ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild have navigated through a challenging season, maintaining a competitive edge even with several key injuries affecting their roster.
A significant boost to the team arrived on Thursday when star player Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon were removed from injured reserve and made their return to the ice. Unfortunately, their presence was not enough to avert a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Utah.
Despite their return, Minnesota continues to face challenges, as defenseman Jonas Brodin remains out with a lower-body issue for the seventh consecutive game, while left winger Marcus Johansson is still sidelined due to a concussion, missing his third game in a row.
In his comeback against Utah, Kaprizov recorded three shots on goal but spent only 16:39 on the ice, considerably less than his average of 22:37 for the season. “There were moments when he seized opportunities to make plays, and he actually executed some,” remarked Wild coach John Hynes. “However, there were also instances where it didn’t pan out. Coming back from such a lengthy absence can affect timing and other aspects of the game.”
Kaprizov last participated in a game on December 23 against Chicago, sitting out twelve games due to a lingering lower-body injury. The team’s cautious approach was driven by their desire to ensure the safe return of their top scorer and first-line left wing. Despite his time off, he remains among the top scorers in the NHL with 23 goals and 27 assists over 34 games, placing him 11th in the league for goals.
“I’m not focusing on the statistics. I’m just excited to be back on the ice,” Kaprizov expressed. “Having been out for a month, my aim is to feel good while playing, rather than worrying about points.”
Spurgeon, on the other hand, logged 20:15 of ice time in line with his season average. He had been absent from nine games due to a lower-body injury affecting both his ankle and knee. This injury was the result of a slew-foot incident on December 31 involving Nashville forward Zachary L’Heureux, who received a three-game suspension for his actions.
In his first public comments since returning, Spurgeon chose not to delve into the specifics of the incident. After dealing with hip and back injuries that limited him to 16 games last season, he was performing well until this recent setback. “The most frustrating aspect has been having to return to the gym and repeat the same rehabilitation exercises. It brings back some unpleasant memories,” Spurgeon shared.
Although Thursday’s game did not yield the desired result, the Wild were elated to welcome back both their captain and star forward to the lineup. “The return of those two players is crucial for our squad,” commented veteran forward Marcus Foligno. “Their presence provides enhanced balance to our lineup, even if the results weren’t apparent tonight.”
