Wild hitting road on low note

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: January 7, 2007 - 7:10 PM

Manny Fernandez was talking about Saturday night's dubious-at-best goaltender interference penalty that wiped Mikko Koivu's second goal off the slate in an eventual shootout loss to Colorado when the Wild goalie suddenly interrupted himself.

"Now, no more sympathy," Fernandez said. "Everybody knows what's waiting for us."

Fernandez was referring to that black cloud that hangs over the organization -- a 10-game road winless streak -- now that its comfy five-game homestand is in the books.

Now, the discomfort begins -- a four-game road trip beginning with three games in daunting western Canada, where the Wild usually struggles.

It starts Tuesday in Calgary, where the Wild usually struggles the most (0-6-1 in southern Alberta since Nov. 7, 2003). And it comes with the Wild, barely clinging to eighth place in the West, having not won on the road since a come-from-behind shootout victory Nov. 16 in Nashville.

"It's time to step it up," Fernandez said. "I think all of us have to look in the mirror and make sure our game is in order to go on the road."

That was the focus immediately after Saturday's game.

"The way we look at it, we got seven points in five home games," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "I'll take that any day. Now our focus better be on the road, and try to change what was happening before. [Marian] Gaborik's back, the team should be better, so it's time to get on the road and start to put some wins together."

Injury was a factor

Gaborik admitted that he had trouble forgetting about his groin injury for the first couple of shifts Saturday, but that quickly subsided.

"Sometimes it was in the back of my mind, but when we got into the game and had some more shifts, I forgot about that," he said.

Gaborik's shot wasn't as accurate. His game wasn't as sharp. But he showed tremendous acceleration and said it won't take long for him to rediscover his game.

Lemaire seems to be contemplating playing Gaborik with Brian Rolston. In the last two games of the homestand, Lemaire said the Rolston-Todd White-Pierre-Marc Bouchard line was "not as good as they were."[Gaborik] would play best with Mikko and [Pavol] Demitra probably ... but that line [with Mark Parrish] was still our best line," Lemaire said. "I've got to wait, or either try him with Rolston on that line maybe."

Etc.

• D Petteri Nummelin, who has missed nine games because of a hip injury, will make the road trip, assistant GM Tom Lynn said.

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

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