Koivu reminds, angry Mikko is the best Mikko; Spurgeon injured in comeback win

I never got into it in the game story because I really didn't have the room and we never did end up getting Mikko Koivu after the Wild's come-from-behind 4-3 shootout win over San Jose tonight, but maybe the best part of Koivu's game came between overtime and the shootout.

Koivu got into it with Jumbo Joe bigtime. The second the final whistle blew, Koivu went right at Joe Thornton and got into a war of words. Thornton had hit Koivu earlier, but I'm pretty sure Koivu was also fuming because Thornton got in Zach Parise's face in OT. Koivu was fiery hot at the bench (I've been there), and just stared at Thornton and stared and barked after Thornton comically motioned to center ice to fight Koivu.

Yah, would have loved to have seen that.

That stare from Koivu, I've been there, too. It's frightening.

Koivu got the last laugh so to speak with his signature shootout move. They all know it's coming. Heck, Antti Niemi, Koivu's countryman, certainly knew it was coming. And yet Koivu still has the ability to stick that puck right under the bar for the equalizer after Logan Couture gave the Sharks an early 1-0 lead in the shootout. It was Koivu's 37^th career shootout goal, tying Parise and Brad Boyes for first in the NHL.

As we always say, an angry Koivu is the best Koivu, and he played angry, inspired hockey all night. One goal, nine shots to tie a career high, 22 of 28 in the faceoff circle and the shootout goal on a line that was motoring all night with Jason Zucker, who just keeps getting better and was awesome right from the first shift tonight, and Charlie Coyle, who tied a career-high with six shots (five in the first period).

Big come-from-behind win for the Wild tonight – the second time in two games it rallied from a 3-1, third-period deficit. It outshot the Sharks 46-28 and has now outshot all nine opponents this season (320-209).

But the Koivu line luckily was going. The third line wasn't heard of with Nino Niederreiter-Kyle Brodziak-Thomas Vanek for much of the first two periods. But coach Mike Yeo loved Justin Fontaine's game on the third period and said to himself that he had to get Fontaine more ice time.

So he downgraded Niederreiter and upgraded Fontaine. On the very first shift Fontaine was elevated, Matt Dumba sent a headman pass to Brodziak. Then, tic-tac-toe – Fontaine to Thomas Vanek to Brodziak after Vanek, in what Pominville said was typical Vanek fashion, fired a slap pass on net that Brodziak, who didn't get a puck up on a breakaway move in the first period, made up for it with a goal.

Then, of all players, Brodziak tied the game. Nate Prosser hit Vanek to send him off to the races on a 2-on-1. On his backhand, Vanek saucered a pass to Brodziak for the tying goal with 9:28 left. The Wild got to overtime and got the extra point in OT.

So, Brodziak two third-period goals. Vanek, who has no goals, two big assists and leads the team with seven.

Brodziak, after a great game in Boston, has another big game tonight. Pretty impressive for a guy that was scratched in five in a row.

Yeo admitted he was worried coming into this one, saying sometimes games after emotional wins are tougher than after emotional losses. Coming back home, Yeo warned his team to guard against that, but it was very clear the Wild wasn't on its game early even though it got good looks on Niemi.

"We weathered it," Yeo said. "Certainly way too many [turnovers]."

Bigtime issue though. Defenseman Jared Spurgeon got hurt in the third when he crashed hard into the boards after a check from Joe Pavelski. Yeo said he was "pretty sore" as he left the ice and hopes to have a better update Friday.

The Wild, already without top-2 defenseman Jonas Brodin, had to play the final 16 minutes and overtime with five defensemen, including (7^th/8^th D to start the year) Nate Prosser, Justin Falk and rookie Matt Dumba. In overtime, Pominville played defense.

"It's an easy game back there," Pominville joked.

Yeo hopes Christian Folin and Brodin can return Saturday. Like I mentioned earlier though, Brodin didn't look comfortable to me skating today.

"Good teams get through it and we will," Yeo said.

Anyways, Wild is now 7-0 in the past seven vs. San Jose on home ice. Wild won 47 of 71 draws tonight. Besides Koivu, Brodziak went 11 of 15. Brodziak's 12^th career multi-goal game. Great response by Darcy Kuemper from Monday's meltdown with 25 saves and the shootout win.

Vanek's 2 assists was his 140^th multi-point game.