Sport-scan daily brief

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.08.2013

668781 Minnesota Wild

Wild signs Gophers leading scorer Erik Haula; Lineup update vs. Blue Jackets

Michael Russo

Updated: April 7, 2013 - 1:02 PM

As expected, the Wild has signed Gophers center Erik Haula, who led the U in scoring the past two seasons, to a two-year entry-level deal. He signed an amateur tryout and will immediately report to Houston, where he is eligible to play in the Calder Cup playoffs.

He is expected to make his debut Wednesday against Oklahoma City.

Haula's contract is the max for a 2009 pick, I understand, with max A bonuses. Not bad for a 2009 seventh-rounder.

"My dream has always been to have a chance to play in the big leagues and this is the start," Haula said by phone after flying to Houston. "I’ve worked hard for it and I’m really excited to get started with a great organization."

Here is a feature I wrote on Haula, the Finnesotan, in November.

The product of Shattuck-St. Mary's recorded Minnesota's first 50-point season since 2005-06. He hit the 100-point plateau this past season and ranks 49th on the Gophers' all-time list.

He was the first Gopher since Ryan Potulny (2003-06) to finish his collegiate career with an average of more than a point a game.

"It was tough to leave," Haula said. "Being with the same guys for three years, it’s not easy to leave. We’ve had pretty good success lately and to not get to that last game of the year this year was really disappointing, so that made the leaving part harder. But it’s time to take the next step and I was happy to get the support from my coaches and teammates."

Haula said he knows he has to learn to play against men and he hopes to take everything in to set himself up for training camp next year. He said he talked to buddy and fellow Finn Mikael Granlund about coming to Houston the other day and the next day he was called up by the Wild.

Haula, 22, ranked second in the NCAA in assists (35) and tied for fourth in scoring (51 points) and was named to the 2012-13 All-WCHA Second Team and the All-WCHA Academic Team. Haula led Minnesota and ranked ninth in the nation in scoring with 49 points (20-29=49) in 43 games in 2011-12 to help the Gophers advance to the NCAA Frozen Four. He tallied 24 points (6-18=24) in 34 games during his freshman season and ranked tied for first on the team in assists and third in scoring.

The Wild, now four points up on surging and ninth-place Phoenix, has a huge game tonight against Columbus. Marian Gaborik will make his home debut. Brandon Dubinsky and Nikita Nikitin are game-time decisions for the Blue Jackets.

Gaborik said in New York, "One team wants you, one team maybe tries to go in a different direction. I told myself this was a new, fresh start, new challenge. Young team, a lot of potential for the future, so I'm glad I made the decision."

The Blue Jackets, 11-3-5 in their past 19 and 9-0-3 in their past 12 at home, have been running hot. The Wild has not and badly needs a victory to stop the bleeding, or things will get real tense.

"They're a desperate team right now, too, based on where they sit in the standings and just kind of the way it's gone for them lately," former Wild coach Todd Richards said. "They were a hot team and have lost some games here in a row, so you know they're going to be ready to go."

Richard said the special feelings of playing the Wild have "worn off."

Niklas Backstrom vs. redhot Sergei Bobrovsky and his gigantic pads tonight.

For the Wild, veteran defenseman Tom Gilbert, whose play has dipped like a few defensemen, will be scratched for what he says is the first time in his career. He says he has to get back to simplicity.

Coach Mike Yeo said, "Hopefully this is something that spurs him to get it back. A lot of it is mental. I don't think we have to get too much into it. I'm not saying that he's been awful or he's the reason that we lost three games, but I think it was time to make a change. Hopefully this helps him get back on track."

Gilbert is a minus-13, tied for 269th out of 275 NHL defensemen, and plainly has been playing badly.

I know fans are clamoring for Clayton Stoner to be scratched, but my sense is Yeo does not feel comfortable giving Justin Falk, Nate Prosser or Brett Clark top-4 minutes. And that is simply the decidling factor. If Stoner sits, somebody has to go into that slot.

Plain, simple. I don't know a better way to explain it. I get your frustration. Stoner has struggled bigtime lately. But this is one of those occasions where the Wild needs to work with him and badly needs for him to improve his play. Taking him out is not simple if you don't have somebody to take that top-4 spot.

