Plus it is nice to see what all these can can do with a small stint in the big time. Cuminsky can certainly be a good player and we seen, that. Why not give another guy the chance to see what he can do!

Also, I’ve said this before, but I don’t see how Liles and Cumiskey would work out in the same lineup for significant amount of time.

And, it’s also true that Finger was in a precarious situation. Certainly, without stick any defenseman is in a bad spot, rookie or not. So he was already in a disadvantaged situation.

It’s good you bring up the notion of a “field general” back there on the defensive side, because its certainly a visible hole without Blake and Footer. Finger played it by the book and, like you said, did what his training said. With a little more experience (and maybe skill?), he could have seen Skras was already back and taken the risk to drop the man with the puck. But, experience has to come some way.

What is the story with Kuminsky? He played well when called up a while ago, anybody know why Finger was called up instead of Kuminsky?

(I may sound like I’m bagging on Finger, that is not the case. As has been pointed out here, for a rookie he played a pretty good game in Minnesota. Plus, with a last name like that, how can you not like him?)

I thought the Avs played a pretty spirited game and were the victim of mistakes rather then uninspired play. The first Hall goal was not only the result of Liles not clearing the zone but also of the defensman letting Hall beat him out of the corner. Bad positioning and reactions from Liles. Is he still hurting?

I like Richardson on that scoring line, I’ve been fairly vocal about that from the start. I will give him credit for his goal but I think he could have had two more. That breakaway that rolled off his stick with no shot on goal was one deke too many apparently. One of the first scrums in front of the net and Richarson knocked a rebound right into Backstrom’s pad. All he had to do was lift the puck a little. Of course that’s all easier said than done. I like Richardson on that line for more reasons than just his ability to showcase his offensive abilities. I like the fact he can do the dirty work on the boards and give Brunette a little help while keeping Sakic in the slot more. I like the fact that Richardson can backcheck effectively and give Sakic more opportunities to lead the breakout rather than get gassed behind his own blue-line and take early line shifts. I like the fact that if Sakic gets tossed from the faceoff circle we have another capable faceoff man and in fact it might be advantagous in the offensive zone to keep Sakic on the slot during faceoffs for rebounds and socring chances etc…

you’re right on the first goal. I’m working from my notes from the game which, um, aren’t the most detailed; usually just a couple of key names to help jog my memory the next morning. I knew that didn’t seem right when I wrote it.

and I certainly agree that Finger would/could have played that better.

1) On the first goal, Stastny’s wrap around chance is indeed blocked, either by a skate of Skoula or the side of the net. But, I think the rebound actually comes right back to Stastny, who makes a brilliant off-balance pass out to the point to Ken Klee for the goal. Thats how I saw the play happen - am I wrong?

2) On the “play of the game,” when Finger’s stick broke, he was back skating towards his own net. Skrastins had the other man breaking in, why didn’t Finger just floor the Wild player who had the puck? Skrastins had the pass to the other man covered.

Instead, Finger gave the guy with the puck pleanty of time and sunk back into the middle of the ice with Skras. The puck carrier had all day to make a great play. It seems like Finger could have played the puck carrier more physically, knowing that Skras was also back with him.