ANAHEIM, Calif. – Defenseman Jonas Brodin will return to the lineup Saturday against the Ducks as the Wild moves closer to getting everyone affected by a COVID-19 outbreak back in action.
"I feel ready," Brodin said. "I got a good practice yesterday and a good morning skate today, and I feel pretty good. So, I'm excited to get back with the guys and start playing here."
Brodin rejoined the Wild for practice Friday along with fellow defensemen Carson Soucy and Brad Hunt, center Victor Rask and goalie Cam Talbot. All five players had been unavailable due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocols, but they were released earlier this week and flew privately to Anaheim on Thursday to meet up with the team.
Coach Dean Evason said Brodin was the only potential lineup addition the team was really deciding on ahead of its second straight game in Anaheim. The Wild got by the Ducks 3-1 on Thursday, a game that was riddled with mistakes by the Wild despite the outcome.
"We had 43 turnovers and hardly any in the first period and we were up 2-0 and likely could have been up more," Evason said. "But all of a sudden, I don't know if it was the score or what dictated that, but we started being very careless with the puck. It was frustrating."
Kaapo Kahkonen will be back in net for the Wild, as Talbot continues to work his way back into game form. This will be Kahkonen's third consecutive start, and he's 4-4 on the season with a 2.65 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.
"When we're running a drill [in practice], we gotta be very aware of not blowing the whistle too quick because he wants to compete on every single rebound, every single puck that's around him," Evason said of Kahkonen. "I think that's something that his teammates clearly see, and it's translated into games."
Projected lineup:
