Monkey Number 1 Says

Hmm - the 'Boogie Man' might be in a bit of trouble from the league as well. Seems this game may take a bit of Colin Cambell's time up after all.

The Minnesota Wild were lost in the hockey jungle Friday night.

Down 4-0 to the Vancouver Canucks before the night was 17 minutes old, the Wild left GM Place 6-2 losers and with more than just sore feelings.

Wild centre Mikko Koivu received a two-handed baseball style slash from Canuck defenceman Mattias Ohlund with 4:54 remaining, the slash a retaliation after Koivu elbowed Ohlund in the face. Koivu took the blow behind his left knee but had little to say after the contest.

"No comment, buddy, no comment," a furious Koivu told reporters before limping to the shower.

Wild enforcer Derek Boogaard had no problem expressing his feelings on the matter. The Canucks and Wild meet again Wednesday in St. Paul.

"Obviously a slash like that, you expect to see at least a five-game suspension," said the 6-7 Boogie Man. "We'll see how things play out on Wednesday. Their so-called agitators were taking liberties, but as soon as I step on the ice, they scatter to their holes. I'm not going to stand for it.

"Maybe I go out and slash [Markus] Naslund or Pinky and the Brain twins."

Stephane Veilleux, who appeared to fire the puck at Canuck Mike Weaver as time expired, claimed he was just trying to "dump" it in.

"I expect some hard play on Wednesday," said Veilleux. "We've always been a team that plays with skill. We never do a cheap shot. That two-handed slash, that's crossing the line."

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was far more diplomatic than his irate players and praised the Canucks for their comprehensive performance.

"Vancouver was good with the puck, they were skating well, every line was controlling play, which you don't have too often," said a surprisingly calm Lemaire. "They deserved the game better than we did. The slash? It was a slash, there's no doubt. He could have broken his leg.

"I just saw it quickly and I would have to review it to make a better comment. I'll leave it with the league. I have enough of my own problems to deal with."

The Wild, who began the season at 7-0-1, have won just three times in their last 11 games (3-7-1).

n Injured Canuck defencemen Sami Salo (broken nose) and Lukas Krajicek (broken ankle) both skated again Friday with Krajicek announcing he could play by the middle of next week. The Canucks are in Edmonton Tuesday and, of course, Minny Wednesday.

"The ankle is fine, I just need to get my legs back," Krajicek said. "I won't play Sunday [against Calgary] but if not Tuesday, then Wednesday."

Salo, meanwhile, experimented with both a full shield and a cage Friday and said he felt more comfortable with the cage.