Versus Interview from After the Win Last Night

Thanks, Berni, for sending me this link! I'm getting a slow start today and hadn't even looked around the nets. This was a great way to "start" my day.

José and his hoodie.


Then Berni and I both found a nice little bit on Fox Sports North's website from yesterday. It's the "Wild's Midseason Report Card." This was the part about José:

MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE - VETERAN EDITION

Jose Theodore – He didn't even sign in time to travel with the Wild to Finland, but he has served one of the more valuable roles on the season. The former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner has been the hard-luck loser a few times this season, but he has also allowed two goals or fewer in nearly half of his 11 decisions -- many of which were not plum assignments. When Backstrom struggled, the question was also raised about whether Theodore should be the Wild's No. 1 going forward.

Go Theo!!!!

More Photos from the Devils Game on 1/4/11

Quite a few good José photos from the game tonight.

By the way, in Mike Russo's after-game blog he mentioned how well José did tonight (especially in the 2nd period when the Devils woke up) and he said he figures he will start again the next game in Boston on Thursday. But that's not official.

And lots of love for José after the game. ;o) I wish there had been a photo of Madden with him, because he gave him a big ole hug. I'll try to get a screen cap after the 48-hr blackout has lifted on Gamecenter.

Brodziak got a puck to the face tonight.

Stoner got his first NHL goal.

And with Zanon (thanks to Berni for the next two photos!)

Gameday, Wild @ Devils, 6:00 CST, on Versus (Wild win 2-1)

José is in goal for the 2nd game in a row. Probably because they are letting Backstrom's "lower body injury" get a little better. Go Theo!!!

After the 1st period it's 1-0, Wild lead. They listed that José only faced one SOG, although I could've sworn I saw 2 or 3. Guess I was wrong. Quiet game, that's for sure.

This is one of my favorite photos so far this season...(read the sign in the stands.)

After two periods, it's tied at 2. They tied it up on a rocket shot by Kovalchuk. The Devils in the 2nd period are a totally different team than those of the 1st. The 1st period was the opportunity for the Wild to score, and they only got one. Sigh.

José faced 14 SOG in the second. Some really good saves in there.

And that's the game! And a win!! Sweet. The Wild only ended up scoring 2, I thought it would be more. That's how much trouble the Wild have scoring, because the Devils are not a good team. Oh well, a win and 2 points in the standings.

José ended up facing 22 SOG, 21 saves. He seemed a lot busier than 22 SOG. It was not what I would call an easy game for him, but he did very well.

Glen Andresen had a great quote about him in his in-game commentary:

"Theodore just looks as cool as the other side of the pillow back there tonight."

Hahahaha!! I'd like to meet Glen, he makes me giggle.

José Starts Tonight Against New Jersey

This just in via twitter:

Russostrib
Michael Russo


Theodore starts for #mnwild tonight

By the way...first day of work back after 11 days of vacation totally sucks!!!!

But go Theo!!!

Interview Following José Theodore's 250th Career Win

Fox Sports North has provided us with a post-game interview with José following the 6-5 OT win against Phoenix tonight. And in case you didn't know, it was his 250th career win. ;o) Alas, not shirtless. Maybe he's tired of all those shirtless screen caps floating around the intertubes of him. Haha!! Or maybe he was just cold. ;o)

http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/pages/video?PID=_W6ZWjEa_KQOnDjc_SpRS_8f_xJ1EDih

Gameday Wild vs. Coyotes, 1/2/11 (Wild win!! José got win #250!)

José in goal, looking for his 250th career win.

I've mentioned before how I enjoy Glen Andresen's In-Game Commentary over on the Wild's website. He's a pretty funny guy, and he seems to really dig José (guy has good taste.) This what what he wrote before the game:

"I only wish my focus and intensity matched that of Jose Theodore, who will be getting the start for the Wild tonight. In case you didn't read today's game preview (for shame!) you should know that Theodore scored a goal 10 years ago today becoming the first Canadien goaltender to accomplish the feat. That means Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy all look at Theo with scalding envy in their hearts. Well old-timers, you're going to feel especially irked tonight when Theodore duplicates the feat. That's right, I've got Theo penciled in for an empty netter tonight."

