Richards' expectations rise for Sheppard, Pouliot

Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

James Sheppard

Todd Richards wants more out of his young forwards.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: October 27, 2009 - 7:37 AM

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CHICAGO - Wild coach Todd Richards was expecting a much more motivated game from youngsters James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot on Monday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Sheppard, 21, and Pouliot, 23, were each scratched in Saturday's overtime victory over Carolina, and Richards laid out the expectations he has for each before Monday's game.

"We're not expecting them to go into games and score two, three goals," Richards said. "But they possess some qualities. They have some assets. They're both big, strong guys and they can skate. They have to do that every night.

"This is the first time I've really had a serious look at both of them. From what I've heard about both of them in the past, I think Pouliot is doing some things that are probably better than he was doing last year.

"But when he goes into corners, he can't be turning away from bodies. He's got to go in and he's got to finish. And Shep's got to do the same thing. And they both have to go to the net hard and then they've got to battle and compete once they get there."

After Monday's 3-1 loss, Sheppard still had no points, now in 10 games. Pouliot has one goal and one assist in nine games.

"My points have not been there, but I still think I'm playing all right. I'm moving my feet," Sheppard said. "Was it a position I want to be in? Definitely not. But it gives me a chance to react and make a positive from a negative.

"He wants more, and I want more of myself. It's just me knowing I can do better than I am, not just being average, but being somebody who can change the game."

Sheppard said he would have a "shooting mentality" against the Blackhawks, "crash the net and get my nose dirty."

He and Pouliot wound up with no shots, but Richards let them off the hook, saying they never could get into the flow because of the amount of power plays and penalty kills.

"Hopefully they're motivated. They should be now," Richards said. "Hopefully they watched [Saturday's] game closely and hopefully that'll pay off. They're both young guys. They still aren't completely proven NHL players, and they need to prove that every single night they hit the ice. They've got to bring energy; they've got to be reliable."

Scott was angry in fight

Derek Boogaard loves to fight. John Scott does it because he's a 6-8 defenseman, and he better do it if he wants to play in the NHL. But Saturday, he seemed to actually be angry for the first time in a fight.

"I was," he said. "[Rosemount's Tim Conboy] went after [Cal Clutterbuck], and when a tough guy goes after one of our smaller guys, I get really [ticked] off. I've never been a scrapper, but that time, I was pretty angry."

Conboy was giving up 7 inches to Scott, and it was a one-sided fight. But Scott doesn't feel badly.

"If they want to fight me, they fight me," Scott said. "They decide to go, and he was like, 'Let's go. Let's go.' I got him with a couple good ones, but I missed him with a couple good ones, too. So he kind of got out unscathed. But I'm going to get beat up once in awhile, and they're not going to feel bad for me."

Etc.

• Boogaard was scratched against Chicago.

• Wild prospect Cody Almond will be out long term because of a broken wrist.

• The Wild flew goalie Anton Khudobin to Minnesota for today's practice. GM Chuck Fletcher said Josh Harding is feeling sore in his leg muscles and will see doctors.

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