Wild winger Zach Parise won't play Monday against the Predators at Xcel Energy Center, the second straight game he'll miss with a lower-body injury.
"Zach's better," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He's obviously not playing tonight but we're hoping that if all goes well, he'll be back sooner than later."
Parise was clipped by Capitals winger Tom Wilson in the third period Friday. He kept playing, setting up the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory for the Wild, but was out Saturday when the team finished off its back-to-back with a 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes in Carolina.
Nashville, second in the Central Division, has an 11-point lead on the Wild. Former Gophers center Rem Pitlick, signed last week, will make his NHL debut tonight for Nashville. Pitlick (pictured) passed up his final year of eligibility with the Gophers to start a two-year, entry-level contract with the Predators.
"It's super exciting, and I'm really grateful for this opportunity," he said. "It's pretty cool that I'm able to make my debut at home in front of my friends and family, so it's going to be awesome."
The Wild, meanwhile, hopes Parise could be back in action this weekend when it returns to the road for a two-game tour of Vegas and Arizona.
That's also when the Wild could get center Joel Eriksson Ek back in the lineup.
Eriksson Ek, who's been sidelined with a lower-body injury since getting hurt March 11 against the San Jose Sharks, participated in the team's morning skate Monday after a 10-minute session Sunday – the first time he was on the ice since he was injured.
