Matt Boldy practiced today with the Wild for the first time in awhile. He didn't go on the recent roadtrip but rather stayed back to skate at TRIA Rink. Boldy is now ready to go and is expected to play against the New Jersey Devils tomorrow.
"Yeah, obviously it sucks to be out," Boldy said after practice. "So to come back and be with the guys again and feel part of the team and stuff like that, it's exciting."
Boldy returning for the Wild comes at a good time. The Wild have lost three in a row and five of their last six games making them 3-4-2 on the season which is sixth in the central division.
In Boldy's absence, Pat Maroon filled the role on the second line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson and did very well. Maroon has tallied one goal and six points in his last five games and has seven points on the year in nine games.
Although the Wild are in a bit of a funk, Boldy doesn't feel like he needs to be the saving grace for this team because they haven't even played ten games yet.
"No. We haven't even played ten games yet," Boldy said. "It's, come in kinda and do what I can to help. Not playing bad hockey, things aren't going our way but I don't need to go in there and outdo what I need to do. Just go in there and play my way and help the team."
Also worth noting, Jared Spurgeon was on the ice today for the Wild with the team and participated in about half of the practice.
Leaving practice early was not a set back or re-injury, it was planned for Spurgeon to get some line rushes in and practice with the team. Wild head coach Dean Evason said he does not know if Spurgeon will play Saturday against the New York Rangers.
Since being put on LTIR, Spurgeon would mean he's eligible to play in the Rangers game but not the Devils game. That being said, Evason doesn't look that far into advance and decide if Spurgeon plays or not.
Nonetheless, it is good news he was on the ice practicing with the Wild and same with Boldy.