Marco Scandella fined for hit to T.J. Oshie's head

As mentioned in Monday's paper, just because Marco Scandella didn't get disciplined by the NHL on Sunday, the Wild defenseman wasn't completely out of hot water for Saturday's illegal check to St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie's head.

The league was monitoring Oshie's health the past few days and deciding whether the incident merited league discipline. Late Monday, the league decided to fine Scandella as opposed to suspend him.

Scandella was fined $2,755.38, which is half a day's pay -- the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement if there's no hearing and the player is not a repeat offender.

Oshie, who has a history of concussions, missed the final 11 minutes, 15 seconds of the first period Saturday but returned in the second. The Blues were off Sunday, but Oshie was able to practice Monday.

Oshie told Blues reporters today his nose was a little crooked.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Jeremy Rutherford emailed me Oshie quotes from today, and Oshie reminded that the Wild's Mike Rupp was suspended four games (including three playoff games) for his blow to Oshie's head last April.

That was actually Rupp's final NHL game. After serving his suspension, Rupp was scratched the rest of the playoffs and last I saw him during the preseason was planning to do Penguins TV part-time.

"It seems like that's the second time that's happened in a matter of what three shifts that I've been in Minnesota?" Oshie said. "So I don't know, it seems a little targeted but ... either way, got away with the two points, so we'll take that."

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told Rutherford, "I would be best not to comment on that hit right now, so I'll just leave it at that."

Scandella signed a five-year, $20 million extension that starts next season prior to playing the Blues.

Good early evening from icy Minnesota. Sorry for the late blog today. After writing for the paper, I had to hustle out of the arena to get to an appointment.

The Wild held an optional practice today -- Thirteen skaters (Thomas Vanek, Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula, Jonas Brodin, Keith Ballard, Nate Prosser, Justin Falk, Stu Bickel, Justin Fontaine, Kyle Brodziak, Ryan Carter) and goalies Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom practiced.

Other than that, not much else going on.

I'd suspect that Tuesday we will find out that Boston College freshman power forward Alex Tuch, the Wild's first-round pick in 2014 (18th overall), will be selected to the preliminary roster for the United States' world junior team.

Tuch is tied with fellow Wild draft pick Adam Gilmour, a sophomore, as the Eagles' leading scorer with 10 points in 14 games. He has scored five goals, which is tied for second on the team.

Lastly, the Wild announced that it will hold a free, open to the public outdoor practice on Dec. 21 at the John Rose Minnesota OVAL in Roseville. The event will run from 9 a.m.-noon, with the Wild taking the ice for practice at 11 a.m.