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Wild security guards: Setting the tone

Bruce Bisping, Dml - Star Tribune

Though limited to 34 games because of a back injury, Derek Boogaard made an impact, as Jody Shelley, then with Columbus, can attest.

Derek Boogaard, Todd Fedoruk and Chris Simon will lurk if anyone in Colorado gets out of line.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: April 8, 2008 - 11:48 PM

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WILD VS. AVALANCHE

First-round, best-of-seven series; *-if necessary

Game 1: 8 p.m. today • Xcel Energy Center • Ch. 45, 830-AM

Game 2: 8 p.m. Friday • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 830-AM

Game 3: 9 p.m. Monday • Pepsi Center, Denver • Ch. 45, 830-AM

Game 4: 9 p.m. Tuesday • Pepsi Center, Denver • FSN, 830-AM

*Game 5: 8 p.m. April 17 • Xcel Energy Center • Ch. 45, 830-AM

*Game 6: TBA, April 19 • Pepsi Center, Denver • FSN, 830-AM

*Game 7: TBA, April 22 • Xcel Energy Center • Ch. 45, 830-AM

MORE ON THE SERIES

Scouting the Wild

Scouting the Avs

Who to watch on the Wild

Who to watch on the Avs

The Wild-Avalanche season series

First-round series-by-series glance

During a break in the Wild's final regular-season home game, players took turns thanking the fans for another sold-out season on the big, overhead scoreboard. At one point, Derek Boogaard, Chris Simon and Todd Fedoruk -- the Wild's security detail -- took a turn. As they finished, the newest member of the brute squad was introduced: Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

Laughs all around.

But seriously: You think it's a coincidence that in the final 10 days of the regular season, Bouchard and Marian Gaborik each picked up his first fighting major?

You almost could see Fedoruk flashing that toothless grin. The Wild decided to get tougher this season, which is why Boogaard was joined by Fedoruk (via waivers Nov. 22) and Simon (Feb. 26 trade). Together, their size has created more room on the ice for the Wild's skill to show. The veteran leadership of Fedoruk and Simon had been apparent as they have settled into their roles.

But apparently their toughness has trickled down to the entire roster.

"That's what's so cool," Fedoruk said. "You can see the whole team respond to it. The whole team is tougher."

Team toughness, it matters.

"Having those guys in the lineup, it's been a lot calmer," forward Brian Rolston said. "Teams don't take liberty against our skill players. I think it's very important we do it in controlled ways. We need to be physical in this series, but we need to do it without taking penalties."

Indeed, the muscle might have been more important had the Wild faced Calgary in the first round instead of Colorado. But Wild skill players likely will see more open ice as a result of the team's rugged complement of tough guys.

"They know someone is looking over their shoulder, watching out for them," Simon said. "Maybe that makes them a little bigger."

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