Wild notes: Hasek slide sends Gaborik flying

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: December 7, 2007 - 11:11 PM

DETROIT - Get ready to see Marian Gaborik somersaulting over Dominik Hasek during NHL Jumbotron gag reels for eternity.

With less than three minutes left in the Detroit Red Wings' 5-0 win over the Wild, Gaborik was sent flying dangerously over Hasek after the goaltender, trying to protect the shutout, skated 40 feet out of his net to meet Gaborik on a breakaway.

Hasek has done this for years. This time, replays indicate Hasek didn't lead with his stick in an attempt for the puck. He flung his body sideways along the ice and Gaborik, having his legs taken out, nearly landed on his neck.

"I think he goes for the man at that point," Lemaire said. "He surprises the guy, and it's a dangerous play."

Gaborik was shocked, saying, "I could have ended up on my head. It's 5-0, first of all. I didn't expect him to do that at all. I saw him last second. I know he does it sometimes, but not even in 100 years I would think he would do that."

Hasek received a two-minute minor for tripping. Lemaire felt he deserved an attempt-to-injure match penalty.

Hasek disagreed, saying, "I know it was a dangerous play, but it also was a little bit his fault because he never looked up. All the time his head was down and I got him straight. It's just a play you do. But I'm glad he's OK."

Demitra misses Koivu

Maybe the player most affected by Mikko Koivu's leg injury and Wes Walz's retirement is Pavol Demitra.

Demitra dislikes playing center in the Wild system because he has to stay above the faceoff circles in the offensive zone.

"I like to play behind the net. That's my game. I like to set up guys," Demitra said. "Now I have to worry about more defense. I like to forecheck and make plays. With this system we're playing here, I like better to play wing."

Demitra, at center, has no even-strength points in five games since returning from a groin injury.

Wild coaches have begged Demitra to shoot more. In 15 games, he's registered 22 shots (1.4 a game), not enough for a player who's scored more than 20 goals in nine consecutive seasons.

"We even try to use this to make him understand he's got to shoot," said Lemaire, picking up a drill. Demitra said he's looking to shoot more but remains a playmaker first.

"I like to more pass than shoot," said Demitra, a three-time 30-goal scorer who has also topped 50 assists twice. "I should be maybe a little bit more selfish sometimes. Most the time I'm looking for nice empty-net goals when I've got a chance to shoot it.

"If I got a good shot and I'm in the right position, I shoot it. But sometimes I'm looking a little more for [Gaborik]. But that's my game. I always like to pass before I shoot."

Etc.

• Wild left winger Todd Fedoruk has one of the league's most notorious nicknames: Fridge.

Asked why, Fedoruk said, "My body type. When I was a rookie, I was a chubbier player. The name kind of stuck. My hips are the same width as my shoulders.

"It's weird when people don't call me Fridge. I don't like people calling me Todd, unless it's my wife."

• Mark Parrish and Kurtis Foster returned from injuries Friday.