Just as Mikko Koivu returns, Wild loses Matt Dumba, its top-scoring defenseman

Just when the Wild patched up one hole in its lineup, another leak sprouted.

Captain Mikko Koivu is ready to return after missing four games with a lower-body injury, but the finale of a four-game homestand against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday also signals the start of a push without defenseman Matt Dumba.

He'll be out at least this week with an upper-body injury suffered Saturday in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Dumba logged 5 minutes, 37 seconds of ice time in the first period, which included a fight with winger Matthew Tkachuk only 40 seconds after puck drop, but he didn't return for the second and third periods.

Back-to-back injuries to key players while vying to climb back into a playoff position represents a unique test the Wild had yet to face this season, but the flip side of adversity is the chance it creates for others to deliver.

And the Wild has plenty of candidates to do just that.

"To me, it's an opportunity," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "If they don't take it that way, then that's their bad."

That means seventh defenseman Nate Prosser will be ushered into duty after appearing in just two games so far. Prosser takes pride in being tasked with trying to help stabilize the Wild — a role he fulfilled last season after being plucked off waivers for a third stint with the team.

"That's kind of where I'm at in my career and this organization," Prosser said. "I knew it coming in. I knew it while I was sitting and just skating and working to get into the lineup. I'm ready, and I'm prepared."

With Prosser filling out the third pairing next to Nick Seeler, Greg Pateryn moves up to the second unit to line up alongside Jonas Brodin.

"My game is what it is," said Pateryn, who signed a three-year, $6.75 million contract during the offseason as a free agent. "I'm not going to go out there and try to turn myself into somebody I don't need to be. I got myself here for a reason, and there's obviously still areas to build all the time. But you just stick to your game and just do what I need to do."

Even though Koivu is back in the mix after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Flames captain Mark Giordano on Dec. 6, he won't occupy his usual spot next to winger Zach Parise — a tweak that gives others a chance to make an impact from different spots.

On the heels of a career season that preceded a five-year, $30 million commitment from the Wild during the summer, Dumba was orchestrating a tremendous encore with 12 goals (two shy of his career high and the most in the NHL for defensemen) and 22 points.

"He still may be well on his way to having a ridiculous year," Boudreau said. "I always feel for guys when they get hurt, especially when they're trying to protect our team."

Instead of going back to the minors now that Koivu is ready to play, call-up Luke Kunin is getting a look alongside Koivu and winger Jason Zucker — who rejoined the Wild for practice Monday after missing Saturday's game due to illness.

"Definitely excited for this opportunity," Kunin said. "I like my game the last game, and I just want to keep improving off that."

This assignment also keeps rookie Jordan Greenway next to center Eric Staal and winger Mikael Granlund after the three played together Saturday, an effort that culminated in a goal for Greenway — exactly the type of response the Wild is hoping for from this revamped lineup.

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