Shelley will not back down from Boogaard

Derek Boogaard usually gets the better of him in fights, yet the San Jose Sharks tough guy, who spent five seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, fought Boogaard for a fifth time Wednesday night.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: January 2, 2009 - 1:28 AM

You've got to admire Jody Shelley.

Derek Boogaard usually gets the better of him in fights, yet the San Jose Sharks tough guy, who spent five seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, fought Boogaard for a fifth time Wednesday night.

It's some great video, but on one Boogaard punch, pieces of Shelley's helmet fell to the ice.

"My hand's all right," said a laughing Boogaard, who has fought seven times this season and 43 times in his NHL career. "A fight's a fight. You've got to give him credit. He's been around for a long time. He knows what's going on. Like most of the guys now, they just need one good punch. I think I hold him off pretty well. I don't let him get the real good shot in, which is why I've been successful against him.

"But who knows, maybe next fight, I'll get knocked out or something."

Boogaard also drew a crosschecking penalty from Alexei Semenov that led to Owen Nolan's power-play goal in the Wild's 3-2 overtime victory over San Jose at Xcel Energy Center.

"Those [Sharks] guys were screaming and yelling at me, 'You're diving, you're diving,' " Boogaard said. "I couldn't breathe the whole game. I think [Semenov] knocked a rib out."

Boogaard, who has been frustrated with his ice time -- 4 minutes, 27 seconds a game -- this season, said: "All of us were skating and going. ... It's always good when teams [roll four lines]."

Etc.

• Wild defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron, who has a knee injury, continues to skate on his own. He said he is improving daily but still has trouble stopping and starting, and pivoting.

• Defenseman Marek Zidlicky didn't practice Thursday because he was sick, assistant GM Tom Lynn said.

• The Wild did not name its January captain yet.

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