Gaborik keeps waiting during search for center

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: September 21, 2007 - 12:55 AM

DETROIT Marian Gaborik finds all the talk about the Wild searching for a linemate to play with he and Pavol Demitra humorous.

"Hopefully I won't have to play all seven [preseason games] for them to find somebody," Gaborik said, smiling, prior to the Wild's 3-2 victory over the Red Wings on Thursday.

Mostly Gaborik says the chatter is funny and the search irrelevant because he knows no matter whom line-scrambling coach Jacques Lemaire finds to play with he and Demitra on the opening shift on Opening Night doesn't mean that player will be there on the second shift.

"There's a lot of guys there, and it's going to change no matter what," Gaborik said, laughing. "For the past seven years I've been here, I've gotten used to it. It's up to [Lemaire], but I always know things are changing."

Gaborik said, however, that he hopes the player found is a center because he believes Demitra must play wing for the Wild to fully capitalize on his offensive ability. Thursday's guinea pig was Dominic Moore, who scored two goals while centering Gaborik and Demitra in a game against Buffalo last season.

"You can't do both [offense and defense] 100 percent [at center]," Gaborik said.

Prior to the season, Gaborik said, "I expected a little bit more," from the Wild when it came to offseason acquisitions.

Other than replacing Todd White with Eric Belanger, the Wild didn't add a center, considered one of the team's weaknesses last season. There were bargain-priced centers such as the super-skilled Viktor Kozlov available.

"It's their team," Gaborik said Thursday. "They feel comfortable about their team and their decisions. Me and Pav are going to play no matter what, and while they try to find [a linemate], we have to play better to help make a good fit."

Power play surges

The Wild got power-play goals from Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns and Brian Rolston during an efficient victory Thursday. Demitra had two assists and Josh Harding made 29 saves.

Of the youngsters available, Lemaire played only James Sheppard, Petr Kalus and Matt Foy, crossing off three other "kids" he planned to play because the Wild was so bad Tuesday in a 6-1 home loss to the Red Wings.

"The team needs to be ready, so I had to get pretty much the regulars to see if we're going to play hard and play with intensity, and that's what we did," Lemaire said.

The Wild got a great game from its blue line, especially Nick Schultz, Kurtis Foster and Kim Johnsson. Johnsson, in particular, rebounded from a poor night Tuesday. Tonight in Chicago, Lemaire said youngsters such as Benoit Pouliot, John Scott, Shawn Belle and Aaron Voros would get chances.

Etc.

• Belanger, who played a strong game, missed the final six minutes after taking a stick to the upper lip. "Stitches, one more tooth lost, so that makes four," Belanger said. "But I'm OK."

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

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