Links - Kobasew scores hat trick as Wild down Avalanche - North River Minor Hockey Association

Kobasew scores hat trick as Wild down Avalanche LOGINREGISTERHELPYOU ARE NOT LOGGED IN NHLNBAMLBCFLNFLCurlingTennisGolfSoccerNASCARFormula OneIndyCar NASCAR Canadian Tire SeriesNationwideCamping WorldAuto RacingWorld JuniorsSpengler CupMenS WHCWomenS WHCHockey CanadaAHLBoxingCanada GamesCHLCISECHLFigure SkatingLacrosseMMANCAASkiingSummer SportsWinter SportsMoreOlympicsFantasyDaily LineShowsTSN TalentCommunityMainScoresScheduleStandingsStatisticsAnaheimCalgaryChicagoColoradoColumbusDallasDetroitEdmontonLos AngelesMinnesotaNashvillePhoenixSan JoseSt LouisVancouverAtlantaBostonBuffaloCarolinaFloridaMontrealNew JerseyNY IslandersNY RangersOttawaPhiladelphiaPittsburghTampa BayTorontoWashingtonTeamsPlayersInjuriesTransactionsDaily LineNHL on TSNTradeCentreDraftCentreeotText SizeST PAUL Minn Minnesota is happy to have Chuck Kobasew backKobasew had a hat trick and Andrew Brunette scored the winning goal on a power play midway through the third period Friday leading the Wild past the Colorado Avalanche 53Owen Nolan also scored and Niklas Backstrom stopped 31 shots for Minnesota in the opener of a homeandhome series Mikko Koivu had three assistsIts nice to contribute You want to be a part of it especially offensively said Kobasew who scored an emptynet goal with 179 seconds left to complete his second career hat trick His first was Jan 24 2006 at ColoradoIt was his second game back after missing the previous four with an upperbody injuryKnown as a grinder with a scoring touch Kobasew was acquired in a trade with the Bruins Oct 18 He had 21 and 22 goals the past two seasons with BostonHe had a couple of other opportunities almost from the same area of the ice in the middle He just wasnt able to get the shots off Tonight he was rewarded with two really nice goals said coach Todd RichardsAntti Miettinen has missed two straight games with an illness allowing Kobasew to play on a line with Koivu and BrunetteThey probably arent about to be split apart anytime soonIm just trying to pick up on their tendencies and get them the puck Kobasew said Those guys are the skill guys and I let them make their plays and just try to find a spot where I can be open and be an option for themSo far so good albeit in just two gamesHes done a real good job trying to talk to us try and feel us out try to get into those positions where we can take advantage of his shot Brunette said If he can get himself into those positions hes going to get a lot of chancesKyle Quincey Paul Stastny and Chris Stewart scored for the Avalanche 154 in their last 10 trips to Minnesota Colorado has lost four of five overallIf we take it to them like they took it to us in the third I think we come out on top said forward Matt DucheneMinnesota was far more aggressive in the final period especially on its forecheck which led to numerous quality chancesBrunette...