Continued: Heavy duty is next hurdle for Gaborik

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Marian Gaborik played his second consecutive game since missing two months because of a "lower body" injury Friday night against the Islanders, but that was not always guaranteed.

Friday morning, Gaborik was the first Wild player off the ice at the morning skate and then admitted he's still feeling "discomfort."

Assistant coach Mario Tremblay said every player was told to show up ready to play because the team didn't know the extent of the "Gaby situation."

The fact there is still a "Gaby situation" has to concern the Wild.

Gaborik, who scored five goals in a game against the Rangers one year ago today, admitted that the 20 minutes of ice time he logged Wednesday against Calgary "was a lot of load on my lower body."

"I feel some discomfort," Gaborik added. "In the game, when you get into the flow, things get better. We'll find out after the game [Friday] if things will be fine."

Asked if he'll be able to keep playing through the "discomfort," Gaborik said, "If I would need to rest it, I'd definitely consider it. But I'm playing [Friday] and hopefully everything's going to be good."

Asked if he's concerned about potentially playing back-to-back (the Wild's in St. Louis tonight), Gaborik said, "We'll see how everything goes."

On Thursday, Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said there's a lot of pressure on Gaborik.

"He hasn't played. He's our top guy. He's got to produce," Lemaire said. "He's looking for a contract next year. There's a lot of pressure."

Gaborik admitted Friday morning that he's got to stay healthy and play at a high level because of his contract situation.

"[The pressure] comes with it obviously," Gaborik said. "You want to go out there and feel good and produce to make things happen. Hopefully I can do that. It's going to take a lot to get the level I can be and produce at a high level."

Injury details

• Wild defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron suffered a lower-body injury Friday night and did not travel with the team to St. Louis.

• Krys Kolanos, the Houston Aeros' leading goal scorer with 15 in 19 games, was called up to replace Eric Belanger, who is sick. "I've got to make the best of this opportunity," Kolanos said. "If you get the call, you better bring the noise." Owen Nolan was put on injured reserve.

Okposo is back in

Returning a month sooner than expected, former Gophers winger Kyle Okposo returned to the Islanders lineup after missing 13 games because of a wrist injury.

Okposo has been to a number of Wild games; his uncle, Bryant Dullinger, has season tickets along the glass.

Regarding last year's controversy in which he left the Gophers in January to sign with the Islanders, Okposo said: "People seem to forgive and forget. It was a fun time [at the U]. I still keep in touch with Coach [Don] Lucia. They prepared me well for the NHL life."

Etc.

• Wild first-round pick Tyler Cuma did not make Team Canada's world junior roster because of a sprained MCL. He'll miss six weeks.

• With the Wild's need at center, one has to wonder if it'll put a waiver claim in for Tampa's Jussi Jokinen, a buddy of Antti Miettinen. An NHL roster freeze until Dec. 27 went into effect at midnight, but waiver claims still can be made.