Lackluster play makes Parrish the odd man out

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - Maybe for the first time in his career, Mark Parrish doesn't know how to say what's on his mind.

Parrish, one of the NHL's funniest, most quotable figures for the past 10 years, was almost completely at a loss for words Sunday when trying to explain how it got to the point where Wild coach Jacques Lemaire says "he's not among the 20 players."

Had Parrish bit his tongue any harder, he would have severed it.

"Uh, I mean ... aahhh, hmmm ... I don't know what to say," he said before answering most questions. "I feel bad because I don't have answers. I feel bad because I don't have any good one-liners.

"I want to play, but I can't control that. All I can control is my efforts, my actions, my attitude."

Parrish, 31, has gone from getting fourth-line minutes to being a healthy scratch in three of the past eight games.

And Parrish, a five-time 20-goal scorer and one-time 30-goal scorer, might fall further on Lemaire's totem pole when Eric Belanger, who has missed seven games because of a broken toe, returns tonight or Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Lemaire made it sound like Belanger would play tonight, but that was news to Belanger, who said he feels he needs more practice to get his "wind" back. "I was aiming more for Wednesday," he said.

Belanger is a center, so to create room, Pavol Demitra will likely move back to wing because rookie Benoit Pouliot has played well. That means one more wing would have to come out of a lineup that Parrish already hasn't been in the past two games.

"Never mind where it puts [Parrish when Belanger returns]," Lemaire said, bristling. "If he's the 20th or the 21st or 22nd or 23rd player, never mind that. Right now he's not among the 20 players."

Parrish, tied for third with 15 goals in 62 games, has scored once in his past 21 games. He's battled injuries, but he looks to be fighting it now, showing frustration during a recent power play against Colorado in which he couldn't convert on two chances in front of the net.

GM Doug Risebrough said earlier this month that Parrish, in Year 2 of a five-year, $13.25 million deal, is missing "a step" and "behind in the play." Lemaire said he's "not working hard enough." This is quite the fall for a player who was the Wild's captain last February, March and April.

This is a torturous experience for Parrish, especially since the public criticism and benchings are coming in his hometown. He starred at Bloomington Jefferson High School and St. Cloud State.

"I just don't know what to do or say. It's playoff time. It's crunch time. I don't want to be a distraction," Parrish said. "The only thing I care about is the team winning and these guys in the locker room. The last thing I want is to be viewed as a distraction or negative thing. I want to cheer these guys on."

If Belanger doesn't play, there is a chance Parrish plays tonight. His four goals against Edmonton this season are the most on the Wild, and dressing all three bruisers -- Derek Boogaard, Todd Fedoruk and Chris Simon -- doesn't seem necessary against the Oilers.

"The guys that we feel will play the best, will help the team the most, they're the ones that are going to play," Lemaire said.

As for Belanger, he surprised everyone by greeting the team in Calgary on Saturday. He was supposed to be out four weeks, "but it's been only two. I feel really good, but I need a couple more days of practice."

Belanger's toe is still a tad swollen, but he was finally able to fit into his skate with some extra padding. He tried putting Kevlar protection on the outside of the boot, but it touched the ice every time he turned.

Vibration during stops and starts has been a problem, but Sunday, "I was jumping pretty good," he said.

Lemaire said the Wild misses Belanger, sixth on the team with 36 points.

"Good defensively, can make plays, get points and make other people score," Lemaire said. "He's a guy you can rely on."