Clark sits tonight, too. Falk and Prosser are in.

Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Jason Pominville

P-M Bouchard-Mikael Granlund-Devin Setoguchi

Cal Clutterbuck-Kyle Brodziak-Charlie Coyle

Mike Rupp-Zenon Konopka-Torrey Mitchell

The Wild hopes to get veteran Matt Cullen back soon. He is expected to see the doctor tomorrow, but since he hasn't practiced in awhile, we'll see how soon he can get back in the lineup even if he's cleared.

I am not as confident that we'll be seeing Dany Heatley any time soon.

By the way, I will be hosting a live chat on startribune.com on Monday at 2 p.m. CT

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.08.2013

668782 Minnesota Wild

Wild gets big win in Columbus; Dany Heatley to undergo shoulder surgery

Michael Russo

Updated: April 7, 2013 - 9:21 PM

There’s really no way to portray how big this one 3-0 victory in Columbus was tonight.

The Wild had lost three in a row and four of five. It had sunk to 7th in the West with red-hot Phoenix surging from outside the top-8 and Detroit right on its tail. It’s about to head home for a three-game homestand in front of what’s bound to be a restless, nervous home crowd anyway, a crowd that felt compelled to boo this team profusely last Monday despite having won eight of its previous nine. Can you imagine what it would have been like if it had lost tonight?

So the Wild needed to stop the bleeding in Columbus and lower the temperature a bit before Tuesday’s game against Chicago.

Mission accomplished as it played a strong all-around game, got great special teams (two power-play goals, four spotless penalty kills), got a goal and assist from Jason Pominville in his second game, a winning goal from Ryan Suter, a first career power-play goal by Charlie Coyle, solid effort from scores of players and a 24-save shutout response from Niklas Backstrom.

It’s now got a 6-point cushion on Phoenix and moved back to 6th in the West.

Evening from Nationwide Arena, where the Wild snapped the Blue Jackets’ 12-game home point streak tonight.

The Wild will not practice Monday as one of its four mandatory days off per month in the new CBA. I will host a live chat on startribune.com at 2 p.m.

As I began to indicate the past few days, I finally got it confirmed tonight that Heatley will undergo shoulder surgery Tuesday at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday. That’s why the itinerary changed and he flew here to Ohio.

It’s a scope to repair a dislocated left shoulder suffered in San Jose during that altercation with former teammate Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Wednesday. Mike Yeo says this doesn’t necessarily mean Heatley will miss the remainder of the regular season, but you know it’ll be pretty darn close. The reason he and the team has elected for surgery is because this should quicken his return rather than just letting it heal naturally.

The good news is now the trade for Pominville is even bigger. Pominville took Coyle spot as the first-line right wing and tonight, Yeo might have discovered Heatley’s replacement with Cal Clutterbuck and Kyle Brodziak.

Not only did Coyle score and play outstandingly in all three zones, Clutterbuck and Brodziak were as good as they’ve been in a long time. They were hard to play against for Marian Gaborik’s line, they were pains in the rear with good sticks in the neutral zone and they got the puck in often on the forecheck. All three were also strong on the penalty kill. Clutterbuck caused turnovers and foiled chances all night with back pressure and a good stick.

“We’re losing a huge piece there [with Heatley], so you need guys to step up,” Yeo said. “What Heater brings is a guy who is puck strong and a guy who can score goals. And I think we saw a lot of those qualities in Charlie Coyle tonight.”

The hope is Matt Cullen is close. He missed the road trip with a lower body injury.

As a team, Clutterbuck, who had a money quote in the gamer you should check out, said, “We just needed to get back to the certain way we were playing, and the good thing is we know exactly what that is and we know that it works.”

Yeo was delighted with Backstrom’s response after being yanked in L.A. He recorded his 28th career shutout and now leads the league with 20 wins in 31 starts. He had 19 in 45 starts last year.

As a team, Yeo said, “What you saw tonight is what our game is supposed to look like.”

He did say, “We’re not going to sit here and say this road trip was a huge success, but we found a way to in a very important game for us.”

On the back end, he scratched Brett Clark and veteran Tom Gilbert: “I thought the entire defensive group was really strong. One of our better ones execution wise. Taking hits to make plays.”

