstrom 18,568 37–26–7 81
71 March 13 New Jersey 4 – 3 Minnesota SO Backstrom 18,568 37–26–8 82
72 March 15 Los Angeles 0 – 2 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 38–26–8 84
73 March 17 Colorado 1 – 3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 39–26–8 86
74 March 19 Minnesota 3 – 4 San Jose SO Backstrom 17,496 39–26–9 87
75 March 21 Minnesota 2 – 1 Vancouver Backstrom 18,630 40–26–9 89
76 March 22 Minnesota 4 – 5 Calgary Harding 19,289 40–27–9 89
77 March 24 Minnesota 3 – 5 Edmonton Harding 16,839 40–28–9 89
78 March 26 Edmonton 1 – 3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 41–28–9 91
79 March 28 Vancouver 0 – 4 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 42–28–9 93
80 March 30 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota OT Backstrom 18,568 43–28–9 95
April
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
81 April 3 Calgary 1 – 3 Minnesota Backstrom 18,568 44–28–9 97
82 April 6 Minnesota 3 – 4 Colorado SO Harding 18.007 44–28–10 98

Playoffs

edit

The Wild clinched a playoff spot for the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, but lost in the Quarter-finals to the Colorado Avalanche, four games to two.

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series
1 April 9 Colorado 3 – 2 Minnesota 11:11 OT Backstrom 19,352 0 – 1
2 April 11 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota 1:14 OT Backstrom 19,360 1 – 1
3 April 14 Minnesota 3 – 2 Colorado 11:58 OT Backstrom 18,007 2 – 1
4 April 15 Minnesota 1 – 5 Colorado Backstrom 18,007 2 – 2
5 April 17 Colorado 3 – 2 Minnesota Backstrom 19,364 2 – 3
6 April 19 Minnesota 1 – 2 Colorado Backstrom 18,007 2 – 4

Player statistics

edit
 
Marián Gáborík salutes Minnesota Wild fans immediately after his five-goal game against the New York Rangers (December 20, 2007)

Skaters

edit

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Marian Gaborik 77 42 41 83 63 6 0 1 1 4
Pierre-Marc Bouchard 81 13 50 63 34 6 2 2 4 2
Brian Rolston 81 31 28 59 53 6 2 4 6 8
Pavol Demitra 68 15 39 54 24 6 1 2 3 2
Brent Burns 82 15 28 43 80 6 0 2 2 6
Mikko Koivu 57 11 31 42 42 6 4 1 5 4
Eric Belanger 75 13 24 37 30 6 0 0 0 4
Mark Parrish 66 16 14 30 16 1 0 0 0 0
Kim Johnsson 80 4 23 27 42 6 0 1 1 18
Kurtis Foster 56 7 12 19 37 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders

edit

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player GP TOI W L OT GA SO SV% GAA GP TOI W L GA SO SV% GAA
Niklas Backstrom 58 3409 33 13 8 131 4 .920 2.31 6 361 2 4 17 0 .900 2.82
Josh Harding 29 1571 11 15 2 77 1 .908 2.94 1 20 0 0 0 0 1.000 0.00

Awards and records

edit

Records

edit

Milestones

edit
Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached
Mikko Koivu 100th NHL PIM October 6, 2007
James Sheppard 1st NHL Game October 10, 2007
Brian Rolston 900th NHL Game October 13, 2007
Mark Parrish 600th NHL Game October 16, 2007
James Sheppard 1st NHL Assist
1st NHL Point
October 24, 2007
James Sheppard 1st NHL Goal October 25, 2007
Cal Clutterbuck 1st NHL Game October 28, 2007
Aaron Voros 1st NHL Game November 11, 2007
Aaron Voros 1st NHL Goal November 16, 2007
Jacques Lemaire 1000th NHL Game Coached December 18, 2007
Marian Gaborik 5 Goal Game December 20, 2007
300th Sellout Game in a row January 16, 2008
Keith Carney 1000th NHL Game February 24, 2008
Marian Gaborik 400th NHL Point March 7, 2008
Marian Gaborik 200th NHL Goal March 15, 2008
Benoit Pouliot 1st NHL Goal
1st NHL Point
March 22, 2008
Marian Gaborik 40th Goal of Season
Sets Franchise Record
March 30, 2008
Jacques Lemaire 500th Career Win April 3, 2008
1st Northwest Division Title April 3, 2008

Transactions

edit

The Wild have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

edit
June 30, 2007
To Boston Bruins
Manny Fernandez
To Minnesota Wild
Petr Kalus
4th round pick in 2008

Free agents acquired

edit
Player Former team Contract Terms
Eric Belanger Atlanta Thrashers 3 years, $5.25 million
Nolan Schaefer Pittsburgh Penguins 2 years, $1.2 million
Sean Hill New York Islanders 1 year, $1.325 million

Free agents lost

edit
Player New team
Todd White Atlanta Thrashers
Adam Hall Pittsburgh Penguins

Draft picks

edit

Minnesota's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.[1]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 16 Colton Gillies C   Canada Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
4 110 Justin Falk D   Canada Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
5 140 Cody Almond C   Canada Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
6 170 Harri Ilvonen D   Finland Tappara Jr. (Finland)
7 200 Carson McMillan RW   Canada Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Farm teams

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com [dead link]