Latendresse gets back into action slowly but surely

Hoping for a late-season boost as the Wild vies for a playoff spot, the team dusted off Guillaume Latendresse for his much-awaited return Tuesday.

Latendresse donned his No. 48 sweater for the first time since Oct. 25. "I was just excited to put the jersey back again for the team photo [Monday]," the power forward said before the game.

Latendresse played on the fourth line, logging 10 minutes, 21 seconds, and getting 46 seconds on the power play. He had three shots, including a couple marvelous chances, two hits and was plus-1.

"The first hit, I said to myself, 'Not again,' but then another hit came by and I said, 'I need to do that, too,'" Latendresse said. "It was good to get a plus-1, too. That's little things I haven't gotten for four months."

Much was expected from Latendresse this season. Last year, he tied Andrew Brunette as the Wild's leading goal scorer with 25 goals, but Latendresse got his in 55 games -- 27 fewer than Brunette.

But Latendresse missed much of training camp with groin issues that ultimately created other problems. He had surgery in late November to repair two hernias, two torn groin muscles and a torn labrum in his hip.

Coach Todd Richards plans to ease Latendresse into the lineup so he can get reacclimated to the speed.

Late in the game, Colorado goalie Peter Budaj drove Latendresse's face into the ice after a collision for a penalty. "He wanted to welcome me back, and that's good," Latendresse said.

Things get punchy late With the deficit 5-2 after Kyle Brodziak's empty-net goal, Avalanche coach Joe Sacco shockingly put agitating pugilists David Koci and Cody McLeod on the ice with 3 1/2 seconds left.

McLeod took his opportunity to crush defenseman Marek Zidlicky, who has been playing with a shoulder injury for 10 games and hurt his hand Tuesday. The Wild was incensed, with assistant coach Dave Barr, a former Avs assistant, looking as if he was yelling at Sacco.

"I don't know why you do that," Wild forward Brad Staubitz said.

During the scrum in the corner, Budaj skated to center ice and dropped his gear like he wanted to fight Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom.

Etc. • Cal Clutterbuck missed his second game with an "upper-body" injury, but Richards said there's a "definite possibility" of Clutterbuck going on the Wild's upcoming four-game road trip.

• Mikko Koivu, who has missed nine games because of a broken finger, looked more comfortable shooting and passing in Tuesday's morning skate. He is expected to return at some point in the road trip.

• With Clayton Stoner out because of a lower-body injury, Cam Barker returned after missing six games -- five because of an upper-body injury.