It’s been an inconsistent start for the Wild.
Three losses, three wins, three more losses, and now two wins as they travel to Chicago to face the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks.
Also inconsistent has been who the Wild have skated on a game-by-game basis.
Last night the list of injuries Minnesota has had to deal with grew, with red hot goalie Josh Harding suffering what Mike Yeo termed to be a lower body strain. He is officially day-to-day, but will not travel with Minnesota to the Windy City.
Defenseman Keith Ballard has been suffering from concussion-like symptoms and has missed the last five games, while having to leave practice multiple times because he hasn’t been feeling well. Michael Russo of the Star Tribune described him as “foggy” last week. Ballard did skate today, but also will stay home instead of traveling with the team to Chicago. The good news is, he told Russo he feels “better than yesterday.”
Forward Charlie Coyle, who Minnesota could use to boost a stagnant offense, has missed the past three weeks with a knee sprain. He skated today as well, but will not play Saturday and likely won’t Monday either. However, Yeo said Coyle “looks really good.”
Finally, Jonas Brodin, who took a puck to the face (below) Tuesday but will not need surgery, did not skate today. Yeo said it was a possibility yesterday after word came down Brodin wouldn’t go under the knife for his broken cheekbone, but today said he wouldn’t rush it, while also ruling Brodin out for the next two games.
Follow all that? Mark us out for the Chicago game as well with brain fatigue from having to keep all those injuries straight.
