With a four-game road trip looming the Minnesota Wild will have to start it without its best player, Zach Parise, and backup goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Neither player participated in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday and both have been ruled out for the Wild’s first road test at St. Louis on New Year’s Eve. Kuemper has a concussion and Parise has a lower-body injury that he suffered during practice Sunday. Parise was able to play in Minnesota’s win over Detroit on Monday, tallying two assists in 18:04 of playing time.
Yeo: Kuemper will not come on the trip. He has a mild concussion. #mnwild
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 30, 2015
Yeo said they're not concerned this is long-term with Parise. Playing this weekend will depend if he can practice Friday in Tampa #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 30, 2015
Minnesota still has its No. 1 goalie Devan Dubnyk slated to start. If he struggles or gets hurt, the Wild would likely turn to Niklas Backstrom for the first time this season.
The road trip continues Saturday at Tampa Bay, Sunday at Florida and Tuesday against Columbus.
