Zidlicky has work to do before he gets back into the lineup

ST. LOUIS - Marek Zidlicky is so deep inside coach Mike Yeo's doghouse, the despondent defenseman may need dynamite to break out.

Despite Mike Lundin's lower-body injury keeping him out of the Wild's lineup Saturday against the Blues, Zidlicky was scratched for the second consecutive game since his agent confirmed his client's desire to waive his no-trade clause to play for the New Jersey Devils.

Zidlicky asked to be traded Jan. 31.

"I think the biggest thing, for all of us, is just to treat it like [Zidlicky's] part of our team," Yeo said. "That's for him, that's for us, and I don't see why we wouldn't. There's no trade that's happened. And as far as I know, there's nothing in the works right now.

"Obviously it's a possibility. And I'm sure [GM Chuck Fletcher's] listening to options and offers, but at the same time, we're not just going to give him away."

Fletcher has said he may hold on to Zidlicky past the Feb. 27 trade deadline because this summer Zidlicky's full no-trade clause becomes limited and he'd have more teams to work with.

"If something works out, then it works out," Yeo said. "If not, then he's part of this team and we expect him to be part of this team."

Asked how Zidlicky can prove that, Yeo said: "[If he's not traded], he'll get another chance to play. That's the best way to prove it. Prove it with what you're doing off the ice, and then when you get a chance to play, that'll be the ultimate measure."

Justin Falk, scratched the previous three games, played instead of Zidlicky because the 6-foot-5 blue-liner played big and tough last month in St. Louis, Yeo said.

Koivu hurtingCaptain Mikko Koivu didn't travel to St. Louis because of an undisclosed injury. Koivu, who is day-to-day, logged nearly 24 minutes and took part in the shootout during Thursday's game against Winnipeg, so it's unclear what's wrong.

"I'd rather not talk a lot about the injury," Yeo said. "He wasn't well enough to play the game today. Hopefully it gets better very quickly."

It's uncertain if he'll play Sunday.

ExtracurricularsWarren Peters has a disciplinary hearing with the NHL on Sunday afternoon after cross-checking Blues captain David Backes across the side of the head with 3 minutes, 30 seconds left in Saturday's game.

On the shift, Backes took a run at Nate Prosser in the corner, then chased down Jared Spurgeon by the Wild bench. Spurgeon started to fall before being hit.

Peters slashed Backes, then chased him down and twice whacked him, the last with his stick glancing up Backes' shoulder pad and nailing him in the earhole.

"The intent was not to get him in the side of the head," Peters said. "Obviously that's the result. I know I've got to be more responsible for my stick. I'll take the consequences."

It wouldn't be surprising if the Wild recalls Chad Rau and Cody Almond again.