Case in point: Sunday’s goal in Vegas. He was on a two-on-one with Freddy Gaudreau. Hartman appeared to look over to Gaudreau as if to pass, but then he fired a great wrist shot and beat goalie Adin Hill glove-side.

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes provided injury updates Friday, Brock Faber will travel with the team this weekend, Kirill Kaprizov will not.

Kaprizov has missed the past 10 games with a lower-body injury that has required lots of treatments and pushed-back timetables.

Kirill Kaprizov last played on Dec. 23, scoring his team-leading 23rd goal of the season in a win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He did not make the team’s post-Christmas trip to Dallas.

I think the guys have really bought in and understand that we have to play a really strong team game,” said coach John Hynes. “When you have players out, then it’s incumbent on the guys that are

Kirill Kaprizov continues to make progress towards a return from a lower-body injury. The star Minnesota Wild forward has missed the last eight games due to the injury, but he's skating on his own while continuing off-ice workouts,

Head coach John Hynes said Thursday that Kaprizov (lower body) has skated over the last few days, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

On the ice, the Minnesota Wild will play the Edmonton Oilers tonight at 7:30. Star winger Kirill Kaprizov has been held out for the Wild, but Kaprizov reportedly skated on his own recently at and hopes to make a return soon after missing the last eight games.

It's time to worry about Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek's health. Eriksson Ek is on pace for 43 points in 68 games. He plays a demanding role as the team's garbage man in grueling matchups. Opponents constantly cross-check him in the back when he's in front of their net.

It has been two months since we did a Wild mailbag and several months since we did an ‘Ask Russo and Smith’ mailbag, but with Joe back on the clock, there’s no better time to answer many of your questions.

The Colorado Avalanche (28-18-1) continue their homestand against the Minnesota Wild (27-15-4) in another matinee matchup at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:08 p.m. MT. READ MORE: How Will Jared Bednar Spend His Time During 4 Nations?

The defenseman scored his first goal for Minnesota against Nashville and is sticking to his plan to “go day by day.”