The Wild hoped the Olympic break would bring more clarity to Josh Harding's status, but after the goalie didn't practice Wednesday, coach Mike Yeo said there's been no change.
Harding started only twice since leaving the team Dec. 18 to have an adjustment to his treatment for multiple sclerosis.
"We feel for him," Yeo said. "We're behind him and we just want to see him get better and get ready to get back with us."
With only 23 games left starting with back-to-back games next Thursday and Friday in Edmonton and Vancouver, there's a question as to whether Harding, arguably the Wild's first-half MVP, plays again this season.
Yeo says those conversations haven't taken place.
"I'm still hoping that every day he's going to feel better and he's back in the lineup," Yeo said. "We don't want to put any pressure on him. We want to be here for him, so when he feels better and when he's ready to rejoin us, we'll be more than happy to welcome him back."
Rookie Darcy Kuemper started 12 consecutive games before the Olympic break and is 8-3-2 with a 2.46 goals-against average. Veteran Niklas Backstrom, who missed the last game Feb. 6 against Nashville, saw the abdominal specialist who repaired his sports hernia last spring in Philadelphia over the break.
Backstrom said he knows now what "he's dealing with," although he said it's up to the team whether it wants to divulge information.
