A 'storm' threatening to scuttle the good ship Wild

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: February 25, 2008 - 12:18 AM

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Wild coach Jacques Lemaire saw "a storm" coming and couldn't stop it.

Maybe Lemaire couldn't forecast exactly that it would take the Wild, now second in the Northwest Division, one week to blow its six-point division lead, but he saw the signals two weeks ago, when the Wild won four consecutive games via overtime/shootouts and was blowing one- and two-goal leads as habit

"I don't like that," Lemaire said. "We've been doing this, and the last three games, we're paying for it. That's how it works. Sports is like that. You're going to pay someday. It's like a storm. You see it coming."

The Wild might have outplayed Calgary during Sunday's 2-1 loss, but Lemaire said he felt that effort could have been greater by some, which has been the trend lately.

"You look tonight, we could get a better effort from different guys," Lemaire said. "That could have made the difference. ... Games like this, if everyone's there, we'll win it."

Asked if the loose attitude displayed early in the week was a sign that Wild players felt they had a stranglehold on the division, Lemaire said, "They probably feel that the team doesn't need me at my best tonight. I could be 80 percent. But if you're 80, and he's 75 and he's 80, that's a lot of percentage missing at the end.

"I feel they have to think it's even more important than they think -- even more. I know they're thinking it's important. But I want them to think it's even more important than that -- how to get ready for games, and how to play at their best."

Carney honored

Before Sunday's game, the Wild's Keith Carney, 38, was honored for becoming the 29th American and 14th active defenseman to skate in 1,000 games.

NHL executive Jim Gregory presented Carney with a Tiffany Crystal, Wild owner Bob Naegele presented Carney with the traditional 1,000-game silver stick and Wild captain Nick Schultz gave Carney a watch, a gift from his teammates.

Trainers wore Keith Carney "1,000-game" T-shirts, as did Carney's teammates under their sweaters. Carney's parents, wife and four children attended the game.

"As a young player, you're just trying to make it in this league and trying to figure out how to play this game and how to stick," said Carney, a career plus-166, which is fourth among active blue-liners. "You never think about how long it could possibly last. It's certainly been a lot of fun. It's gone by very quick."

Etc.

• With the Wild slipping in the standings and close to being out of the top eight, Lemaire was asked if he believes GM Doug Risebrough needs to make a move before Tuesday's 2 p.m. trade deadline: "I want to get these guys to win. I want to get these guys to play at their best. That's what I'm looking for."

Wild Director of Pro Scouting Blair MacKasey and pro scout Jamie Hislop are in the Twin Cities so that they can be attached to Risebrough's hip until the deadline passes.

• Maybe a sign that the Wild continues to be interested in Florida Panthers center Olli Jokinen? Panthers scout Phil Myre took in Sunday's game. Myre is the fourth Panthers scout to attend five of the past six Wild games.

• Calgary's Alex Tanguay, also reportedly on the trading block, sustained a neck-burner in the first period after he was checked by Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster. Tanguay didn't return.