There were hype videos and live music and waving towels with flashing lights built in. There were booming ovations and a reunion of franchise legends and a pair of goals by the highest-paid player in NHL history.

The Minnesota Wild’s home opener, as they celebrated the start of their 25th anniversary season, featured just about everything. But a home team victory was notably missing when the final horn blew.

Flying high after a decisive win in the season opener on the road, the Wild instead never held a lead versus an opportunistic Columbus Blue Jackets team. Minnesota out-shot Columbus decisively, and got a quartet of power play goals, but fell 7-4 on Saturday, in what they certainly hope is not a carry-over of their generally mediocre play at home a season ago.

Trailing 2-0 in the sec

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