ST. PAUL, Minn. — After the Minnesota Wild beat the Avalanche 3-1 on Dec. 23 in Denver, Wild agitator Cal Clutterbuck clucked some trash talk the Avs’ way. Clutterbuck said he was “shocked” over two Avs players who were “still playing in the league.” There was also much joking in the Wild dressing room about Avs enforcer David Koci’s attempt to draw smaller defenseman Jared Spurgeon into a fight.
There was no chortling from Clutterbuck after Friday’s 4-1 Avs victory at the Xcel Energy Center. Nor, Koci said, was there any reciprocation from Wild enforcer Brad Staubitz or any other Wild player when he said he invited them to drop the gloves in the game.
“I told them I’m ready to do my job, but nobody wanted to do anything. I asked Staublitz if he wanted to go, but nothing,” Koci said.
Koci got the nod to play, while Avs forwards TJ Galiardi and Brandon Yip were healthy scratches. Koci made a contribution to the win by blocking a shot by Minnesota defender Brent Burns when the Wild were threatening in the first period, one of his two in the contest in 4:19 of ice time.
Stewart returns.
Avs winger Chris Stewart did not get a point in his return to the lineup after missing nearly seven weeks with a broken hand. Stewart looked a little rusty, failing to get a shot in 15:48 of ice time, but his and Cody McLeod’s physical presence in the lineup made a positive difference overall.
“Teams don’t want to do anything dumb, because they know there will be consequences for sure with guys like them out there,” Avs center Matt Duchene said.
