Marian Gaborik vs. Ian Laperriere

Do the Wild really need their top forward mixing it up before the first round of the NHL playoffs? I think someone should remind Marian Gaborik what his role is; it's not to be a fighter/goon. Gaborik can leave that to Simon, Boogaard, Fedoruk aka the Fridge. It would have been really devastating to the Wild if Gaborik had broken a fist or gotten a concussion. Lastly, I would also like to know why Jacques Lemaire didn't have Derek Boogaard in the line up? I look for Wednesday's game to have a little bit of life to it. Apparently the Minnesota Wild were less than thrilled with Ian Laperriere.

Here is an explaination of what happen from the Star and Tribune: Colorado winger Ian Laperriere, a veteran of 161 NHL fights, did everything he could to get inside Wild star Marian Gaborik's head.

Taking advantage of a rare Gaborik third-period shift without bruising linemate Todd Fedoruk on the ice, Laperriere locked onto Gaborik's stick, collared his arm around Gaborik's head and drove Gaborik hard where the glass ends and the Avalanche bench begins.

"It was just battling on the boards and stuff," Laperriere said.

Then, at the end of overtime and knowing there was nobody but Wild skilled players on the ice, Laperriere again collided with Gaborik, the shocking result being Gaborik's first fighting major in 485 career games.

"We kind of collided, pushed, shoved and just happened to drop the gloves," said Gaborik, his right hand covered in gashes. "It happened so quick. It shows things are heating up. It's going to be a tough series. It's going to be a battle like five years ago."

When the Wild next meets Colorado, Gaborik plans to "play my game and leave that stuff for other guys."

And those "other guys," Fedoruk, Derek Boogaard and Chris Simon, weren't happy with Laperriere's antics.

"Obviously I'm going to be playing in the first game," said Boogaard, who was scratched Sunday. "We'll see if somebody has a problem then."

"We'll see if [Laperriere] does it again and on who," coach Jacques Lemaire said.