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Home | Sports | Minnesota Wild

Schultz says Avs' Tucker threatened his knees

The Wild's Nick Schultz said Colorado's Darcy Tucker followed through with a threat of taking out his knees.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: November 7, 2008 - 8:45 AM

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DENVER — According to Wild defenseman Nick Schultz, Colorado Avalanche forward Darcy Tucker, who has earned a reputation of dishing dirty hits, threatened him late in the second period Thursday night and followed through with the warning.

Six-and-a-half minutes into the third period of the Wild's 3-1 victory, Tucker was called for clipping after he went for a low-bridge hit aimed at Schultz's knees. An angry Schultz drew a roughing penalty in retaliation.

"My concern is at the end of the second, he tells me he's going to come and take out my knees, and then he actually does it," said Schultz, who got into a verbal exchange after a physical exchange late in the second. "It says everything you need to know about that guy.

"In the game right now, we're lacking respect for each other and to go and do something like that I think is not respecting one of the guys you're playing against.

"He's been that type of player his whole career, and you don't need that in the game. It's something we're trying to get away from -- hits to the head and taking out guys' knees. It's just a gutless play."

When the Star Tribune sought reaction from Tucker after the game, he had finished his media availability and couldn't be found.

Tucker has a history of low hits, the most infamous when he took out Michael Peca's knees during the 2002 playoffs. Peca tore both his medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments.

With Tucker in the Western Conference for the first time in his career, and in particular the Northwest Division, the Wild will see him six times a season.

"That's fine," Schultz said. "If he's going to be stupid and do stuff like that, hopefully we can take advantage of it and get power plays."

Seeking right mix for Bouchard

Jacques Lemaire is struggling to find Brian Rolston's replacement for Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

For three seasons, Rolston, now in New Jersey, was stapled on Bouchard's left wing. Rolston was rarely if ever injured, so the two built a special chemistry.

But Bouchard, who had a franchise-record 50 assists last season, has three in nine games this season, although he ended a five-game pointless streak with a first-period goal Thursday.

The Wild envisioned Owen Nolan to be Rolston's replacement, but Nolan has missed seven games because of a leg injury.

Lemaire said Nolan's health -- he's on injured reserve -- is critical to Bouchard's success.

"These games would have been huge for them because they were learning from each other and the chemistry was not perfect," Lemaire said. "It was not at its best yet, so they need to play and play together."

But Lemaire said it's essential Bouchard alters his game and attacks the net more because finding him a finisher could be a seasonlong quest.

"Butch has to change his game," Lemaire said. "His game was focused on Roli and giving him the puck and trying to get Roli open by holding onto the puck as much as possible. Butch has to attack more now, drive at the net and do things differently. He's trying to do it."

Bouchard admits he misses Rolston but said, "You can't live in the past. You've got to move on. There are news guys on the team and new linemates, and that's just the way it goes."

Etc.

• Defenseman Brent Burns, who missed his third game because of an "upper body" injury, was sent back to Minnesota on Thursday to rest and get treatment with the hope of "getting him ready for next week," the team said.

• Rookie forward Colton Gillies was scratched.

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