Clayton Stoner, so maligned lately, had a real solid game. Yeo: “He’s had a couple tough plays with pucks for sure. The base of his game, he’s going to be a physical guy, he’s going to be hard to play against down low, he’s not a fun guy to play against, I guarantee you that because positionally he does a good job. He did a very good job with the puck tonight, which is important.”

Tonight, Yeo said, “Scorers were scoring, checkers were checking.”

Mikael Granlund had one of his best games of his season. First period, Yeo said he was somewhat average, but he was great in all three zones in the second and third, set up a tremendous Coyle goal and was physical and strong on the wall.

Said Yeo: “I thought he elevated his game in the second and third. That’s really important for us. It’s a matter of confidence for the kid. Once he really starts to figure out what he can do and what he’s capable of, it’s going to be fun to watch.”

Pominville had a solid game. Thirty minutes before warmups, his wife and two kids surprised him by driving in from Buffalo. The Wild surprised the family by outfitting them fully with Wild gear.

Coyle was real good. Suter real good. Torrey Mitchell had a great game. The fourth line really set a strong tone in the first, but Backstrom made a series of clutch saves that calmed the tide too.

That’s it for me. Early flight. Ten games left, amazingly enough. Again, no practice Monday but I will be hosting the live chat on startribune.com at 2 p.m. Please join in.

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.08.2013

668783 Minnesota Wild

Wild-Columbus game recap

MICHAEL RUSSO

Updated: April 7, 2013 - 9:56 PM

GAME RECAP

Star Tribune’s

Three Stars

1. Ryan Suter, Wild: Logged 31:07, scored the winning goal.

2. Niklas Backstrom, Wild: After giving up two goals on two shots Thursday, he made 24 saves for a shutout.

3. Charlie Coyle, Wild: Scored his third goal in five games.

By the numbers

20 Wins in 31 starts for Backstrom, best in the NHL; had 19 wins in 45 starts last year.

29 Points for Suter, second among NHL defensemen.

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.08.2013

668784 Minnesota Wild

Haula leaves U, signs two-year deal with Wild

MICHAEL RUSSO

Star Tribune

Updated: April 8, 2013 - 12:04 AM

COLUMBUS, OHIO – After leading the nation’s highest-scoring team in scoring the past two seasons, Erik Haula knew it was time for the next challenge.

Still, leaving the University of Minnesota for a pro contract with the Wild wasn’t easy, especially since Haula felt like he left his collegiate career incomplete after the Gophers were beaten in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

“Being with the same guys for three years, it’s not easy to leave,” Haula said after arriving in Houston on Sunday. “We’ve had pretty good success lately, and to not get to that last game of the year this year was really disappointing, so that made the leaving part harder.

“But it’s time to take the next step.”

Haula, 22, signed a two-year, entry-level deal that starts next season. In order to get his pro career going, the Pori, Finland, native signed an amateur tryout with the Aeros, the Wild’s American Hockey League affiliate. He is playoff-eligible and can play in the regular-season’s final six games beginning Wednesday against Oklahoma City.

“My dream has always been to have a chance to play in the big leagues and this is the start,” the 2009 seventh-round draft pick said. “I’ve worked hard for it and I’m really excited to get started with a great organization.”

Haula can’t wait to soak everything in and adjust to the pro game in time for the Wild’s training camp next fall.

“I know I have to learn how to play against men, and I’d love to have success right away, but it doesn’t always happen that easily,” Haula said. “It takes time, and I’m willing to put that time in.”

Haula, the second European to play for the Gophers, is 49th on the school’s all-time scoring list with 124 points in 114 games. He scored 42 goals and was the first Gopher since Ryan Potulny (2003-06) to average more than a point a game in his collegiate career.

This past season, Haula ranked second in the NCAA with 35 assists and was the first Gopher to top 50 points (51) since 2005-06. He was plus-20 and an All-WCHA second-team selection.

Haula’s the fifth Gopher to leave since the overtime loss to Yale ended Minnesota’s season. Nate Schmidt signed a free-agent contract with Washington, while Nick Bjugstad (Florida), Zach Budish (Nashville) and Mark Alt (Philadelphia) signed with the teams that drafted them.

