Not that this is a surprise in that right wing Radim Vrbata (zero points and six shots and zero hits) has done little this season, but coach Barry Melrose said this morning he was not changing the lineup because of the good things he saw in the third period of Thursday's game with the Islanders.

David Koci gets in his first game this season, perhaps as a counter to Minnesota's giant Derek Boogaard, though Boogaard isn't a crazy thug nd wouldn't necessarily run around for the sake of running around. He's more of a cop.

Whatever, it still was a bit startling when they announced Vrbata was out since he came off the ice early this morning, as does a player who is expecting to play, and Koci came off late.