The Minnesota Wild will likely be without Matt Moulson in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against Chicago.
Wild coach Mike Yeo said Moulson has a lower-body injury that he has been dealing with for a while.
According to Pro Hockey Talk, Moulson has been somewhat disappointing this postseason. He has scored just three points in 10 playoff games for the Wild, but did pick up an assist on Erik Haula’s goal in Game 3 against Chicago.
The Wild were expecting to have Matt Cooke back for Friday night’s game anyway after his suspension came to an end. Cooke was on the ice for the Thursday morning skate, Moulson was not.
Matt Moulson not on the ice for #MnWild practice today. Matt Cooke is. Looks like Cooke may be taking Moulson's spot in lineup for game 4.
— BetAlytics (@BetalyticsInc) May 8, 2014
The Star Tribune reports that Moulson will be kept off the ice at least for a few days.
“Not skating yesterday, keeping him off the ice today will hopefully give him a chance to get better,” Yeo said. “Hopefully we can use this as an opportunity to get him back.”
No other lineup changes are expected for the Wild in Game 4 as Cooke will slide into Moulson’s spot on the third line next to Haula and Justin Fontaine.
The Wild acquired Moulson at the trade deadline from Buffalo. He proved to be the scoring threat the team hoped by putting up 13 points in 20 regular-season games in Minnesota, but things haven’t gone that way for him in the playoffs.
According to CBS Sports, Cooke can be a pretty effective player. He had 10 goals and 18 assists in 82 games this season, in a physical role for Minnesota.
Here is the rest of Yeo’s Thursday press conference.