“I’m happy with the choice I made three years ago to go with the Gophers,” said Haula, who played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. “Individually, I think I had three pretty good years and tried to be consistent. That was the big key to my decision to leave.”

Gilbert scratched

With veteran defenseman Tom Gilbert struggling, coach Mike Yeo pulled him from the Wild’s lineup Sunday against Columbus. Gilbert said it was the first time in his career he was a healthy scratch.

“Hopefully this is something that spurs him to get it back,” Yeo said. “I’m not saying that he’s been awful … but I think it was time to make a change. Hopefully this helps him get back on track.”

Gilbert is minus-13, which is tied for 269th out of 275 defensemen.

“I just need to find my game,” Gilbert said. “It hasn’t been my best, let’s put it that way. [I have to get back to] simplicity, good first pass.”

Brett Clark was also scratched; defensemen Justin Falk and Nate Prosser played.

Etc.

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.08.2013

668785 Minnesota Wild

Shoulder surgery could speed Heatley's return

MICHAEL RUSSO

Updated: April 7, 2013 - 11:35 PM

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Veteran goal scorer Dany Heatley stayed behind in Columbus on Sunday night because he will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder Tuesday in Cleveland.

Heatley, who dislocated his shoulder when he was driven to the ice at the end of an altercation with San Jose’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Wednesday, won’t necessarily miss the rest of the regular season, coach Mike Yeo said.

The hope is that by having surgery, Heatley’s return timetable would be quicker than without it.

While losing the team’s third-leading goal scorer is a big blow, the Wild added now critical depth earlier Wednesday when it acquired Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville.

Pominville, who scored a goal and assist in Sunday’s 3-0 win at Columbus, took Charlie Coyle’s spot on the first line and Coyle took Heatley’s position on the third line with Cal Clutterbuck and Kyle Brodziak.

Coyle had a stellar all-around game and scored his sixth goal of the season, and first on the power play.

“We’re losing a huge piece there, so you need guys to step up,” Yeo said. “What Heater brings is a guy who is puck strong and a guy who can score goals. And I think we saw a lot of those qualities in Charlie Coyle tonight.”

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.08.2013

668786 Minnesota Wild

Backstrom carries Wild past Blue Jackets

RUSTY MILLER

Associated Press

Updated: April 7, 2013 - 9:12 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jason Pominville got a surprise shortly before taking the ice for his new team, the Minnesota Wild, on Sunday night.

His wife, kids and father-in-law drove down from Buffalo, N.Y., to see Pominville in action against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It was a good night for the former Buffalo Sabres captain — he scored a goal and had an assist for his first points for the Wild since his trade last week — in supporting Niklas Backstrom's 24 saves in a 3-0 Minnesota victory.

"I didn't really expect them to come down," said Pominville, acquired with a fourth-round selection in 2014 from Buffalo for goalie Matt Hackett, forward Johan Larsson, a first-rounder in 2013 and a second-rounder in 2014. "I talked to my wife on the phone and everything seemed normal. It was a nice surprise to see her and the kids before the game."

The win was a big one for the Wild, who snapped a three-game losing streak that included their first shutout loss of the season in their last game.

"You can't avoid it: Everyone is talking about (the playoffs)," Backstrom said after his second shutout of the season and 28th of his career. "But for us it's still one day at a time, one game at a time."

Ryan Suter's wrist shot in traffic started the scoring, and Charlie Coyle benefited from a perfect pass from Mikael Granlund as the Wild netted two power-play goals in the second period.

Backstrom and his staunch defense did the rest until Pominville scored late off a tape-to-tape pass from Zach Parise.

"What you saw tonight is what our game is supposed to look like," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "I really liked a lot of players tonight. I thought everybody was on top of their game."

It was a turnaround win for Minnesota, which had also lost four of five since a seven-game winning streak. The Wild scored only three goals in the three-game skid.

"Our last couple of games weren't what we wanted and it's nice to kind of get back on track, regroup and get things going again," Coyle said.

The Wild came in ranked eighth in the NHL in road power plays. After a scoreless first period, the Wild made the most of a hooking penalty on Blake Comeau, who was playing his first home game for the Blue Jackets after being acquired from Calgary for a fifth-round pick.

