Work finally starts to pay off as Moore gains coach's trust

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: December 29, 2007 - 8:58 PM

It's taken nearly a full year, but it appears center Dominic Moore has earned Wild coach Jacques Lemaire's unqualified trust.

Proof?

Take the Wild's 30-minute team meeting the other day before the game in Phoenix. The Wild had lost 8-3 to Dallas the night before, so you can imagine that meeting wasn't a barrel of laughs.

During the meeting Lemaire used clips from the Dallas game to make his point about work ethic. His prime example? The line of Moore, Stephane Veilleux and Branko Radivojevic and the work they displayed throughout that loss.

"It is fun to be a part of that line,'' Moore said Saturday before the game. "I think we've done a good job of giving consistent effort, every night, which is something the coaches identify with.''

Moore has clearly played himself into a solid role with the Wild, after coming to Minnesota in a trade in February. He didn't play a lot at the end of last season. He had a strong training camp last fall, then suffered an abdominal injury early in the season.

He returned to action shortly after Mikko Koivu's injury and has played in every game since.

Now Moore has the most clearly defined -- and consistent -- role he has had since joining the team. His line usually goes up against the other team's top scoring line.

"It's been one of those things where both of us have tried to develop our understanding [of each other],'' Moore said of Lemaire. "It's my understanding what he wants, and that's an ongoing thing that will continue to get better. But I'm happy with how it's going. I think [Lemaire] knows what to expect from me. It's a trust thing, and that's been good.''

Mr. Versatility

Aaron Voros played in his 23rd game Saturday. In his time with the Wild he has been amazingly versatile in terms of the lines he's skated with.

And this is even considering Lemaire's line-switching mentality.

Voros, a good-sized, rugged player, has been put on a checking line and asked to do some plumbing. He has been matched with other hard forecheckers and asked to dig. And, more lately, he has been on a line with the super-skilled Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik.

"He's a big kid, and he works,'' Lemaire said. "He goes in front of the net, he's decent with the puck. Any line you put him on, there is a chance there will be success.''

Voros had seven goals and 13 points in his first 22 games. He had a goal and four points in the four games before Saturday.

Voros will admit that there is not much flash to his game. But still, he has to adjust what he does depending on what line he's playing on. When he's on a checking line, when he gets the puck his first job is to chip it into the offensive zone and go get it.

"It's more of a dump and chase and get dirty deal,'' Voros said.

But when he's skating with Demitra and Gaborik? Any time he touches the puck he tries to get it to a linemate right away. Then he heads straight for the net. Then his job becomes creating enough havoc for others to score, or looking for rebounds.

So far so good.

"The production has surprised me a little bit,'' Voros admitted. "Not that I didn't have faith in myself, but I think a lot of people would be happy with the start of an NHL career, 20-some games in, to have that kind of production. It's kind of exciting. But points and scoring are just a bonus to the way I play. I think I could play a game without registering a point and still be effective.''

Etc.

• Referee Wes McCauley had his equipment lost in transit to the Twin Cities. That meant the Wild equipment crew had to outfit McCauley with all of it -- skates, pads, jersey and a helmet.

• Wild scratches Saturday were defensemen Keith Carney and Kurtis Foster and winger Matt Foy.

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