The Minnesota Wild?s current six-game losing streak has been pockmarked by absences of key players, most notably Captain Mikko Koivu. Despite the six losses (four in regulation), the Wild has maintained the top spot in the Northwest Division and owns the second spot in the Western Conference. That?s why you bank as many points as possible in the early going, so when injuries strike the team with this kind of ferocity, there is some insurance. The Wild has at least bought enough time to stay in a great position and now the club expects to have a healthy Koivu return to the lineup when the Colorado Avalanche visit.
The Wild went into the three-day Christmas break on a sour note, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Dany Heatley picked up his 10th goal of the season, but only after the Oilers built a 4-0 lead on Niklas Backstrom, who stopped 27 of 31 shots in the loss.
The Avalanche come to town having won four straight, all by a one-goal margin. On Friday, Matt Duchene scored in overtime to propel the Avs to a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay. Ryan O?Reilly also scored for Colorado while Jean-Sebastien Giguere earned the win with 28 saves on 29 shots.
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UPDATED: December 26, 2011
CURRENTLY INJURED:
PLAYER INJURY Date OF
INJURY Games
Missed CURRENT
STATUS
Guillaume latendresse concussion 11/10 4 placed on ir on 12/16
devin setoguchi lower body 12/6 8 placed on ir on 12/8
Mikko Koivu Lower Body 12/14 4 probable for 12/26
casey wellman upper body 12/13 5 placed on ir 12/18
NOTES:
Guillaume Latendresse is out indefinitely after experiencing concussion symptoms.
Devin Setoguchi suffered a lower body injury on December 6 and was placed on injured reserve two days later.
Casey Wellman suffered a wrist injury and was placed on the IR December 18.
Mikko Koivu suffered a lower body injury on December 14. He skated with the team on Monday morning and is expected to return to the lineup against Colorado.
Clayton Stoner left Thursday's game in Edmonton with a lower body injury. He will not play on Monday against Colorado.
The Wild went into the three-day Christmas break on a sour note, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Dany Heatley picked up his 10th goal of the season, but only after the Oilers built a 4-0 lead on Niklas Backstrom, who stopped 27 of 31 shots in the loss.
The Avalanche come to town having won four straight, all by a one-goal margin. On Friday, Matt Duchene scored in overtime to propel the Avs to a 2-1 win over Tampa Bay. Ryan O?Reilly also scored for Colorado while Jean-Sebastien Giguere earned the win with 28 saves on 29 shots.
==========
UPDATED: December 26, 2011
CURRENTLY INJURED:
PLAYER INJURY Date OF
INJURY Games
Missed CURRENT
STATUS
Guillaume latendresse concussion 11/10 4 placed on ir on 12/16
devin setoguchi lower body 12/6 8 placed on ir on 12/8
Mikko Koivu Lower Body 12/14 4 probable for 12/26
casey wellman upper body 12/13 5 placed on ir 12/18
NOTES:
Guillaume Latendresse is out indefinitely after experiencing concussion symptoms.
Devin Setoguchi suffered a lower body injury on December 6 and was placed on injured reserve two days later.
Casey Wellman suffered a wrist injury and was placed on the IR December 18.
Mikko Koivu suffered a lower body injury on December 14. He skated with the team on Monday morning and is expected to return to the lineup against Colorado.
Clayton Stoner left Thursday's game in Edmonton with a lower body injury. He will not play on Monday against Colorado.
