Yeo puts Coyle on Koivu's line to reinvigorate it

Mike Yeo already has seen what Mikko Koivu and Charlie Coyle can do together. As the Wild coach pondered how to revitalize an ineffective second line, he wondered whether that tried-and-true combination might provide the answer.

Tuesday, Yeo moved Coyle to right wing alongside the struggling Koivu and left winger Thomas Vanek during a two-hour practice at Xcel Energy Center. After four games, Koivu has yet to earn a point, and Vanek has only one assist. Coyle has delighted Yeo with his play at right wing on the third line, and the coach speculated that his speed could be the spark that ignites Koivu and Vanek.

Koivu and Vanek have played alongside each other in all four games, with Justin Fontaine and Matt Cooke also spending time on the line. Yeo wants to keep Vanek at left wing, where he is more comfortable, and he said the trio will benefit from the familiarity between Koivu and Coyle.

"Mikko and Charlie have had a lot of chemistry together in the past," Yeo said. "They're both big bodies, they're both strong on the puck, and Thomas should fit that as well.

"One thing that excites us right now is the way Charlie is skating. His speed is very noticeable. It's been a real factor out there. We think adding that element to that line could really help."

Yeo said that going into the season, he intended to play Koivu and Coyle together. But injuries and other concerns changed his plans. Coyle had been part of a solid third line with center Erik Haula and left winger Nino Niederreiter; he scored the winning goal in a 3-0 victory at Colorado and also has an assist.

In Tuesday's practice, Fontaine and Coyle simply swapped places, with Fontaine moving to the right side of the Haula-Niederreiter line.

Yeo said he has no set plan for how he will use the two in the future. He is happy with their play thus far, and he noted advantages and disadvantages to both approaches. In the short term, Yeo will decide their status on a game-by-game basis while he sees how they progress.

Both players said they have no preference as to whether they play together or separately. But Dumba enjoys having another young defenseman to share the experience of learning about the NHL.

"It's fun being on the ice together," said Dumba, who has one assist. "We do a lot together; we're roommates on the road, we sit together on the bus and the plane, we watch movies.

"It's kind of cool that we're building some chemistry together. Maybe for years to come, we'll be 'D' partners."

In the midst of a three-day break between games, the Wild worked on special teams and even-strength situations during Tuesday's long and highly focused practice. Zach Parise thought the repetition was exactly what the team needed to break its 0-for-16 streak on the power play.

Despite the two-game losing streak, Parise expressed confidence in how the Wild has performed.