Checking Gaborik a good idea
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“You want to give him limited time and space,” he said. “And with him, when you’re on the ice you just don’t want to make a mistake because he is a guy that kind of hangs a little bit high sometimes.
“He’s very good at his first couple of strides, probably the fastest guy in the league. You’ve got to know where he is.”
Gaborik, a right wing, tops the Wild with 34 points, and right wing Brian Rolston and center Pierre-Marc Bouchard each have 26 points entering Wednesday night’s game in Dallas..
Most teams in the Western Conference remain in contention for playoff spots as the halfway point of the season approaches.
“We’ve got ourselves in a position where we’re in this dogfight to climb into a playoff spot,” Jovanovski said. “Minnesota is a very well-coached team, a disciplined team and a tough team to play against. On the other hand, it’s a home game for us. We have to recognize that and have a solid game.
“We’ve all had a few days off, and I think we have to come out strong and have the enthusiasm we’ve had of late.”
Shootout surprise
No one was more surprised than Joel Perrault when he got the call to join the shootout against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Coach Wayne Gretzky said that he talked to backup goaltender Mikael Tellqvist who said Perrault had been shooting well in practice, and that swayed Gretzky’s decision to give Perrault a chance in a shootout for the first time in his NHL career.
“Goaltenders know better than I do,” he said. “It’s all a hunch, and Telly thought Joel was hot, so we went with Joel.”
Perrault said he likes being put in those types of situations, although his attempt was turned away by Roberto Luongo.
“It’s a lot of pressure and probably facing the best goalie in the league, and I like it,” he said. “I knew if I didn’t score (the game was over). I would have rather scored, and I thought I had it - just missed by not much.”
Perrault said that his first two NHL goals came on breakaways, and that may have played a role in the decision to give him the opportunity. He said the confidence Gretzky placed in him would help down the road.
Rookie Peter Mueller, who is 1 for 2 in shootout attempts this season, enjoys the pressure situation as well.
“It’s always fun going out there, representing the team in shootouts like that,” he said. “I love doing that. It’s definitely a time for skills to shine, and I hope to get two points for the team.
“I think it’s (shootout) more fun to the fans, and that’s always a good thing.”
