Disappointed he didn't hit his first self-prescribed target date for a return last week in New York, Wild forward Guillaume Latendresse is done picking targets.

"Last time I picked a target, I didn't reach it and it was not good for the head to keep working," said Latendresse, who has been out since Oct. 25 because of myriad abdominal and hip injuries and actually scored the first goal of the NHL season, said he felt "awesome" Saturday but not as good after a long practice Sunday.

"Today, it was tighter, the legs were heavier," he said. "I guess, we'll see. It's going to be like that all year."

Asked if he feels pressure to return with the team fighting for the playoffs, he said: "No. I think that's the good thing about the organization. They respect the players before the team. They want to make sure you're 100 percent when you come back and that you can actually help the team.

"Second of all, it's for my future, too. It wouldn't be good for me to come back two weeks [early] and miss the rest of year and maybe next year, too."

Etc. • Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta left the arena on crutches and wearing a left leg brace on Sunday after blocking Greg Zanon's shot on his left knee.

• Minnesota's Chuck Kobasew (ill), who missed two games, returned.

MICHAEL RUSSO