WASHINGTON – Still walking on air after scoring his first goal in almost 23 months Tuesday night against Calgary, Zenon Konopka interrupted his glory by offering unsolicited praise of Dany Heatley, a veteran goal-scorer who had been demoted to the fourth line the past three games.
"Total professional," Konopka said. "Instead of coming with a bad attitude to our line, total opposite. So excited to play with me and [Torrey] Mitchell, [he has] raised our game. … I think it shows the unselfishness of him and being a true professional."
Heatley is expected to start his fourth game in a row on the fourth line Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. For a proud player who has scored 362 career goals — 141 on the power play — one would imagine this has been tough on Heatley.
If so, he's not letting on.
"It's about winning games, really," said Heatley, who has scored two goals in 16 games. "In 2½ years here, I think I've played with almost everyone in the room. [Coach Mike Yeo] likes to juggle lines a lot, so wherever he puts me, I try to play well.
"This formula is working so far."
Yeo has been impressed with Heatley's past two games, but with the Wild healthy up front and the top three lines displaying chemistry, Heatley will have to embrace the fourth line for now.
"Within each game, there have been times where you can see his play has put him in a position where we've given him opportunities with other lines as well," Yeo said. "If we can continue to work off that reward system, it seems to be helping guys, pushing guys."
