Right selection results in victory

Petteri Nummelin appeared to be a curious choice to go against Roberto Luongo early in a shootout. But the defenseman's backhand move improved the Wild to 3-0.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: October 11, 2006 - 12:26 AM

Mario Tremblay said Kim Johnsson. Mike Ramsey said Petteri Nummelin.

"Then I was really mixed up," Jacques Lemaire said of the conflicting advisement from his assistants.

With three rounds in the books and Marian Gaborik still in his armory, the Wild coach opted to go with Nummelin, a 33-year-old defenseman making an NHL comeback, during what turned into a sudden-death shootout Tuesday night with the Vancouver Canucks.

The smooth-skating, gifted blue-liner made the peculiar decision a brilliant one, as Nummelin lifted a backhand over star goalie Roberto Luongo as the Wild remained one of five unbeaten teams with its 2-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center.

Lemaire said he chose Nummelin over Johnsson, another defenseman, because "Nummelin was standing and looking at me. He had the big smile. I guess he wanted to go."

One season after losing 28 one-goal games and being haunted constantly by opponents stringing together late-game dramatics, the Wild is suddenly 3-for-3 in one-goal games.

Thursday against Colorado, Todd White won it in overtime. Saturday against Nashville, Brian Rolston scored with 71 seconds left. And Tuesday, Rolston's tying third-period goal enabled Pavol Demitra, Mikko Koivu and Nummelin to win it in a shootout behind a strong bounce-back game from Manny Fernandez.

"That's the way we're going to have to win hockey games," Rolston said of the late-game dramatics. "That's being a veteran team. And when you win those, you gain confidence. It may be unbelievable because of years past, but we have to be a third-period team."

In a game in which Vancouver tried to slow the home team by turning center ice into a cobweb the way the Wild used to do it, Rolston spoiled Luongo's shutout bid 8 minutes, 27 seconds into the third period when his centering feed on a power play intended for Demitra ricocheted underneath Luongo off the right skate of Canucks defenseman Lukas Krajicek.

"I was on the radio between the second and third and I said that we're going to have to get an ugly goal, and we did," Rolston said.

Vancouver captain Markus Naslund scored first in the shootout, but Demitra answered. Fernandez denied Daniel Sedin before Koivu scored on his signature side-to-side deke and backhand. Brendan Morrison tied it before Lemaire went with Nummelin.

"I was so nervous," Nummelin said. "I just made a move and hopefully it would go in."

Lemaire decided against Gaborik because he was 0-for-6 last year in shootouts.

"He didn't do well last year," Lemaire said.

In the meantime, Fernandez dueled Luongo all night. Luongo stopped 35 shots, Fernandez 30.

"If it wouldn't be for him, the game would have been out of reach," Fernandez said.

Lemaire felt Fernandez was "more lively, more into it," after being pulled Saturday against Nashville following three first-period goals.

"I was nervous about tonight," Fernandez said. "Whenever you get pulled one game, you definitely have to come out strong. I couldn't tell you that I got any sleep last night."

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com