The Spurgeon General is expected to return to action tonight! The top-pair (or perhaps second-pair?) defenseman hasn’t played since November 25th against St. Louis, when he suffered a groin injury that was supposed to keep him out for at least another week beyond today. Instead, he should get back in tonight, a huge boost to Minnesota’s chances at beating a rested Blackhawks squad that has won four straight and most recently drubbed the Jets in Winnipeg 5-1.
Speaking of four-game streaks, the Wild saw its win streak come to a close yesterday against Edmonton, when Minnesota came out totally flat in the opening period with what appeared to be the old “Day Game Doldrums,” as we’ve seen from this team many times in past matinees.