Lemaire's advice steadies Parrish

Mark Parrish already has been in the doghouse this season, and it took him two months to unlock those chains. So the Wild captain was not about to enter it again.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: March 17, 2007 - 7:38 PM

CALGARY, ALBERTA - Mark Parrish already has been in the doghouse this season, and it took him two months to unlock those chains. So the Wild captain was not about to enter Jacques Lemaire's unforgiving place once again.

After playing fewer than 10 minutes against Buffalo and Colorado last week, Parrish approached Lemaire as they boarded a plane Monday morning for Vancouver.

"He came right to see me and said, 'I know I'm slipping. I don't want to slip more. What do you think I'm doing?' Lemaire said Saturday morning. "We went over a couple things, and right next game, he was right on top of his game."

Parrish is on top of his game when he's working hard on the forecheck. Lemaire gave Parrish examples of where "I was quitting on an extra stride here or not finishing a check when I could have."

Parrish continued, saying, "I wanted to nip it in the bud right away and get back on track. Sometimes as a player, everything to you looks and feels OK, that you're doing everything identical to the way you always have. And you're not sometimes and you need an outside opinion."

Lemaire is delighted with what Parrish and linemate Adam Hall could provide in the playoffs.

"[Hall's acquisition] gives more intensity," Lemaire said. "He's a big guy, he's on the puck, and for our third line, we needed that type of player."

Parrish said: "We're both playing the same style of game. Nothing fancy. We're not going to look for a whole lot of east-west games through the neutral zone by any means. We want to get in deep, get a good cycle game going, just get pucks to the net and get gritty, rebound goals."

Feeling the heat

Flames coach Jim Playfair has been under siege, especially because the Flames are tied for the fewest road victories in the NHL (nine). Asked Saturday why the Wild has been able to "figure it out" on the road and the Flames haven't, Playfair sent a clear message to his team.

"I think [the Wild's] leaders have taken it upon themselves to listen to their coach," Playfair said. "They execute the consistent style of play [Lemaire] expects from them. I think it's really just that."

Play it smart

The Wild's defensemen have been much more active recently on the pinch, something Lemaire's fine with as long as they're smart about it.

"Coaches will say, 'You've got carte blanche to go,' so the guys are going all the time and relies on the forwards to back him up," Lemaire said. "I do not do that. Myself, I want the guy to be smart enough to know when he can go.

"If it's Wes [Walz] there, I'm going because I know Wes is going to back me up." Lemaire, readying for a big laugh, added, "If it's another player, I won't go because he won't back me up."

Guess which forward he was referring to (hint: No. 10).

Etc.

• Goalie Manny Fernandez (knee) didn't skate Saturday and will be examined by Wild doctors before the next option is decided.

• Walz, who had missed five games because of a sore back, was a game-time decision.

• Players used pink sticks during warm-ups Saturday night to raise awareness of breast cancer. Players had the option to use them in the game, as well.

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

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