"Things are looking a little unpleasant these days for the Wild as they stutter-step into their 10th NHL season. Even coach Todd Richards, who generally finds a silver lining in every cloud, gave his men an "F" for effort Saturday after the Columbus Blue Jackets got a disputed short-handed goal in the third period to escape the Xcel Energy Center with a 3-2 victory. "Regardless of the call, or what we think or what really happened," he said, "we got what we deserved tonight." Richards said there "wasn't any compete" in the Wild — they recorded two shots on goal in the first period and headed for the dressing room to scattered boos from the 17,336 customers — until after officials awarded the final goal following a video review at 10:58 of the third period. Sluggish start notwithstanding, this game turned on two five-on-four plays when the score was tied 2-2 in the final period, two plays that illustrate the chronic malaise that seems to dog a team with a roster good enough that — according to voting by its fans announced Saturday — it still has five of the six best players in franchise history. " http://www.twincities.com/wild/ci_16360140
