Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov will make his return from a monthlong injury absence in Saturday’s game against the visiting St. Louis Blues.
“He’s back,” the Wild said Friday in a news release on Kaprizov, who has been sidelined since March 8 with a lower-body injury.
Kaprizov, who turns 26 on April 26, sustained his injury after he was tackled to the ice by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley during the third period of the game.
Despite missing a month of action, Kaprizov still leads the Wild in goals (39) and points (74).
The Wild signed Kaprizov to a five-year, $45 million extension before the season. In 201 career games over three seasons, Kaprizov has 233 points (113 goals, 120 assists) and won the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year in 2020-21.
Also on Friday, the Wild announced forward Joel Eriksson Ek is considered week-to-week due to a lower-body injury.
Eriksson Ek, 26, sustained the injury after being hit by a slap shot from Evgeni Malkin midway into the second period of Minnesota’s 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Eriksson Ek has recorded career-best totals in assists (38) and points (61) in 78 games this season. His 23 goals are three shy of matching his personal-best total set over 77 games in 2021-22.
He has 206 points (92 goals, 114 assists) in 421 career games since being selected by the Wild with the 20th overall pick of the 2015 NHL draft.
The Wild (44-24-10, 98 points) have four regular-season games remaining and have clinched a playoff berth.
Source: www.espn.com