Attack of flu leaves Wild thin for practice, games

The stomach flu has hit the Wild, which practiced without four ill players and then saw a fifth leave minutes in.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: December 14, 2007 - 1:20 AM

ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Newell Brown sat in the stands Thursday afternoon to watch the Wild's practice.

A few minutes later, Brown got up and left, something Wild coach Jacques Lemaire found funny.

"Their coaches said, 'Might as well go enjoy the sun,' once they saw our lineup," Lemaire said, laughing.

A stomach flu has hit the Wild, which practiced Thursday without Marian Gaborik, Eric Belanger, Nick Schultz and James Sheppard. Aaron Voros sprinted off minutes into practice.

With the bug circulating, the Wild could be short the maximum 18 skaters tonight. The Wild has the max 23 players on the roster, so the only way to call up reinforcements would be to place players on injured reserve. But then they'd have to miss a week.

The team doesn't even have the room to activate healthy Petteri Nummelin off injured reserve.

"I'll play 30 minutes -- I'm in good enough shape," said Brian Rolston, who skated on a line Thursday with ... assistant coach Mike Ramsey.

Players started getting sick Wednesday night. At midnight, the Wild moved five healthy players out of their sick roommates' rooms. By Thursday afternoon, every Wild player had his own room.

"We should be in quarantine," Rolston said.

Recent Minnesota Wild stories

Jason Blake scores winner, Maple Leafs beat Hurricanes for second win of season - December 14, 2007

Jason Blake scores winner, Maple Leafs beat Hurricanes for second win of season - Jason Blake scored on a power play with 8:24 left and Jonas Gustavsson made 34 saves to help the Toronto Maple Leafs win for the second time in 14 games this season, 3-2 over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. More