Wild trying to dig out of 3-1 hole with Vancouver

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It will not take an all-nighter at the library or a marathon search on Google for the Minnesota Wild to get their hands on the manual for climbing out of a 3-1 hole in the playoffs. There still should be copies strewn about the dressing room -- the ones with the Colorado Avalanche addendum.
It has been only 16 days since the Wild were in the same position. Trailing the favored Avs, Minnesota reeled off three straight wins -- including two on the road -- to pull off the biggest miracle of this postseason.
So they know the drill heading into Game 5 Monday in Vancouver. They know the empty feeling of playing well enough to win two home games only to watch their well-heeled opponents trump the effort. But against the Canucks, there are a couple of new wrinkles.
The Wild have surrendered two leads in the waning minutes that led to Vancouver's overtime triumphs in Games 1 and 4. Moreover, justified or not, officiating has crawled under their skin and into the open in this series.
Leading 2-1 Friday night, the Wild surrendered the tying goal to Ed Jovanovski with 2:06 remaining after Andrei Zyuzin's hooking penalty negated their power play.
Midway through the extra session, Filip Kuba caught Todd Bertuzzi with a high stick, drawing blood and a four-minute penalty. With 18 seconds remaining in Kuba's double minor, Brent Sopel donned the hero's cape and scored the winner with a slapper from the point.
Vancouver's OT goal in Game 1 also came on the power play. All five goals in the Canucks' 3-2 win in Game 3 came on the power play as referees whistled 15 minor penalties in an airtight game rare for the playoffs.
Complain about officials
Privately, several Wild players have groused about game-to-game interpretations of what they can and cannot do. They also have complained about Bertuzzi cradling their sticks to leverage himself out of checks, although it has done little for his production in the series (no goals, one assist).
Officiating would be the least of Minnesota's concerns if top defenseman Willie Mitchell were not back on the blue line Monday.
Mitchell injured his right arm bracing himself when Bertuzzi boarded him late in the third period Friday and did not return to the game. After receiving treatment Saturday, Mitchell declined speak to reporters. Risebrough said he will be evaluated today in Vancouver and that his status is day to day.