Missing key players, Wild try to slow down Oilers' stars

Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes relayed a message from injured star forward Kirill Kaprizov heading into Wednesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.

"He's bored," Hynes said. "Out of his mind."

Kaprizov hopes to return from a lower-body injury soon, but his status is uncertain for when the Wild face off against the Oilers in Saint Paul, Minn. He has not taken part in a full practice but could test his strength during a pregame skate to see if he is able to make a surprise return.

Regardless, the Wild will rely on their depth players as they remain without several key contributors. In addition to Kaprizov, Minnesota is playing without captain Jared Spurgeon, first-unit defensemen Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin and forward Jakub Lauko.

Hynes said Faber and Brodin would not play Wednesday and Spurgeon "probably" wouldn't, but he left open the possibility that others could return.

"I don't think there will be guys back for (Wednesday), but you never know," he said. "There's a protocol. It's easy skates, then it's hard skates, then it's how did he respond to that?

"Then you push it a little bit harder -- how did he respond to that? Then it's an easier day, then a harder-harder day. With all those types of things, with the types of injuries the guys have, that's kind of the progression."

The Wild know they will face a hard test against Edmonton, which is 6-1-0 in its past seven games. The Oilers played four road games, returned home for one game and now will embark on another road trip for the next three.

Oilers star forward Connor McDavid said he and his teammates knew more tough games were in store. After facing the Wild, Edmonton will travel to Colorado and Vancouver.

"It's been a busy stretch here, a lot of traveling around," McDavid said. "Quick little pit stop here and back out on the road. Big couple games here on the road.

"But I like how we're playing. We'll be fine."

Star forward Leon Draisaitl leads the Oilers with 64 points (31 goals, 33 assists) in 43 games. McDavid is next with 59 points (17 goals, 42 assists) in 40 games, and defenseman Evan Bouchard rounds out the top three scorers with 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists) in 43 games.

Despite his extended absence, Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) in 34 games. Marco Rossi ranks second with 38 (16 goals, 22 assists) in 44 games, and Matt Boldy has added 37 (16 goals, 21 assists) in 44 games.

Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner could get the nod following a 1-0 win against the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Skinner is 17-9-3 this season with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.

Backup netminder Calvin Pickard is 10-4-0 with a 2.50 GAA and an .896 save percentage.

The Wild's No. 1 goaltender is Filip Gustavsson, who is 18-8-3 with a 2.50 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Veteran backup Marc-Andre Fleury is 9-3-1 with a 2.54 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

This is the teams' third and final meeting of the regular season. The visiting Wild won the first matchup 5-3 on Nov. 21, then the Oilers stormed to a 7-1 road win on Dec. 12.