Despite a couple of early injuries to key players, the Wild are hanging in there, earning at least a point in every game and taking a 1-0-2 record into their game against the Blues on Tuesday in St. Louis.
Playing without top center Joel Eriksson Ek and captain Jared Spurgeon, the Wild lost a 2-1 game Sunday in Winnipeg against a Jets team that improved to 3-0, and coach John Hynes was pleased.
“When you’re talking about a mindset and culture, of physical toughness and mental toughness, I thought we had that tonight — at a high level,” he told reporters at Canada Life Centre.
Minnesota expects Eriksson Ek to be available against the Blues after having his nose broken by Seattle’s Adam Larsson in Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Kraken. Spurgeon is considered day to day with a lower body injury, but Hynes didn’t know Sunday night whether the defenseman would meet them in St. Louis.
Hynes told reporters Spurgeon would be assessed by doctor’s on Monday.
“Right now, we’re looking at him as day to day, and then we’ll see what, you know, what comes out of his results,” the coach said.
There is a little bit of apprehension here because the Wild were devastated by injuries last season, and while they were over .500 after Hynes became coach on Nov. 28, they missed the playoffs for the second time in 12 years.
Spurgeon played in only 16 games last season because of back and hip injuries.
“Obviously having him healthy is huge for us,” defenseman Brock Faber told reporters in Winnipeg. “We’re as anxious about the news as you guys are, but it’s, you know, it’s, it’s always going to be the next-man-up mentality. That’s how it is. Everyone will play a little different role and you know, we can win hockey games with this team.”
According to nhl.com, veteran forward Brandon Saad will make his season debut for the Blues (2-1) Tuesday. He missed the first three games while on paternity leave.
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