Lemaire remains proud of his defense

Even with more offensive firepower, the Wild has managed to retain its identity as a defensive-minded team.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: March 28, 2007 - 12:40 AM

Even with more offensive firepower, the Wild has managed to retain its identity as a defensive-minded team.

The Wild has given up only 184 goals, one more than league-leader Dallas, which has played one fewer game. Take away seven charged goals for losing shootouts, and the Wild has allowed a league-low 2.30 goals per game.

"Since [Jacques Lemaire's] been the coach, that's the kind of style we play," defenseman Nick Schultz said. "Even with the stars we now have up front, we still pride ourselves on playing well defensively."

If the Wild finishes with the fewest goals scored against it, Niklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez, because they each have played 25 games, would win the William Jennings Trophy.

"You need good goaltending," Lemaire said. "And you need five guys at a time that will be responsible to do a certain job defensively. I'm proud of the guys."

Lemaire says it has a lot to do with an improved and mobile blue line.

"In the past, the puck was on the boards all the time so you needed the winger and the support of the centerman to get the puck out," he said.

Playoff talk

Over the past several weeks, Lemaire said the only time he'd talk about "the Wild" and "playoffs" in the same sentence is when the Wild had one game left and a three-point advantage.

But for the first time Tuesday morning, Lemaire spoke of the playoffs. It came after Lemaire was asked when he realized the Wild was running on all cylinders.

"We're never sure," Lemaire said. "It's a day-to-day adventure. ... I don't know if we peaked because sometimes I'm really impressed and other games I'm really disappointed because we don't sustain that level. And it'll be different in the playoffs. We'll have to step up again, and if you don't, [it's over]."

Lemaire said he wishes the playoffs were starting today because "where the guys are right now, I think it would be easier to step up another notch."

Carney excels

Defenseman Keith Carney could be on the verge of breaking Pascal Dupuis' record for plus-minus (plus-17 in 2002-03). Carney, 37, has a team-leading plus-21.

"It's better than minus-21," Lemaire quipped. "We're impressed with that, too. He's playing like he did three, four years ago."

Great work ethic

Lemaire says he's never coached a goaltender who works as hard as Backstrom both in practice and in the workout room. He said a close second, at least on the ice, was Dwayne Roloson.

"I was a little lazy when I was younger," Backstrom said, laughing. "Everybody's got different talent. You can reach your talent to only a certain level and if you want to go higher, you have to work hard. A couple years ago, I knew if I wanted to be a better goalie, I had to work harder."

Etc.

• Cape Breton's James Sheppard, the Wild's 2006 first-round pick, was named a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League second-team All-Star. Sheppard scored 33 goals and 96 points in 56 games with a plus-39, third-best in the Q.

• Fernandez (sprained knee) and defenseman Petteri Nummelin (groin) have begun skating lightly. Dominic Moore, scratched the past five games, and Adam Hall, scratched the previous two, played. Derek Boogaard and Wyatt Smith were scratched.

• On three empty stalls in the Wild locker room, assistant equipment managers Brent Proulx and Matt Benz have put up nameplates to pay homage to Minnesota hockey legends Herb Brooks, John Mariucci and John Mayasich.

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

Recent Minnesota Wild stories

Devils defeat Senators, improve to 8-0 on road - March 28, 2007

Devils defeat Senators, improve to 8-0 on road - • NEW JERSEY 3, OTTAWA 2: Zach Parise and David Clarkson each had a goal and an assist on the power play, and the Devils rallied to beat the Senators on Saturday night in Ottawa. The Devils are 8-0 away from New Jersey, the second-longest road winning streak to open a season in NHL history. Buffalo started 10-0 on the road in 2006-07. More