Banged-up Beauchemin uncertain he will play

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin is becoming the personification of playoff hockey.

By Jim Souhan and Michael Russo, Star Tribune s taff w riters

Last update: April 18, 2007 - 9:11 PM

ANAHEIM, CALIF. - Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin is becoming the personification of playoff hockey.

In Game 3, Beauchemin got hit by a puck. He missed Game 4 because of one missing tooth, a few loose teeth, a badly swollen jaw featuring a bunch of stitches, and a fever.

So, of course, he's hoping to play in Game 5 tonight. He skated in the Ducks' practice on Wednesday at Honda Center, wearing a helmet featuring a full-length face protector, but sounded worried about his chances to play.

"I'll skate in the morning," he said, "and see how I feel."

Beauchemin spoke in the Ducks locker room, wearing salve on his cut. "It's still pretty sore," he said.

He has been restricted to soft foods.

"I wanted to play in Game 4, but I was still pretty sore," said Beauchemin, who has a team-high two goals in the series. "There was no sense to go out there and get hurt maybe more. I guess the big thing is I've got to rest. The big part is the swelling. I thought it would be better today than it was yesterday, but it hasn't been."

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said, "He'll be a decision [today]."

Wild center Todd White also has a fat lip after losing some front teeth in Game 4. He was high-sticked by Kent Huskins' stick after Huskins was hit by the Wild's Brent Burns on White's first shift.

No decision in Ducks goal

Carlyle wouldn't say whether Ilya Bryzgalov or Jean-Sebastien Giguere would start in goal tonight. Carlyle pulled Bryzgalov from Tuesday's game and inserted Giguere after Mark Parrish scored the Wild's fourth goal at 10 minutes, 44 seconds of the third period.

Giguere stopped the four shots he saw in his first action since March 31, although Martin Skoula's shot that beat Giguere was disallowed because of a skate in the crease.

"I think [Bryzgalov] gave us a chance," said Carlyle, adding he felt Bryzgalov should have stopped Marian Gaborik's jam power-play goal, which was the winner.

Calls miff Pronger

Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger is upset the Wild has had 18 power plays in the past three games, on which it has scored only twice.

"The Wild have been whining all series to the referees, and the last three games they got the bulk of the power plays," Pronger said. "That probably needs to change."

Enforcer and playmaker

White skated on a line with Derek Boogaard and Pierre-Marc Bouchard in Wednesday's practice. That's the same compilation that teamed to set up Bouchard's tying goal in the second period Tuesday.

"Wes [Walz] told me today, 'It took all year for you to figure that out,' " Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said, laughing.

Asked about Boogaard's playmaking skills -- the enforcer sent a pretty pass from the corner to the slot for Bouchard -- Lemaire said, laughing, "I've seen that pass, but not on the stick."

Etc.

• The Wild's victory Tuesday had an 8.7 rating and 15 share on KSTC (Ch. 45), the highest local rating of the series to date. The 8.7 number means 146,021 households watched the game.

• The Wild is 7-1 all-time in elimination games and 6-0 in Games 5, 6 and 7. Its only loss was in Game 4 against Anaheim in the 2003 Western Conference finals.

Staff writer Judd Zulgad contributed to this report.

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