Pierre-Marc Bouchard was put on the right wing of Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu, and the result was instant chemistry. Of course, Bouchard always roasts Edmonton, so who knows what that means, but the way Bouchard plays the game, there's definite potential with at least that center/right wing tandem and maybe as a trio if Brunette returns.
And frankly, if you align all the pegs and figure out what the Wild can do this summer as far as filling in its roster, I think there's a very good chance Bouchard winds up replacing Antti Miettinen there.
Bouchard and Koivu had three assists and Brunette scored an empty-netter.
Brent Burns snapped a 17-game goal drought with his 17th goal and Jared Spurgeon scored for the second time this year against his hometown Oilers (first in front of friends and family).
Scrappy game, especially early. The team's combined for 96 of the 100 first-period penalty minutes in the first 9:36. That had a lot to do with the Wild's 5-0 record against Edmonton heading into the game and the fact that the Wild was pushed around in its previous two visits here.
Clayton Stoner had an ugly go with Theo Peckham seven seconds in. More uncomfortable than watching Stoner get crushed live was having to watch Stoner watch himself getting crushed on the jumbotron from the press box during the second intermission.
That's because to add insult to injury, Stoner was booted for not having his jersey tied down. That left the Wild, which played last night and got in late, with five D for 59:53. Two of those D were Drew Bagnall, making his NHL debut, and Maxim Noreau, playing his fourth game.
Still, Stoner was at least up to the challenge with Peckham, who was chirping away before the faceoff. And Stoner's emerged to be a guy that should be relied upon next year.