Suter took a drop pass from Pominville, and Suter tucked a hard wrister from the high slot inside the far post through heavy congestion. It was the fourth goal of the season for Suter, a big-ticket free agent last summer.

Columbus' Vinny Prospal was called for hooking later in the period, and the Wild cycled the puck while the Blue Jackets tried in vain to clear it.

Granlund slid a backdoor pass from the right wing to Coyle, who had slipped to the left doorstep for a jam shot that made it 2-0 at 15:03.

This defeat was extremely costly to Columbus, which is four points behind eighth-place Detroit in the West.

Now the Blue Jackets have little wiggle room with just nine games remaining in the regular season — including six on the road.

"This one definitely hurts," said defenseman Jack Johnson, who said Columbus might have to win out to make the postseason.

The Blue Jackets came in having earned points in 16 of 19 games (11-3-5) and riding a four-game winning streak at home. Since their previous regulation home loss on March 7, they had gone 9-0-3 at Nationwide Arena.

"It's a blow," coach Todd Richards said of the loss that opened a three-game homestand. "We know what's ahead of us. The players have talked, we have talked, about the importance of these home games. We lacked energy in the second period. We picked it up in the third, but we still didn't do enough."

Marian Gaborik, acquired by the Blue Jackets in a multiplayer deal with the New York Rangers at Wednesday's trade deadline, was greeted by several signs in the crowd as he made his debut at home.

"We have to stay positive," Gaborik said. "We have nine games left. We'll do everything we can to be in the hunt."

Backstrom was solid when needed. The Wild killed off four penalties, although Backstrom was at his best on even-strength threats. He gloved a hard one-timer by Jack Johnson midway through the first, stymied R.J. Umberger on a rush in the third, and turned aside Cam Atkinson's blast in transition in the final minutes.

"What can you say about Backie?" Yeo said. "That was a good response by him. That's what he does."

NOTES: Columbus D James Wisniewski caught a skate to the leg in the second period and made it to the bench with some difficulty. He returned in the third. ... Minnesota, which solidified its playoff spot heading into the final three weeks, ended a streak of five games in which it had allowed the first goal. ... Sergei Bobrovsky had 21 saves for the Blue Jackets. ... The Wild have 10 games remaining, including six at home.

Star Tribune LOADED: 04.08.2013

668787 Minnesota Wild

Wild beats Columbus, gets back on track

MICHAEL RUSSO

Updated: April 7, 2013 - 11:33 PM

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Everybody can breathe easier.

With the Wild trending the wrong direction the past two weeks and gradually sliding into a playoff bubble spot, the bleeding was stopped Sunday night against one of the NHL’s toughest home-ice teams.

The Wild ended the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 12-game home point streak by handing them their first regulation loss at Nationwide Arena since Feb. 10 with a well-earned 3-0 victory.

“It was one of those games where everybody’s mentally right in there,” said Cal Clutterbuck, who had a strong game with linemates Kyle Brodziak and Charlie Coyle. “You could just feel the intensity, almost like a telepathic focus going through the bench. You can just tell everybody was zeroed in.”

Ryan Suter and Coyle scored second-period power-play goals, recently acquired Jason Pominville had a goal and assist, and Niklas Backstrom responded from being pulled Thursday in Los Angeles with a 24-save shutout, the 28th shutout of his career.

Backstrom set the tone early with a clutch save on Cam Atkinson’s attempted stuff and cruised from there. The NHL’s leader with 20 victories improved to 21-2-4 all-time in his first start after being pulled and 17-0-2 since March 26, 2008.

“What a great response by [Backstrom]. That’s what he does,” coach Mike Yeo said. “Just a solid game all around. We had everyone going. … What you saw tonight is what our game is supposed to look like.”

The Wild ended a three-game losing streak and avoided being shut out on its three-game road trip. It now returns home for an important three-game homestand with 10 games left in the regular season. The Wild moved back into sixth place in the Western Conference but more importantly moved six points ahead of the surging ninth-place Phoenix Coyotes.

The loss was a big blow to Todd Richards’ Blue Jackets, who got no spark in Marian Gaborik’s home debut. They’re now five points behind eighth-place Detroit.