The Wild held an optional practice Wednesday at Ridder Arena, with 14 skaters joining goalies Darcy Kuemper, Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding on the ice. While the struggling Thomas Vanek and Mikko Koivu didn't participate, Zach Parise and Jared Spurgeon did, though only Spurgeon has a good shot at playing Thursday against Buffalo.

Coach Mike Yeo said Parise, who has missed three games because of a concussion, is doubtful for the game. Depending on how Spurgeon felt after the practice, Yeo said, he could return to the lineup after missing five games. "I'm a little more hopeful that he can return," Yeo said.

Yeo added that there hasn't been a setback with Parise. The team is just being extra cautious with a player who looks more valuable by the minute, given how his team has collapsed without him in the lineup. "We just have to be smart about it," Yeo said. "We know what he adds to our lineup, but you just have to think of the big picture here. We have to make sure when we get him back that we're keeping him back for good."

The WIld will make some lineup changes Thursday, Yeo said, though he didn't reveal them after the practice. Without Parise and the still-injured Matt Cooke, the team has only 11 forwards as of Wednesday afternoon, when it sent winger Stephane Veilleux and defenseman Jonathon Blum to Iowa. No word yet on a callup. Kuemper will start in goal.

Yeo said the WIld "isn't complete with its game" right now as it tries to end a four-game losing streak. Among the problems he cited: being too soft in front of the net, trying to force plays and committing careless turnovers. He repeated that players are getting frustrated when they don't score early on, which leads them to press too hard in the second period, which leads to spending too much time and energy in their own zone. "A more complete focus on playing our game for 60 minutes will help us," he said.

When asked directly about the lack of production from Vanek and Koivu, Yeo declined to criticize them. Vanek has only one goal, scored on the power play, in 14 games. Koivu has two goals and one assist in the same span.

"It's on all of us," he said. "Obviously, those guys, that comes with the territory for sure. They're leaders, and they're expected to score. And there's going to be a lot of attention drawn to that. We have a number of people here who are capable of going out there and creating offense, whether it's helping those guys get on the scoresheet or whether it's getting on the scoresheet themselves. The bottom line is, we do it as a team."

RACHEL BLOUNT