Clutterbuck injury opens spot for Taffe

LOS ANGELES -- Minnesota Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck will miss tonight's game against the Los Angeles Kings with a leg injury.

"Unless something drastic changes, we're not expecting him to go," coach Mike Yeo said.

The Wild recalled left wing Jeff Taffe, who was in transit to Los Angeles and did not make it to the morning skate.

Asked if Taffe would play on the first line with Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley, Yeo said, "There's a good chance."

"The idea of him going out there and playing with Mikko and Heater, guys that have played together all year, I know those guys will help him."

Taffe, a University of Minnesota product, will make his Wild debut. He has played 175 NHL games but has mostly been a career minor league player.

Yeo did not coach Taffe in Houston of the AHL, but coached him while as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"I think he should be real excited to play this game and real motivated to play this game," Yeo said. "It's a chance to play for the club where he grew up."

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