2007–08 Minnesota Wild season

2007–08 Minnesota Wild
Northwest Division Champions
Division	1st Northwest
Conference	3rd Western
2007–08 record	44–28–10
Home record	25–11–5
Road record	19–17–5
Goals for	223
Goals against	218
Team information
General Manager	Doug Risebrough
Coach	Jacques Lemaire
Captain	Rotating Pavol Demitra (Oct) Brian Rolston (Nov) Mark Parrish (Dec) Nick Schultz (Jan, Feb) Marian Gaborik (Mar-Apr)
Alternate captains	Rotating Brian Rolston (Oct, Dec-Apr) Wes Walz (Oct-Nov) Mikko Koivu (Nov, Jan, Mar-Apr) Nick Schultz (Dec) Kim Johnsson (Jan, Feb)
Arena	Xcel Energy Center
Average attendance	18,568 (102.8%)
Team leaders
Goals	Marian Gaborik (42)
Assists	Pierre-Marc Bouchard (50)
Points	Marian Gaborik (83)
Penalties in minutes	Aaron Voros (141)
Plus/minus	Marian Gaborik (+17)
Wins	Niklas Backstrom (33)
Goals against average	Niklas Backstrom (2.31)
<2006–07 2008–09>

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

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

• The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23
• The free agency period began on July 1.

Regular season

Divisional standings

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

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, p – Presidents' Trophy winner

Schedule and results

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

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

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

Skaters

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
Pierre-Marc Bouchard		81	13	50	63	34
Brian Rolston		81	31	28	59	53
Pavol Demitra		68	15	39	54	24
Brent Burns		82	15	28	43	80
Mikko Koivu		57	11	31	42	42
Eric Belanger		75	13	24	37	30
Mark Parrish		66	16	14	30	16
Kim Johnsson		80	4	23	27	42
Kurtis Foster		56	7	12	19	37

Goaltenders

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
Josh Harding		29	1571	11	15	2	77	1	.908	2.94

Awards and records

Milestones

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

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

Trades

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

Free agents acquired

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

Player New team Todd White Atlanta Thrashers Adam Hall Pittsburgh Penguins

Draft picks

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)

Roster

Minnesota Wild
Goaltenders 29 – Josh Harding  31 – Nolan Schaefer  32 – Niklas Backstrom  Injured Reserve Currently vacant		Defensemen 3 – Keith Carney  5 – Kim Johnsson  6 – Sean Hill  8 – Brent Burns  26 – Kurtis Foster  33 – Petteri Nummelin  41 – Martin Skoula  55 – Nick Schultz  - – Marc-Andre Bergeron		Wingers 10 – Marian Gaborik  - C 11 – Chris Simon  12 – Brian Rolston  - A 17 – Todd Fedoruk  19 – Stéphane Veilleux  21 – Mark Parrish  22 – Cal Clutterbuck  23 – Petr Kalus  24 – Derek Boogaard  34 – Aaron Voros  38 – Pavol Demitra  83 – Matt Foy  96 – Pierre-Marc Bouchard		Centers 9 – Mikko Koivu  - A 15 – James Sheppard  16 – Steve Kelly  25 – Eric Belanger  67 – Benoit Pouliot  GM: Doug Risebrough Coach: Jacques Lemaire

See also

• 2007–08 NHL season

References

• Player stats: Minnesota Wild player stats on espn.com
• Game log: Minnesota Wild game log on espn.com
• Team standings: NHL standings on espn.com

1. 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com