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
Conference standings
Playoffs The Wild clinched a playoff spot for the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, but lost in the Quarterfinals to the Colorado Avalanche, four games to two.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 4 || Chicago || 0 – 1 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 6 || Columbus || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Edmonton || 0 – 2 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 13 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Phoenix || || Backstrom || 12,088 || 4–0–0 || 8 ||
| 5 || October 14 || Minnesota || 2 – 0 || Anaheim || || Harding || 17,174 || 5–0–0 || 10 ||
| 6 || October 16 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || Los Angeles || SO || Backstrom || 14,239 || 5–0–1 || 11 ||
| 7 || October 20 || Minnesota || 3 – 1 || St. Louis || || Harding || 19,150 || 6–0–1 || 13 ||
| 8 || October 21 || Colorado || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 7–0–1 || 15 ||
| 9 || October 24 || Minnesota || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Backstrom || 19,289 || 7–1–1 || 15 ||
| 10 || October 25 || Minnesota || 4 – 5 || Edmonton || SO || Harding || 16,839 || 7–1–2 || 16 ||
| 11 || October 28 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Colorado || || Harding || 17,041 || 7–2–2 || 16 ||
| 12 || October 30 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 2 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 7–3–2 || 16 ||
| 13 || November 1 || St. Louis || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 7–4–2 || 16 ||
| 14 || November 3 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 8–4–2 || 18 ||
| 15 || November 5 || Edmonton || 2 – 5 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 9–4–2 || 20 ||
| 16 || November 11 || Minnesota || 2 – 4 || Colorado || || Backstrom || 15,434 || 9–5–2 || 20 ||
| 17 || November 13 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Backstrom || 19,289 || 9–6–2 || 20 ||
| 18 || November 15 || Minnesota || 4 – 2 || Edmonton || || Backstrom || 16,839 || 10–6–2 || 22 ||
| 19 || November 16 || Minnesota || 2 – 6 || Vancouver || || Harding || 18,630 || 10–7–2 || 22 ||
| 20 || November 18 || Colorado || 1 – 4 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 11–7–2 || 24 ||
| 21 || November 21 || Vancouver || 4 – 2 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 11–8–2 || 24 ||
| 22 || November 23 || Columbus || 4 – 0 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 11–9–2 || 24 ||
| 23 || November 24 || Minnesota || 4 – 3 || Nashville || || Backstrom || 12,639 || 12–9–2 || 26 ||
| 24 || November 28 || Phoenix || 1 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 13–9–2 || 28 ||
| 25 || November 30 || St. Louis || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 14–9–2 || 30 ||
| 26 || December 2 || Vancouver || 1 – 2 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 15–9–2 || 32 ||
| 27 || December 5 || Philadelphia || 3 – 1 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 15–10–2 || 32 ||
| 28 || December 7 || Minnesota || 0 – 5 || Detroit || || Harding || 19,508 || 15–11–2 || 32 ||
| 29 || December 8 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || Columbus || || Backstrom || 15,666 || 16–11–2 || 34 ||
| 30 || December 11 || Minnesota || 1 – 4 || San Jose || || Backstrom || 17,064 || 16–12–2 || 34 ||
| 31 || December 14 || Minnesota || 5 – 2 || Anaheim || || Harding || 17,174 || 17–12–2 || 36 ||
| 32 || December 15 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || Los Angeles || || Harding || 16,648 || 18–12–2 || 38 ||
| 33 || December 18 || Nashville || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 19–12–2 || 40 ||
| 34 || December 20 || N.Y. Rangers || 3 – 6 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 20–12–2 || 42 ||
| 35 || December 22 || Detroit || 4 – 1 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 20–13–2 || 42 ||
| 36 || December 26 || Minnesota || 3 – 8 || Dallas || || Harding || 18,532 || 20–14–2 || 42 ||
| 37 || December 27 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Phoenix || || Backstrom || 13,756 || 21–14–2 || 44 ||
| 38 || December 29 || Edmonton || 4 – 5 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 22–14–2 || 46 ||
| 39 || December 31 || San Jose || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 22–15–2 || 46 ||
| 40 || January 3 || Dallas || 3 – 6 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 23–15–2 || 48 ||
| 41 || January 5 || Minnesota || 1 – 4 || Nashville || || Harding || 17,113 || 23–16–2 || 48 ||
| 42 || January 7 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Dallas || || Backstrom || 17,502 || 23–17–2 || 48 ||
| 43 || January 10 || Minnesota || 6 – 5 || Detroit || SO || Harding || 17,848 || 24–17–2 || 50 ||
