Greetings. Youngblood here, with Russo getting the day off.
The Wild got back from Phoenix in the wee hours, then had to be at St. Thomas Academy for an 11 a.m. practice. During the 45-minute session coach Todd Richards skated the team rather hard. The team was originally going to take Sunday off and practice Monday, but Richards changed things up. This way the guys get, essentially, a day and a half off.
Center Matt Cullen, who missed the Phoenix game with an upper body injury, was on the ice practicing. He said he wanted to play in Phoenix, but Richards came down on the side of caution. His reasoning? It was better to lose Cullen for a game, then get him back healthy, than it was to play him and risk losing him for a longer stretch. Richards said Cullen should play Wednesday.
John Madden, also fighting through an injury, also practiced.
Missing were defensemen Jared Spurgeon and Brent Burns and winger Martin Havlat. Spurgeon, who was sick and missed the Phoenix game, still wasn't 100 percent. Richards expects him over at Xcel Energy Center for a workout Monday and expects Spurgeon to be back at practice Tuesday. Burns and Havlat, tired after participating in All Star weekend, were given the day off.
That's about it. Have a good time watching the Super Bowl.
