Post-Game Video of José

Edit 11/25/10: I realize that the video is no longer available on FSN's site. I have contacted them to see if it's a temporary problem. I'll let you know when I hear back. Hopefully it's just a glitch, and will be fixed soon.

Found on Fox Sports North's website.

http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/pages/video?PID=jYwirW_uBigPhKP4LpT7mpiri1wqWstB

By the way, I sent in an e-mail to Fox Sports North asking them to please let the Wild commentators know how to pronounce Theodore. I really hope they pass it along. I told them if they didn't want to take my word for it, ask the man himself!!

Different Goalie, Similar Performance

Article from twincities.com. http://www.twincities.com/wild/ci_16545260

By Bruce Brothers
bbrothers@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 11/07/2010 12:55:53 AM CDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jose Theodore picked up right where Niklas Backstrom left off.

Backstrom, who made 36 saves in a 1-0 win over San Jose on Tuesday night and 33 saves in a 2-1 win over Calgary Friday night, got a night off as Theodore posted 35 saves in the Wild's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Minnesota needed another outstanding performance in the nets, especially in the second period when Columbus outshot the Wild 16-3 but Theodore made 15 saves.

"What I really like is we didn't panic," he said. "We probably played our best period, the third period, which is showing that we're really maturing and we're playing with lots of confidence right now."

Backstrom, who worked 11 of Minnesota's first 12 games and stopped 338 of 358 shots, was OK Friday night with the plan of getting to watch.

"It's up to the coaches; I don't know what's going on," Backstrom said after giving up only a power-play goal to the Flames at the Xcel Energy Center.

Coach Todd Richards, who indicated Thursday he expected to use Theodore against the Blue Jackets, had no second thoughts despite Backstrom's back-to-back performances that lowered his goals-against average to 1.80 and hiked his save percentage to .941.

"Nik's been seeing a lot of pucks, and he's been working really hard," Richards said. "And Theodore played well in Vancouver for us. I'm excited to see him play again because he had a great first game in Vancouver; we just didn't play very well in front of him."

Theodore, acquired just before the season after backup goalie Josh Harding suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, stopped 30 of 35 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Canucks, Minnesota's worst loss of the season.

But he was in top form Saturday, beginning with a sliding save when the Blue Jackets' Rick Nash set up Derick Brassard alone in front of him barely a minute into the first period. The Wild were about even in play in the first period, sagged in the second and came back to deliver the knockout punch in the third, thanks to Theodore.

"A bookend game," Richards said. "I thought we played a really good first period and played a really good third period, and in between, in the second period, we made some mistakes. That's where Theo was great."

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These photos were from warm-ups at the previous game against San Jose. But since I hadn't found them until today, I thought I'd add them in here.

José Theodore's first win as a Wild!! Saved 35 of 37 shots!!!

This game felt so much better than the first one José played in. My stomach wasn't in knots the whole time. The Wild still had offensive struggles, and they were woefully outshot. But thanks to José's 35 saves (out of 37 total SOG) they came away with a 3-2 win. Burns had 2 great goals, Clutterback had a big and timely hit and goal, and there was actually some defense in front of José this time around. So that was great to see. Congratulations, José!!!

I had to switch from the Wild feed to the Blue Jackets feed though, because the Wild commentators still insist on calling him TEE-uh-dore. It's truly maddening. Does anyone know a way I can send in an e-mail and see if they will consider asking him how to pronounce his name? He will tell them it's THEE-ud-dore!!

One of the Blue Jackets commentators said, "Give THEE-uh-dore all the credit in the world. Body position is excellent." Then later, "José Theodore is the difference in this hockey game." I think he likes Theo. ;o) And yes, he pronounced Theodore correctly. Imagine that.

"We played a bookend game," said coach Todd Richards, whose team survived being outshot 16-3 in the second period. "We played a really good first period and a really good third period. In between we made some mistakes. But that's where Theo was great."

José Theodore, Movember Week 1

Thanks so much to reader thepatronsaintx for pointing me to the Wild's Movember Week 1 gallery:

http://wild.nhl.com/club/gallerylanding.htm?id=17653

And here's José Week 1 moustache...it's so tiny! ;o)

José Won't Start Tonight, But Will Tomorrow (Saturday)

From Mike Russo, "Plan is for Theodore to start tomorrow in Columbus."

And this, "Goalie Matchup tomorrow at Nationwide has #CBJ's Mathieu Garon facing #Min Jose Theodore. Garon with back to back shutouts."

Go José!!!!!!

José Warming Up 11/2/10

José didn't play on Tuesday night, because Backstrom is on fire. But at least we get to see him with his new mask and pads. Lookin' good!

It's Now Movember, Will José Participate?

Movember. I'd never heard of it before. I feel like I've been in the dark a bit. This is what I found out from the Wild's website:

The Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that its company-wide Movember campaign will be presented by Sun Country Airlines.

Movember is an annual charity event held during November that engages men to grow Mo’s (slang for moustache) to raise awareness and funds for cancers affecting men. Last season, Wild defenseman Nick Schultz was one of the first NHL players to embrace the cause after the father of one of his closest friends developed prostate cancer and is currently battling against one of the more treatable forms of the disease. A 501(c)3 non-profit, Movember benefits the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.

The Wild’s Movember campaign, presented by Sun Country Airlines, starts today, Nov. 1. Wild players, and some staff members, are growing moustaches in support of the campaign. The “Minnesota Wild Mo Bros” have their own fundraising page, accessible on wild.com/Movember. The Wild is urging fans to visit the fundraising page to donate. The NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer program has donated the first $5,000 to Movember’s Minnesota Wild Mo Bros team. Fans can purchase lower level or club level tickets to any Wild home game from Nov. 17-26 and the team will donate $10 from each ticket purchase to Movember, and enter each buyer into a drawing to win a travel voucher from Sun Country Airlines. The Wild will also take cash donations for Movember at each November game, at the Community Relations Booth at section 124.

Here's a photo from last year's Movember extravaganza. 
 

 
Here's a video showing the results...(I really didn't realize how much I don't like moustaches until I saw this video. Blech.)
 

 
I don't mind when hockey players aren't clean shaven. The moustache/beard growth is fine. José rocks that look. But just a moustache? Ummm...I don't know. If José participates, I'll be very curious to see how he looks by the end of the month.
 
Either way, it's a great cause and fun to boot. And thank goodness in December they can get rid of those moustaches!! 
 
 

This look is great...moustache only? I just can't picture it! But if it does happen, and there are photos, you will be able to find them here! ;o)