The Wild had been playing for almost two weeks when it fended off the Coyotes on Tuesday night for the team's first regulation-time victory.
But that 2-1 result seemed to signal the start of this season's grind, with the Wild improving to 2-2-2 while shorthanded and finishing off two games in as many nights.
And although it had two days to regroup, the adversity hasn't waned much — especially since the Wild will try to assemble its first win streak during another arduous back-to-back, starting Friday at Dallas against the Stars before returning to Xcel Energy Center to play host to the Lightning on Saturday.
"We just persevere and keep going," coach Bruce Boudreau said, "and hopefully good things come."
A patchwork effort was responsible for that triumph over Arizona since the Wild relied mostly on 10 forwards, and it will use another new look to tackle this weekend.
Captain Mikko Koivu will be back after missing the game Tuesday to be with his wife, Helena, as she gave birth to the couple's third child, Oskar, but veteran forward Matt Hendricks is out. Hendricks suffered a lower-body injury Tuesday, leaving the action in the first period after Coyotes winger Brendan Perlini fell on Hendricks' left leg — pinning it on the ice. Boudreau hopes Hendricks won't be sidelined for more than two to three weeks.
Center Joel Eriksson Ek is also ruled out for the back-to-back, as he remains on the mend from a lower-body injury. He has been shifted to injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 11, a move that gives the Wild the flexibility to make a call-up if needed.
Winger Marcus Foligno didn't practice Thursday because he is under the weather; the team was set to evaluate Foligno's status before it departed for Dallas, but Boudreau was hopeful Foligno would accompany the team on the road trip.