Mike Yeo is the now-defunct Houston Aeros' all-time leader in fighting majors and "probably the only coach that took boxing lessons" during the lockout last season.
So the Wild coach isn't opposed to tough hockey. But he did take exception Thursday to "anybody that tries to call us soft."
Yeo was trying to fend off criticism that the Wild didn't have the appropriate response to Toronto's Nazem Kadri steamrolling and injuring Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom during Wednesday's 2-1 shootout victory. Backstrom will miss Friday's game against Florida with an upper-body injury and Kadri was suspended three games Thursday for the infraction.
The Wild is expected to recall Johan Gustafsson to back up Josh Harding.
"It's this simple really: They've got one [tough guy] after another," Yeo said. "So if we go after Kadri, well, are they going to go after [enforcer Zenon] Konopka? No. They're going to go after one of our top guys. They've got more down the line where they can keep playing that game.
"So where we have to be better is on the power play. Teams have to be afraid to pull that [stuff] on us [because] they're fearful of our power play. But at the same time, what I like is that our guys continued to play the game."
Yeo said the Wild didn't cower to the physicality. Instead, the Wild elevated its game, "and that to me is [toughness]. It's a different type of tough."
Granlund misses practice
Five Wild skaters didn't practice during the Wild's optional workout Thursday, including center Mikael Granlund, who also took a head shot from Kadri in the third period. Kadri was booted from the game for the hit but not disciplined for it Thursday.
