Veilleux says hit on Stastny was a fluke

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: April 18, 2008 - 12:29 AM

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Stephane Veilleux prides himself on playing a gritty but clean, honest brand of hockey. He often talks about respect in the game and rails against others for hitting players from behind.

Yet, Tuesday night in Game 4, Veilleux was escorted to the penalty box for boarding Colorado's Paul Stastny, a questionable hit that has gotten him much scrutiny even though the NHL didn't feel it warranted supplemental discipline.

"I never hit like that," Veilleux said. "Sometimes the emotions get carried a little too far. I was just trying to finish my hit. At the same time he turned his body. I just kind of finished my hit.

"Since the beginning of the year, we can see all the hits from behind. Even myself, I was a little bit disappointed with the way I finished my hit. You don't want to hit guys from behind. You always want to hit with your shoulder and make sure you face the play.

"It's one time. It's only one hit. Hopefully it won't happen again."

Veilleux said he knew he had to "face the music" and fight Ian Lapperiere because of the hit on one of the Avs' stars.

"He's a well[-respected] veteran guy since he's been in the league. I respect him," Veilleux said of Lapperiere. "He's been around a long time. He's been fighting a lot tougher guys, but he asked me straight up and I don't have a problem with that.

"He's not going to fight [Derek] Boogaard or those kind of guys. I think they're a little too heavy for him."

In Game 4, Veilleux was penalized seven times for 25 minutes but doesn't think he lost his composure.

"A little frustration," he said. "You're losing 4-0, it gets a little bit out of control, you want to finish your hits and give a little bit more."

Parrish checks in

Mark Parrish had an announcement to make Thursday.

"I'm alive. I'm still living," said Parrish, who sustained a concussion in Game 1. "It's just frustrating watching, not being able to help or having anything to say on the matter. Being injured during the season is hard, but during the playoffs is 18 times harder."

Parrish will miss the rest of the series at a minimum.

"They're just cautious because it's the second [concussion of the season]," Parrish said.

Experience helps Koivu

Center Mikko Koivu, who entered Game 5 with a goal in four consecutive games, said his quality of play has to do with last year's playoff appearance.

"Even though we lost 4-1 [to Anaheim], we still played good hockey and myself, I still did things right," Koivu said. "Right now, [the pucks] just go in. You've got to work hard for chances, and you need a lot of luck."

Koivu, who has a puffy right eye with stitches on the side because of a high stick, has had a running duel with Colorado's Peter Forsberg.

"I play a lot in our end, and obviously he has lots of pucks," Koivu said.

Etc.

• Benoit Pouliot and Erik Reitz made their NHL playoff debuts, dressing instead of Chris Simon and Petteri Nummelin, respectively.

• The NHL announced Saturday's Game 6 in Denver will be at 9 p.m. The league has not announced a starting time for the possible Game 7 Monday at Xcel Energy Center.

• Houston Aeros forward Petr Kalus, acquired in the Manny Fernandez trade, will play for the Czech Republic in the world championships instead of the AHL playoffs. "It's a good opportunity for him to play at a high level with skill players, get confidence and come back better than ever," Wild assistant GM Tom Lynn said.