Wild Tips Columbus In OT

The Minnesota Wild's new first line of Mikko Koivu, Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi spent Friday morning talking extensively about their excitement to make their preseason debuts together. They also cautioned that their chemistry is still developing and may take awhile to reach its full potential.

Things could get scary by the time November rolls around.

Heatley scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, while Setoguchi bagged the tying goal in the third period of a 4-3 Wild win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Koivu picked up three assists, all on the goals scored by his new mates. Minnesota, which hadn't won a preseason game a year ago, is now 3-0 under new Head Coach, Mike Yeo.

While the Wild had a few mishaps, the overall theme was the team's ability to battle back from two one-goal deficits.

Kris Foucault opened the scoring 5:30 into the first, putting home a rebound off a Zack Phillips shot. It was the first preseason point for both players.

Columbus built a 2-1 lead in the second thanks to a shorthanded tally by Derek Mackenzie and a power play marker by Fedor Tyutin. Heatley answered by rapping home a centering pass from Koivu on a second period power play.

Columbus answered quickly on a Ryan Russell goal, but the Wild rallied again. Heatley pushed a loose puck toward the front where Setoguchi allowed Blue Jacket netminder Allen York to slide out of position before tucking one in.

At the end of regulation, a melee sparked by a clean Cal Clutterbuck hit on Fedor Tyutin caused James Wisniewski to deliver a head blow on the Wild agitator. That gave the Wild a 5-on-3 to start overtime. While they couldn't convert there, the power play eventually did when Heatley tipped home Koivu's shot from the high slot.

The Wild will close a stretch of three games in three days tomorrow in Pittsburgh. The Koivu line will not be there, but they are expected to hit the ice again on Tuesday against St. Louis.