| 44 || January 11 || Minnesota || 5 – 2 || Chicago || || Harding || 21,139 || 25–17–2 || 52 ||
| 45 || January 13 || Phoenix || 1 – 4 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 26–17–2 || 54 ||
| 46 || January 16 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 26–17–3 || 55 ||
| 47 || January 18 || Anaheim || 4 – 2 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 26–18–3 || 55 ||
| 48 || January 21 || Minnesota || 4 – 2 || Vancouver || || Backstrom || 18,630 || 27–18–3 || 57 ||
| 49 || January 22 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Harding || 19,289 || 27–19–3 || 57 ||
| 50 || January 24 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Colorado || || Backstrom || 15,321 || 28–19–3 || 59 ||
| 51 || January 30 || Anaheim || 1 – 5 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 29–19–3 || 61 ||
| 52 || February 2 || Minnesota || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Backstrom || 18,529 || 30–19–3 || 63 ||
| 53 || February 5 || Detroit || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 30–19–4 || 64 ||
| 54 || February 7 || Dallas || 1 – 0 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 30–20–4 || 64 ||
| 55 || February 9 || NY Islanders || 3 – 4 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 31–20–4 || 66 ||
| 56 || February 10 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || St. Louis || SO || Harding || 16,477 || 32–20–4 || 68 ||
| 57 || February 12 || Minnesota || 2 – 4 || Edmonton || || Harding || 16,839 || 32–21–4 || 68 ||
| 58 || February 14 || Minnesota || 5 – 4 || Vancouver || SO || Backstrom || 18,630 || 33–21–4 || 70 ||
| 59 || February 17 || Nashville || 4 – 5 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 34–21–4 || 72 ||
| 60 || February 19 || Vancouver || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 34–21–5 || 73 ||
| 61 || February 20 || Minnesota || 0 – 3 || Chicago || || Harding || 17,812 || 34–22–5 || 73 ||
| 62 || February 24 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 34–23–5 || 73 ||
| 63 || February 26 || Minnesota || 1 – 4 || Washington || || Backstrom || 17,391 || 34–24–5 || 73 ||
| 64 || February 27 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Backstrom || 17,211 || 35–24–5 || 75 ||
| 65 || February 29 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Florida || || Backstrom || 16,927 || 36–24–5 || 77 ||
| 66 || March 2 || Los Angeles || 1 – 2 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 37–24–5 || 79 ||
| 67 || March 4 || Chicago || 4 – 2 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 37–25–5 || 79 ||
| 68 || March 6 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Carolina || || Harding || 16,297 || 37–26–5 || 79 ||
| 69 || March 7 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || SO || Backstrom || 18,709 || 37–26–6 || 80 ||
| 70 || March 9 || San Jose || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 37–26–7 || 81 ||
| 71 || March 13 || New Jersey || 4 – 3 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 37–26–8 || 82 ||
| 72 || March 15 || Los Angeles || 0 – 2 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 38–26–8 || 84 ||
| 73 || March 17 || Colorado || 1 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 39–26–8 || 86 ||
| 74 || March 19 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || San Jose || SO || Backstrom || 17,496 || 39–26–9 || 87 ||
| 75 || March 21 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || Vancouver || || Backstrom || 18,630 || 40–26–9 || 89 ||
| 76 || March 22 || Minnesota || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || Harding || 19,289 || 40–27–9 || 89 ||
| 77 || March 24 || Minnesota || 3 – 5 || Edmonton || || Harding || 16,839 || 40–28–9 || 89 ||
| 78 || March 26 || Edmonton || 1 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 41–28–9 || 91 ||
| 79 || March 28 || Vancouver || 0 – 4 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 42–28–9 || 93 ||
| 80 || March 30 || Colorado || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 43–28–9 || 95 ||
| 81 || April 3 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 44–28–9 || 97 ||
| 82 || April 6 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || Colorado || SO || Harding || 18.007 || 44–28–10 || 98 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 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 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Regular season 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 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
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 Assist1st 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 Goal1st NHL Point March 22, 2008 Marian Gaborik 40th Goal of SeasonSets 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