Fourth line is becoming indispensable to Lemaire

Scott A. Schneider, GETTY/AFP - Getty Images

James Sheppard was greeted by Todd Fedoruk after Sheppard scored a second-period goal Sunday that proved to be the winner in a 4-1 victory over Phoenix. Sheppard, Fedoruk and Matt Foy have played well together on the Wild’s fourth line.

Todd Fedoruk, James Sheppard and Matt Foy have played well together of late, and Jacques Lemaire intends to keep them intact.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: January 14, 2008 - 11:53 PM

It has been a long time since Jacques Lemaire felt comfortable enough to roll four lines, but it has also been a long time since the Wild coach has had such confidence in his fourth line.

During the Wild's three-game winning streak, the Todd Fedoruk-James Sheppard-Matt Foy line has combined for four goals and 10 points, including a Sheppard-from-Foy-and-Fedoruk winner Sunday against Phoenix.

"The line, we're flying on all cylinders, confidence and everything," said Fedoruk, who was claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Thanksgiving and is a plus-7 in the past three games. "Coaches have confidence in us and we're playing well with each other and talking.

"Any time the third or fourth line, which are usually defensive-minded lines, can chip in offensively, it's an added bonus. It takes a little pressure off the top couple lines. To be a good team, four lines producing is a nice thing to have."

Lemaire is so pleased with the trio, he says it will be difficult for right wing Branko Radivojevic and left wing Derek Boogaard to crack the lineup.

Radivojevic missed Friday's game at Chicago because of a stiff neck. He is healthy again but couldn't squeeze back in Sunday. Boogaard, still on injured reserve, is close to returning from a back injury, and a roster spot was opened Monday when defenseman Sean Hill, who has a sprained ankle, was placed on injured reserve. Hill will miss at least the next two home games.

"The way [the fourth liners] are playing, I can't take them out of the lineup right now," Lemaire said. "I'd have to find someone else and there's nobody at this time because everyone, we're pretty pleased the way they're playing.

"So I guess [Radivojevic and Boogaard] will have to wait."

Fedoruk, Sheppard and Foy aren't just contributing offensively. They have been strong defensively, so much so that Lemaire even spotted them Sunday against Phoenix's top line, which includes Coyotes captain Shane Doan.

Sheppard, 19, was stunned after Sunday's game when Lemaire waited for the three to leave the ice.

"Jacques will talk to you if needed, but he's not a guy that talks a whole lot to you individually," said Sheppard, the Wild's 2006 first-round pick. "So to come off the ice and for him to say, 'You guys played well,' that really means something special.

"Fridge [Fedoruk] has been around, but Foyzie and I are just entering the NHL scene. For Jacques to be confident in us and play us against bigger lines and toward the end of periods and games, it's great. We just want to keep it going."

Gaborik 'first star' again

For the second time in four weeks, Wild right wing Marian Gaborik was named the NHL's first star of the week.

Last week, Gaborik had four goals, four assists and a shootout winner and was a plus-9.

"I appreciate this award," Gaborik said. "It usually happens when we're winning, and that's the most important thing."

Gaborik is third in the Western Conference with 25 goals and seventh in the West with 47 points, well on pace to break his career highs of 38 goals and 67 points.

In his past 30 games, Gaborik has scored 24 goals and 39 points. He leads the Wild with 11 multi-point games and five multi-goal games.

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