Thin blueline faces big task

Bruce Bisping, Mct

The Minnesota Wild's Brent Burns (8) and Colorado Avalanche's Wojteck Wolski tangle in the corner during first period action in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cuip playoffs at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Wednesday.

Playing extended minutes is only part of the challenge the Wild's injury-riddled defensive corps faces. It also must adjust to playing different roles.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: April 11, 2008 - 5:29 AM

After Wednesday's overtime loss to Colorado in Game 1 off the Western Conference quarterfinals, Wild defenseman Kim Johnsson claimed he could play more than the nearly 33 minutes he had just played.

Thursday, after taking part in an optional practice, Brent Burns said his legs felt good. This after logging nearly 31 minutes the night before. "I would hope we're all in pretty good shape," he said. "We should be able to handle it."

Nobody said making do without Nick Schultz and Kurtis Foster would be easy. But now everybody is getting an idea just how difficult it will be to make do without the two defensemen, who are out following an appendectomy and broken femur, respectively.

And it's not only the minutes that had to be absorbed. Johnsson and Burns were over 30, Martin Skoula played nearly 27. Petteri Nummelin, in his second game back after a succession of scratches, played almost 22.

No, it was what happened when coach Jacques Lemaire had to give them rest. Or, when one of them was in the penalty box.

For example: With Burns and Colorado's Peter Forsberg both off the ice early in the second period and the two teams skating four-on-four, Lemaire had to put 38-year-old Keith Carney on the ice for a 4-on-4, something that normally wouldn't happen. The result was a goal and a 1-0 Colorado lead.

Or take the overtime, 11 minutes in. When the Avalanche scored the game-winner, the defensemen on the ice were Nummelin and Skoula. Nummelin still was working off the rust of having missed 15 consecutive games down the stretch of the season. And he was paired with Skoula, who showed he was tired by following a quality regulation with two overtime turnovers in his own end.

After practice Lemaire said those big minutes aren't going to change. "Why not?" he said. "There are other defensemen in the league that do it."

But even Lemaire admitted that his blue line was sagging at the end of regulation.

And the situation might get worse. Ruslan Salei's shot in overtime hit Skoula's left leg just before Joe Sakic's game-winner. Skoula is listed as possible for tonight's Game 2.

Lemaire said it will be up to Carney and Sean Hill to play better to earn more minutes. The more effectively they play, Lemaire said, the more he'll be able to manage the minutes. On Wednesday, Carney played 14 minutes, 29 seconds while Hill was limited to 8:36 overall -- less than Derek Boogaard -- and only 5:37 in regulation.

"You have to be careful," Lemaire said. "It's how the player will play. ... [Hill and Carney] won't play 25, 26 minutes. But they can play 15, 18 minutes. We're OK now."

As long as Skoula can play tonight.

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