Skoula sits as illness strikes again

Defenseman Martin Skoula is the latest to go down.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: January 8, 2009 - 11:40 PM

PHILADELPHIA — The Wild is trying to beat a nasty stomach virus that is working its way through the team.

The latest Wild player to be toppled by the bug -- which also claimed Marek Zidlicky, Stephane Veilleux and assistant coach Mike Ramsey -- is defenseman Martin Skoula.

"It's that time of year," coach Jacques Lemaire said.

Thursday against the Flyers, Skoula, 29, missed only his sixth game in his nine-year career with an injury or illness. It was his first "non-healthy" scratch in his four seasons with the Wild.

Since the 1999-2000 season, Skoula's 682 games are more than any other defenseman in the NHL (Nicklas Lidstrom 677 and Sean O'Donnell 670).

The sickness forced Brent Burns, Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz and Zidlicky to play big minutes in Thursday's 3-1 loss to Philadelphia.

"We're all in great shape," said Burns, who played a game-high 30 minutes, 3 seconds.

"Tremendous athletes," quipped Johnsson.

Continuing where Johnsson left off, Burns joked: "When you're as smart as us and in as great a shape as us, we're like optimal athletes. We don't get tired and we're sharp always.

"In all honesty, it's easier for most guys when you play more. It's easier to get in the flow when you're constantly going out. I don't think you have time to think that you're tired."

Andrew Brunette, the NHL's active Iron Man leader with 493 consecutive games in a row, joked he was chowing down Vitamin C.

Skoula's absence meant Lemaire had to use 26-year-old rookie defensemen -- John Scott and Erik Reitz.

Scott played nine minutes, Reitz seven. Bemoaning having to play the rookies Thursday morning, Lemaire tossed another indictment toward Reitz, interrupting himself and saying: "You know what? Scott is not bad. I like what he does."

Scott played only his fourth NHL game, playing over Reitz the previous two games.

Burns' return to D sparks team

Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough said the return of Burns to the blue line has been one of the big reasons for the "resurgence of the team."

"I don't envision ever seeing him at forward on a consistent basis because of the value he adds on defense," Risebrough said.

Veteran Owen Nolan didn't realize how good Burns was until he got to Minnesota.

"I wish I had his energy," Nolan said, laughing. "It's infectious. He's a great player and he's got a good, long career ahead of him."

For the past six games, Burns has been paired mostly with Schultz.

"I feel bad for Schultzie because he's got to read off me," Burns said, laughing.

Responded Schultz, "No kidding. It's like, 'Burnzie! You a forward or a D this shift?' "

Scott gets a little revenge

Scott, who stands 6-8, tried to fight Philly's Josh Gratton, but he let Scott drop his gloves before skating away. Both got unsportsmanlike minors.

"I've fought him in the AHL. He asked me to go, I said, 'All right,' and he does that?" Scott said. ''He kind of rats around."

Scott got Gratton back with a colossal hit in the third period.

"I looked out for him the whole game trying to catch him, and I finally got him there," Scott said. "It felt good to hit him."