Zach Parise is likely to make his first appearance of these playoffs for the Wild in Game 4 against the Golden Knights on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.
Coach Dean Evason didn't confirm what lineup changes the team will make, saying the team had "a couple of game-time decisions," but Parise appears to be back – leaving the Wild's optional morning skate at a normal time instead of working out late. Parise has been a healthy scratch for the first three games of the series, along with three of the final four games of the regular season.
His return comes after forward Marcus Johansson suffered a broken left arm in Game 3. Johansson underwent successful surgery on Friday, Evason said.
Parise was unavailable for comment Saturday morning.
"Zach's played a ton of playoff hockey, and he's a great player," captain Jared Spurgeon said. "He knows what it takes to win. I think the way he plays, he gets to those dirty areas and he plays playoff hockey pretty much every single game."
Kyle Rau also seems in line to suit for up Game 4. He didn't skate late with the taxi squad; instead, Nick Bjugstad did – suggesting a lineup swap. Bjugstad had been playing on a fourth line with Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm. Rau has logged one other playoff game in his career, with the Wild in 2018.
"We're looking forward to those guys coming in," Spurgeon said.
Both players are joining a series in process, with the Wild down 2-1 in the best-of-seven to Vegas, but Evason doesn't think it'll be difficult for them to capture the urgency of the playoffs and the Wild's situation.
