Method to Koivu's circle logic

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: March 30, 2008 - 11:52 PM

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As the saying goes, if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. And that especially goes in the faceoff circle.

If you've noticed, the Wild's Mikko Koivu has been caught cheating a lot lately, booted out of the faceoff circle by linesmen a handful of times per game for not following strict faceoff guidelines.

Of course, Koivu has been on fire in the circle, winning 113 of 185 draws (.610) in the past nine games (10-for-14 in Sunday's 3-2 OT victory over Colorado), so he knows what he's doing.

"It's all timing, and in the neutral zone or offensive zone, you can take more risks to try to win them, like using my body, when I pull my stick or stuff like that," Koivu said. "But I try not to get kicked out in the defensive zone [when possession's so important]."

On the penalty kill, if there's not another center on the ice, Koivu said: "I try to be real careful. But if I'm playing with [Brian Rolston], I know he can take it if I get [tossed], so I'll try to take a risk."

In the NHL, the visiting team has eight seconds to make a line change, the home team gets five. After, the linesman blows his whistle and centers have five seconds to get ready.

The attacking team sets up first, but the visiting center must put his stick on the ice first, followed by the home center. Their skates must be touching the faceoff lines.

There are three occasions on which a center will be booted: 1) If there's movement into the faceoff circle by one of the wingers; 2) If the center's not in position with his skates on the lines and stick making contact with the ice; 3) If the center makes contact with the opponent before the puck hits the ice.

Because possession is so critical, Koivu tries to get as much of an edge as possible.

"It's just trying to take risks to get the puck first," he said.

A steal at $13 million

Rolston says the Wild's playoff hopes are tremendous if Koivu's healthy.

"As long as we keep him fresh, we'll be all set. I mean that," Rolston said. "He's been that dominant, as far as I'm concerned. He's been fantastic, both ends of the ice.

"You can't put a price on that. For what they signed him for [four years, $13 million], it's a steal. Look at all the 10-year deals and the money they're getting. Well, this guy is the real deal."

After Sunday's victory, a game in which Rolston and Koivu spent almost the entire night in the offensive zone with wingers Branko Radivojevic or Pierre-Marc Bouchard, coach Jacques Lemaire echoed Rolston, saying: "Mikko is back. He's so powerful in the defensive zone and offensively strong on the puck, it helps the wingers big-time."

Etc.

• Defenseman Kim Johnsson is turning into a 30-minute-a-game guy recently. He came 15 seconds short Sunday.

"Like [assistant coach Mario Tremblay] told me, 'He's got good legs,' but I said, 'Don't take it away,' " Lemaire said.

Told the Wild has three days off until it next plays, Lemaire said, "That's exactly what Mario told me: 'He can rest.' "

• Mark Parrish, scratched in three of the past five games, returned Sunday and logged 15 minutes. Rookie James Sheppard, scratched Friday against Vancouver, also returned. Chris Simon and Benoit Pouliot were scratched.

• Avs center Peter Forsberg missed the game because of a "groin" injury, although it has been reported that his congenital foot problems are acting up.

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