Report: Kirill Kaprizov to return from injury next week
The Minnesota Wild have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL for well over a month and they appear to be on the verge of getting their best player back from injury.
According to former WCCO-TV sports anchor Mark Rosen, Kaprizov could be in line to play in the last three games of the regular season.
"My source said that he's going to play the last three regular season games," said Rosen, Tuesday morning on KFAN radio," adding that his report is "barring any unexpected setback."
If true, Kaprizov would miss Minnesota's games this week – Thursday at Pittsburgh and Saturday against St. Louis – and then return for the final three games April 10-13 against Chicago, Winnipeg and Nashville.
Kaprizov was injured March 8 against Winnipeg. The Wild called it a lower-body injury but specifics about what happened to him have not been released. He began skating again last week.
Matt Boldy has picked up the slack for Kaprizov with 13 goals in the 12 games that Kaprizov has missed. Boldy's goal Monday against Vegas was his 30th of the season, making him and Marian Gaborik as the only players in Wild history with 30+ goals at age 21 or younger. Boldy turns 22 on April 5.
Minnesota has gone 7-2-3 without Kaprizov, who still leads the team with 39 goals.
The Wild clinched a playoff spot Monday night and they're currently tied with Dallas at 98 points for first place in the Central Division, though Colorado is only two points back and has two games in hand.
