Sid Hartman: Risebrough: Wild is playing its best hockey right now

Doug Risebrough, president and general manager of the Wild, said he believes the team is playing at a peak right now as the playoffs near.

"We're feeling pretty good about how we're playing right now," Risebrough said. "They all haven't been wins, but they've been good performances, and when the games are close and the teams are even, sometimes good performances are just a shot or a bounce away from turning into a victory. So we're more pleased with how we're playing right now than anything."

Risebrough said one reason the team has played so well recently -- winning six consecutive games at home, including Thursday's 3-1 victory over Calgary to clinch the Wild's first division title -- is center Mikko Koivu's return after he missed 24 games because of a broken leg.

"I think having Koivu back has been a real help because it really gives [Wild coach] Jacques Lemaire the dynamics of being able to play him in a solid power checking role against top teams," Risebrough said.

Risebrough also praised wingers Stephane Veilleux and Branko Radivojevic, who he said have been really solid playing on a line with Koivu while Eric Belanger was out because of a broken toe.

"We got a break, I think, in Eric Belanger's injury not being as [serious as first believed]," Risebrough said. "I know the kid's still playing hurt, he's got kind of a cracked toe. But he wants to be in the lineup, so that got our depth at center back up.

"I just think as a team we're probably playing our best right now, and it's a good time. Our guys are feeling pretty good about whatever role they have, their contribution to the team, and that's a good feeling."

Thursday night, Gaborik had two goals and an assist when the team needed him most to prove once again how good a player he has become.

Tough on Hunter Angels center fielder Torii Hunter batted only .188 in his four games at the Metrodome against his old teammates, scoring two runs and getting three hits in 16 at-bats. He did hit a home run Thursday to help the Angels beat the Twins 5-4.

"Yeah, it was pretty tough, man," Hunter said. "It was more emotional than anything. I couldn't focus, couldn't concentrate, you saw it.

"Home runs always help everybody, and just look up at the end of the season and see what my numbers are. You'll be happy. I beared down and tried to get some things done and did the best I could. I'm glad it's over with, and I'm glad we're going back home. It's kind of out of my head.

"A lot of good memories, man. It was tough playing against your old teammates and guys you've seen grow in the organization. [Twins right fielder Michael] Cuddyer, one of the guys that when he first got drafted in 1997, I had him next to me -- so that was pretty tough.

No doubt it was tough on Hunter -- a great leader, a great performer and one of the most popular players to ever wear a Twins uniform -- to play against the same guys he had been so close to.

Morneau's tough start Twins first baseman Justin Morneau went 0-for-12 in the Angels series, hitting a lot of ground balls.

"Well it'd be nice to get the first hit, but I've gone 0-for-12 before," Morneau said. "I'll go 0-for-12 again at some point. But it will be nice to have some number up there on the stat sheet. But, you know, I'm confident and I'm not going to beat myself up or anything. I know I can hit so just take some time and get one to drop in there and then we'll go from there.

"I have to force them to throw me strikes, and if I'm chasing those pitches, those borderline pitches that they want me to hit, then they may as well keep zoning until I force them to give me something I want to hit."

Baker is healthy Scott Baker, who will face Kansas City today after the Royals swept a three-game series against the Tigers, had a tough time staying healthy in spring training.

"I feel like I'm 100 percent," Baker said. "I gained the majority of the weight back, my strength's good, my endurance is good, so basically that all came back once I got my appetite back. I've felt good for quite few a days now. I'm ready to get going.

"Spring training was kind of a trying spring training as far as my arm injury and then the getting sick. So I was ready to get up here and get the season started, for sure."

Jottings Joe Esposito, the director of basketball operations for Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith, was a top candidate to become basketball coach at his alma mater, Marist College, but he canceled an interview and decided not to pursue the job. ... Vince Taylor, one of Smith's top assistants, interviewed Thursday for the Western Kentucky opening and has a good chance to get the job. He is from Lexington, Ky., but went to college at Duke.

The Gophers would like to sign at least more player who will be available this next season. One of their top-ranked recruits is Krys Faber from Los Angeles Ribet Academy. The 6-10 center has visited the Minnesota campus, and Smith has been out to see him play. Faber averaged 15.8 points, 17.5 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game this past season.

Ryan Saunders, a Gophers senior and the son of Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders, said that if Smith had an interest in making him a graduate assistant next year, he hasn't talked to him about it yet.