Cullen will miss tonight's game at Los Angeles; Zanon plays, Madden gametime decision

Seventy-two degrees, not a cloud in the sky. Little smog though.

Karma's going to get me good if I keep making these weather jokes to you.

Hope you all are safe back in the Twin Cities. Quick update from the Wild's optional morning skate, which had to take place at the Kings' practice facility in El Segundo due to this afternoon's Clippers-Vancouver Grizzlies game.

Just a joke. I know the Grizzlies moved to Nashville or Knoxville or Chattanooga or something like that.

Matt Cullen is expected to miss tonight's game vs. the Kings with a groin injury. Greg Zanon, who blocked that late shot vs. Phoenix with his arm, declared himself good to go: "I'm here, ain't I?"

John Madden didn't skate this morning and is a game-time decision, coach Todd Richards said. If Madden can't play, Brad Staubitz and Warren Peters play. If Madden plays, Richards said he'll decide at gametime between Peters and Staubitz.

Jose Theodore in the cage. Clayton Stoner in the press box.

Richards said the Wild's calling up different players all the time because it depends on what role it needs and who's playing the best down there in Houston at the time of the callup. For example, if they need toughness, they go with Matt Kassian. If they need a skating defenseman, they'll choose the best of the bunch, which at the time of the last callup, they felt it was Jared Spurgeon. If they need a quick-fix or fourth-line guy who may not even play, Peters gets the call -- things like that -- over the young kids.

Got a couple of emails -- some bordering on maniacal -- this morning from angry Wild fans, "Why not Wellman?" "I hate this team." "This team's a joke!"

In the words of Jacques Lemaire, "Oh My Lord," lighten up people. Work off some steam by shoveling the driveway or something.

First of all, the decision to recall Peters was made before Casey Wellman scored four goals last night. Peters was in LA before the Aeros' game was even over. The Wild was looking for a center, a quick fix, a guy to play the fourth line, a guy who may not even play tonight anyway.

Wellman's played 12 games with the Wild this season and scored no goals and one assist. The Wild wants Wellman playing down there, producing down there, getting better down there.

Anyway, that's why it's not Wellman? For now...If all of a sudden they're hit with a top-2 line injury or are in need of a skilled guy or more of a long-term solution, then they'll look at Wellman.

Also, I wanted to clarify something in my Brent Burns article the other day. Burns changed to his old CCM helmet a month or so ago. He didn't change from his M11 to his CCM after his collision last week with Zanon. In fact, no helmet would have kept Burns from getting smacked there because his mouth ran into Zanon's helmet.

Anyway, just wanted to make that clear in case some thought he changed from the M11 after the last incident. I may write about Mark Messier's M11 next week, by the way. I've written a lot about it in the past.

OK, I'm going to go back now to laughing about Dan Ellis and the Lightning whining about Linus Omark's shootout winner.