# 2007–08 Minnesota Wild season

The 2007–08 Minnesota Wild season began October 4, 2007. It was the Wild's eighth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). 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
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 4Chicago0 – 1MinnesotaBackstrom18,5681–0–02
2October 6Columbus2 – 3MinnesotaBackstrom18,5682–0–04
3October 10Edmonton0 – 2MinnesotaBackstrom18,5683–0–06
4October 13Minnesota3 – 2PhoenixBackstrom12,0884–0–08
5October 14Minnesota2 – 0AnaheimHarding17,1745–0–010
6October 16Minnesota3 – 4Los AngelesSOBackstrom14,2395–0–111
7October 20Minnesota3 – 1St. LouisHarding19,1506–0–113
8October 21Colorado2 – 3MinnesotaBackstrom18,5687–0–115
9October 24Minnesota3 – 5CalgaryBackstrom19,2897–1–115
10October 25Minnesota4 – 5EdmontonSOHarding16,8397–1–216
11October 28Minnesota1 – 3ColoradoHarding17,0417–2–216
12October 30Pittsburgh4 – 2MinnesotaHarding18,5687–3–216 :
November
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
13November 1St. Louis3 – 2MinnesotaHarding18,5687–4–216
14November 3Calgary1 – 4MinnesotaBackstrom18,5688–4–218
15November 5Edmonton2 – 5MinnesotaBackstrom18,5689–4–220
16November 11Minnesota2 – 4ColoradoBackstrom15,4349–5–220
17November 13Minnesota2 – 3CalgaryBackstrom19,2899–6–220
18November 15Minnesota4 – 2EdmontonBackstrom16,83910–6–222
19November 16Minnesota2 – 6VancouverHarding18,63010–7–222
20November 18Colorado1 – 4MinnesotaHarding18,56811–7–224
21November 21Vancouver4 – 2MinnesotaHarding18,56811–8–224
22November 23Columbus4 – 0MinnesotaBackstrom18,56811–9–224
23November 24Minnesota4 – 3NashvilleBackstrom12,63912–9–226
24November 28Phoenix1 – 3MinnesotaBackstrom18,56813–9–228
25November 30St. Louis2 – 3MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56814–9–230 :
December
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
26December 2Vancouver1 – 2MinnesotaBackstrom18,56815–9–232
27December 5Philadelphia3 – 1MinnesotaBackstrom18,56815–10–232
28December 7Minnesota0 – 5DetroitHarding19,50815–11–232
29December 8Minnesota2 – 1ColumbusBackstrom15,66616–11–234
30December 11Minnesota1 – 4San JoseBackstrom17,06416–12–234
31December 14Minnesota5 – 2AnaheimHarding17,17417–12–236
32December 15Minnesota2 – 1Los AngelesHarding16,64818–12–238
33December 18Nashville2 – 3MinnesotaHarding18,56819–12–240
34December 20N.Y. Rangers3 – 6MinnesotaHarding18,56820–12–242
35December 22Detroit4 – 1MinnesotaBackstrom18,56820–13–242
36December 26Minnesota3 – 8DallasHarding18,53220–14–242
37December 27Minnesota3 – 2PhoenixBackstrom13,75621–14–244
38December 29Edmonton4 – 5MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56822–14–246
39December 31San Jose3 – 2MinnesotaBackstrom18,56822–15–246 :
January
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
40January 3Dallas3 – 6MinnesotaBackstrom18,56823–15–248
41January 5Minnesota1 – 4NashvilleHarding17,11323–16–248
42January 7Minnesota1 – 3DallasBackstrom17,50223–17–248
43January 10Minnesota6 – 5DetroitSOHarding17,84824–17–250
44January 11Minnesota5 – 2ChicagoHarding21,13925–17–252
45January 13Phoenix1 – 4MinnesotaHarding18,56826–17–254
46January 16Calgary3 – 2MinnesotaSOBackstrom18,56826–17–355
47January 18Anaheim4 – 2MinnesotaHarding18,56826–18–355
48January 21Minnesota4 – 2VancouverBackstrom18,63027–18–357
49January 22Minnesota1 – 2CalgaryHarding19,28927–19–357
50January 24Minnesota3 – 2ColoradoBackstrom15,32128–19–359
51January 30Anaheim1 – 5MinnesotaBackstrom18,56829–19–361 :
February
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
52February 2Minnesota4 – 1ColumbusBackstrom18,52930–19–363
53February 5Detroit3 – 2MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56830–19–464
54February 7Dallas1 – 0MinnesotaBackstrom18,56830–20–464
55February 9NY Islanders3 – 4MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56831–20–466
56February 10Minnesota2 – 1St. LouisSOHarding16,47732–20–468
57February 12Minnesota2 – 4EdmontonHarding16,83932–21–468
58February 14Minnesota5 – 4VancouverSOBackstrom18,63033–21–470
59February 17Nashville4 – 5MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56834–21–472
60February 19Vancouver3 – 2MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56834–21–573
61February 20Minnesota0 – 3ChicagoHarding17,81234–22–573
62February 24Calgary2 – 1MinnesotaBackstrom18,56834–23–573
63February 26Minnesota1 – 4WashingtonBackstrom17,39134–24–573
64February 27Minnesota3 – 2Tampa BayBackstrom17,21135–24–575
65February 29Minnesota3 – 2FloridaBackstrom16,92736–24–577 :
March
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
66March 2Los Angeles1 – 2MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56837–24–579
67March 4Chicago4 – 2MinnesotaBackstrom18,56837–25–579
68March 6Minnesota2 – 3CarolinaHarding16,29737–26–579
69March 7Minnesota2 – 3AtlantaSOBackstrom18,70937–26–680
70March 9San Jose3 – 2MinnesotaSOBackstrom18,56837–26–781
71March 13New Jersey4 – 3MinnesotaSOBackstrom18,56837–26–882
72March 15Los Angeles0 – 2MinnesotaBackstrom18,56838–26–884
73March 17Colorado1 – 3MinnesotaBackstrom18,56839–26–886
74March 19Minnesota3 – 4San JoseSOBackstrom17,49639–26–987
75March 21Minnesota2 – 1VancouverBackstrom18,63040–26–989
76March 22Minnesota4 – 5CalgaryHarding19,28940–27–989
77March 24Minnesota3 – 5EdmontonHarding16,83940–28–989
78March 26Edmonton1 – 3MinnesotaBackstrom18,56841–28–991
79March 28Vancouver0 – 4MinnesotaBackstrom18,56842–28–993
80March 30Colorado2 – 3MinnesotaOTBackstrom18,56843–28–995 :
April
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
81April 3Calgary1 – 3MinnesotaBackstrom18,56844–28–997
82April 6Minnesota3 – 4ColoradoSOHarding18.00744–28–1098 :

## 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
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
| | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Marian Gaborik | 77 | 42 | 41 | 83 | 63 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Pierre-Marc Bouchard | 81 | 13 | 50 | 63 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Brian Rolston | 81 | 31 | 28 | 59 | 53 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Pavol Demitra | 68 | 15 | 39 | 54 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Brent Burns | 82 | 15 | 28 | 43 | 80 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Mikko Koivu | 57 | 11 | 31 | 42 | 42 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Eric Belanger | 75 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Mark Parrish | 66 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kim Johnsson | 80 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| Kurtis Foster | 56 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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 | 6 | 361 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 0 | .900 | 2.82 |
| Josh Harding | 29 | 1571 | 11 | 15 | 2 | 77 | 1 | .908 | 2.94 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 |

## 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.
| 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) |