Wild defenseman Nate Prosser is making the most of increased ice time

The locker-room setup is the same.

So are many of his teammates.

"It's like nothing really changed," Nate Prosser said.

But what is different in Prosser's third tour with the Wild are his minutes, as the defenseman has settled into a regular role on the third pairing rather than being in and out of the lineup, as he was during his previous stints.

"That was just kind of where I was at with the team and where I was at with my career," Prosser said. "Now, I'm playing every night, and I love it. I just want to make sure every game I'm not taking for granted."

Since he was plucked off waivers Nov. 30, Prosser has skated in every Wild game while averaging 13 minutes, 38 seconds before suiting up for Monday's contest against the Senators. Most of that ice time has been spent blocking shots and being a reliable, gritty presence in front of the Wild's net.

Occasionally, though, he's made a splashy contribution by chipping in with a goal — as he did Saturday when he secured the game-winner in the 5-2 victory over the Lightning.

"Just got to keep going in the right direction here."

Rochester native Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of USA Hockey, died in his sleep Sunday at the age of 53.

Johannson, who was the general manager of the 2018 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, was embedded with USA Hockey since 2000, working alongside a number of Wild players.

"He helped a lot of young players get to where they are and helped kids grow up to be who they are," said defenseman Ryan Suter, who knew Johannson since he was 10. "His legacy will live on forever because of everything he did for USA Hockey."

Winger Zach Parise called the news shocking and remembers Johannson being involved in international tournaments like the World Junior Championship and Olympics.

It was Stalock's first appearance since Jan. 9, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flames, with No. 1 Devan Dubnyk rattling off four consecutive starts since.

"It was obviously nice for the coaches to give me a chance to get back in there because it's a weird stretch," Stalock said. "Another three days off coming up here soon."

Stalock's workload, however, could get heavier after the break; the Wild starts a back-to-back in his second game after the All-Star break, and March features 15 games.

"I think after the break we'll be right around 50 games," Stalock said. "So you got 30 games in two months really. It's a game every other day, really, so it's going to be busy."