Players might catch break with clinch

Last update: April 2, 2008 - 12:09 AM

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Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said after practice Tuesday that he would consider easing up on some of his players should they clinch the division title before the season finale Sunday.

The Wild could have clinched Tuesday had Calgary and Colorado both lost, but the Flames made that moot by beating Edmonton 3-2. The Wild can clinch the division by beating Calgary on Thursday or winning at Colorado on Sunday.

"I will, first of all, talk to people I work with," Lemaire said. "And we'll make a decision. But I might, though. Maybe it would be a good opportunity to give a player a game [off]. We'll see. We'll talk about it."

The other possibility is that Lemaire could give the team more optional practices.

Lemaire scratched veteran Brian Rolston for a meaningless regular-season finale last season to give him some rest. Rolston, Pavol Demitra and defenseman Kim Johnsson -- who has been playing some big minutes -- would be candidates for some time off should the Wild win Thursday.

Etc.

• After a day off Monday, Lemaire ran the players through a brisk, 45-minute workout Tuesday, much of which was spent in a scrimmage situation. "They were very intense this morning," he said. "They felt pretty good today. They felt like working, like having fun. When you can join the fun and the work, that's the most you can get."

KENT YOUNGBLOOD

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