This face-off has an eerily familiar feel

By RACHEL BLOUNT, Star Tribune

Last update: November 1, 2009 - 8:31 AM

PITTSBURGH - Dan Bylsma joked that he spent so much time with Todd Richards that he could practically recite everything the Wild coach has told his players over the season's first 12 games. The two developed their coaching chops together for two seasons with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., when Richards served as head coach and Bylsma as his assistant.

Both men said that made it difficult to set strategy for their first meeting as NHL head coaches. Bylsma took the Penguins' helm last season, and led them to a Stanley Cup, while Richards was hired last summer to remake the Wild. Because they share a similar philosophy -- and because they know each other so thoroughly -- Saturday's game plan took extra time and thought.

"It was a particular challenge,'' Bylsma said. "It's almost like facing a mirror image. A lot of the stuff I learned and took with me [from Wilkes-Barre], I learned from Todd.''

Bylsma said he has been watching the Wild frequently this season because of his ties to Richards and Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher, who was the Penguins' assistant GM for three seasons. Richards has been watching the Penguins, too, because they play the way he wants the Wild to play.

"Watching the tape, they do a lot of things the same, or at least what we want to accomplish,'' Richards said. "So you're trying to figure out how to beat yourself. We'll probably spend a lot more time getting ready for this game than for any other game.''

Goal-igoski

Alex Goligoski relished the chance to take on a heavy responsibility last season, when Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar dislocated a shoulder in Pittsburgh's first preseason game. Though the Grand Rapids, Minn., native and former Gopher had just three games of NHL experience on his résumé entering the season, he ended up with six goals and 14 assists in 45 games, and he's still moving forward.

Goligoski leads the NHL in plus-minus rating with a plus 13, and is third in scoring among defensemen, with five goals and seven assists. "The season has started out well, both for the team and for me,'' said Goligoski, who had three goals in three games before facing the Wild on Saturday. "Last year, I was able to get a little experience under my belt. I always enjoy having a lot on my shoulders, and it's gone pretty well so far.''

Bejeweled

Wild winger Petr Sykora had known for some time that he would receive his Stanley Cup ring before Friday night's game. Still, he said, he was shaking when the hardware was handed over.

Sykora, who played for the Penguins the past two seasons, scored 25 goals and added 31 assists during last year's run to the Stanley Cup. He said he will wear the ring -- made of white and yellow gold, with 167 diamonds totaling 4.5 carats -- rather than put it away.

"I was very excited,'' Sykora said. "That's why I play hockey. I'm very proud of what this team did last year, and I'm proud to be part of it.''

Etc.

• Benoit Pouliot was scratched for the second consecutive game.

• The game was the last the Wild will play at 48-year-old Mellon Arena. The Penguins will move next fall.

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