Gaborik's impact still a key

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune

The Wild's Marian Gaborik, the team's leading goal scorer, has no goals and only three shots after two games in the playoff series against Colorado.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: April 15, 2008 - 2:54 AM

DENVER -- Jacques Lemaire didn't hesitate when asked after Sunday's practice if he felt fortunate that the Wild-Avalanche series stands at 1-1 when Marian Gaborik has yet to get going.

"Yes! Yes!" Lemaire exclaimed.

Two games into the quarterfinals, Gaborik has no points and three shots. He has been smothered by the Avalanche defense, which was supposed to be its weakness.

"There's not a lot of room out there, so I've got to try to create room by skating, by changing my game up a little bit," Gaborik said. "I have to find the room. I have to. There's always an Avs sweater on you. I have to work for [space]."

Lemaire said the Avalanche is doing to Gaborik what the Wild is trying to do to the Peter Forsberg-Paul Stastny-Milan Hejduk and Andrew Brunette-Joe Sakic-Wojtek Wolski lines.

"We do have some results over a few of them, but some of them, they manage to still get the goals," Lemaire said. "Gabby needs to do the same."

Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville has tried to get defensemen Adam Foote and Kurt Sauer out against Gaborik, and the key is always keeping Gaborik in front of them.

"He's a dangerous player, and you've got to make sure your gap is tight on him, be it off the rush or those quick little turnovers in our zone," Quenneville said. "He and [Pavol] Demitra are pretty good at reading and feeding off each other, so I just think you've got to respect them for how dangerous they can be. They don't need much of an opportunity to turn it against you."

Radivojevic on hold

Checking winger Branko Radivojevic wants to play Game 3, but it looks as if he'll be held out tonight.

Radivojevic, who has a "sore leg," according to the team, did not practice Sunday, and Lemaire said he wouldn't play tonight. However, GM Doug Risebrough said the Wild would wait until today to decide.

Radivojevic, who collided with Stastny on Friday and labored the rest of the game, was seen wearing a brace on his right knee.

After Friday's game, Lemaire said Chris Simon would play tonight, intimating he'd play instead of Aaron Voros. But with Radivojevic probably out, it's unclear whether both Simon and Voros will play tonight or if Matt Foy will play instead of Voros.

One for the aged

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 38-year-old Keith Carney's Game 2 overtime winner made him the oldest defenseman in NHL history to score a playoff overtime goal.

"I don't know how I feel about that one," Carney said, laughing. "That might hold up for a few weeks. It's neat to hear. Nice that I'm still hanging around and still playing. That's what that shows."

Carney's goal was his first playoff goal since 1999. Only four active players have gone longer spans without a playoff goal -- Carolina's Glen Wesley hasn't scored since 1994, Philadelphia's Rory Fitzpatrick since 1996, San Jose's Kyle McLaren since 1998 and Calgary's Rhett Warrener since 1999.

Schultz on skates

Defenseman Nick Schultz (appendectomy) did warmup drills at the start of Sunday's practice.

"It's just to get some energy back and see how it feels," Schultz said. "It feels all right. It's a long ways from playing in a game. That's the next step."

Asked if he could see himself returning late in the series, Schultz said: "I'm hoping I could. But I don't know if it's realistic or not. I'm just trying to get healthy again. The operation, the anesthesia takes a toll on you. I've lost some weight, so I don't feel the greatest yet."