Haha!! He cracks me up.

After one period the game is tied at 1-1. José faced 15 shots on goal, and the Wild only had 7. Same story, different day. Here are a couple bits from Andresen:

17:17 - Former Dartmouth Big Green Lee Stempniak makes a steal right in the slot and fires a shot on goal. Theodore makes that stop, and when Stempniak gets his own rebound and lets off a backhand from close range, Theo snares with the lobster mitt and gives a little Statue of Liberty pose just to add some drama.

13:45 - Theo is looking rather spry today as he kicks out a low shot from the left side, and then lunges over to his left to make an athletic save on Ray Whitney's one-timer off the rebound.


12:30 - Theo again isn't making things look easy, but he is making it entertaining. When Keith Yandle is sprung on a breakaway, Theodore makes an unorthodox headfirst, deck pad glove stop for what is already his eighth save of the night.

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And after two periods, the Wild lead 3-1?!! I don't know how to feel...it's a strange feeling, that's for sure. I just pray they keep it up through the last period. This would be such a great victory for José.

Here was a time when he went down for a save and got his mask knocked off by one of his own teammates.

Andresen's call of it:
16:10 - Stempniak gets loose in the high slot and lets another hard wrist shot go that Theodore stops, but then results in a mad scramble as he searches for the puck while former Wisconsin Badger Kyle Turris and other Coyotes start whacking away. Lying face down on the ice with his mask getting knocked off, Theodore is still able to find the puck and finally get covered up.

15:02 - There's the red hot Shane Doan getting sprung on a partial break. He kind of loosely whacks at a rolling puck and Theod does a great job of staying with it and making yet another save. The Yotes now have 23 shots on goal, and according to my math, that puts them on pace for about 300.

José faced 10 more shots, for a total of 25 so far. He's been a busy guy.

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Ok, that 3rd period was too crazy for me to write about (for now anyway.) I'm so nervous, my hands are shaking. Let's just make a long story short and say the game is tied at 5-5. That's right 5-5. And it's going to OT.

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Wild win in OT. More later. There will surely be an interview or two...

By the way, Phoenix had 44 SOG. Really? Really, guys?

Theo Will Start Tonight Against Phoenix, 5:00 pm CST

José will start tonight against Phoenix. I'm not sure if it's because Backstrom is still having trouble with his knee or if he would've started anyway. But either way, José will get the chance to log his 250th career win tonight. AND on the 10th anniversary of him scoring that goal against the Islanders. That's pretty cool!

This was the "worthless stat" of the day on the Wild's website: "With Theodore getting the start, he could aim to score the first goal by a goaltender in Wild history. Sure, it’s an odd thing to look out for, but today marks the 10-year anniversary of Theodore scoring the only goal by a goaltender in the illustrious history of the Montreal Canadiens."

Here was one of the game notes: G Jose Theodore is one win shy of 250 for his career. Only seven active goaltenders have reached that milestone.

Here's the tweet from mnwild:

"Theodore starts tonight for #mnwild, on 10-year anniversary of him scoring a goal vs. NYI. Note courtesty of Dave Stubbs of Montreal Gazette"

I watched the pregame video of Coach Richards, and he mentioned the Backstrom/Theo situation. Here's what he said:

"I believe it's a day-to-day. It was expressed to me as it would probably just be more beneficial if he just didn't play today. It would help him out. In two days he should be ready to go. And having said that too, if something did happen to Theo, that was my next question to him, if something happens to Theo can he go on and play, and he said absolutely."

The "he" he refers to must've been Bob Mason, the goalie coach. I'd say that's who made the decision. So I'd say if Backstrom was totally healthy, he probably would've played tonight. But a rest would be good for his knee, and since they have a very good back-up in José, why not use him.

Now, let's go Wild and get Theo his 250th win!!!