"Defenseman Marek Zidlicky returned to the Wild's lineup Saturday night, playing for the first time in five games with Clayton Stoner still recovering from a lower body injury he sustained during a fight Thursday against Colorado.

Zidlicky met with general manager Chuck Fletcher and coach Mike Yeo earlier in the week, after airing concerns about his lack of playing time. He was scratched for the fourth game in a row in Colorado, but Yeo decided to bring him back over Mike Lundin on Saturday.

"This is how we've done things all year long - we've given guys chances to respond," Yeo said. "The reason we took Zid out of the lineup in the first place was not to punish him or try to make any point. It was hopefully to get him to find another level in his game. We tried some other things, and that didn't work. Hopefully this will."

Zidlicky has shot just 38 times all season and hasn't scored a goal. He can be a key weapon on the power play when he's playing well, but Yeo said he needs to be more willing to shoot.

"He's a guy that can carry the power play by himself," Yeo said. "When you've got a shot like that, and you're able to get the puck through, it's amazing how much ice it opens up everywhere else for you." "