Marco Rossi, Brock Faber, Nic Petan all in Wild lineup as some regulars get a night off

CHICAGO – Talk about an emotional roller coaster.

Brock Faber and the Gophers lost the national championship game Saturday night, in agonizing fashion no less. On Sunday morning, Faber officially turned pro by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Wild and the next evening he was skating in his NHL debut in a 4-2 victory over the Blackhawks.

"A lot of highs and lows, obviously," the now-former Gophers captain said. "One of the hardest things I've ever gone through, for sure, and it's gonna sting for a while. But I'm here, and I'm here to do anything I can for this team. So, it's a dream come true."

Faber became the 32nd Minnesota-born player (30th skater) to appear in a regular-season game with the Wild, and his addition was one of many changes for the team.

Captain Jared Spurgeon, fellow defenseman Jonas Brodin and forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello did not make the trip to Chicago.

All four could have played but are "banged up," coach Dean Evason said. Evason also mentioned everyone is available for the team's last home game before the playoffs on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg.

Calen Addison subbed in on defense after being scratched the previous six games, while Marco Rossi and Nic Petan suited up after being recalled from the minors on Sunday.

Faber teamed up with another Gophers alum in Alex Goligoski on the blue line.

"He wore that jersey with pride," Faber said of Goligoski, who was at Minnesota from 2004 to '07. "He's here now, too, so kind of look up to him in that sense."

Faber learned Sunday morning he would be in action against the Blackhawks, this just hours after the Gophers were downed 3-2 only 10 seconds into overtime by Quinnipiac, but the Maple Grove native's season wasn't over.

He expected his parents Jay and Karri and sisters Payton and Paige to be among the family members in attendance on Monday night.

"I'm just so excited to be here," Faber said. "It gives me chills thinking about it."

Rossi's return was his 17th game of the season with the Wild, but it also set up like a new chapter.

After the center made the Wild out of training camp, he struggled to generate offense and was sent to the minors. With Iowa in the American Hockey League, Rossi was much more productive, racking up 16 goals and 34 assists in 51 games.

"When I look back when I was up here the beginning of the season, I think I was more like playing too safely," Rossi said. "The 50 games helped me a lot to get my confidence back, and now my confidence is pretty good."

Gustav Nyquist remained in the lineup after an impressive Wild debut Saturday.

In his first game in approximately 2½ months after being sidelined by a shoulder injury, Nyquist set up a pair of Wild goals — including the game-winner by Spurgeon — in the 5-3 victory over St. Louis. The Wild acquired the winger from Columbus on Feb. 28 while he was on the mend.

Not only did the Wild notice his on-ice awareness, but they also felt he was strong on the puck.

"He's been such a good player in the league, a spectacular player," said Frederick Gaudreau, who scored off a Nyquist pass on the power play. "He just competes so hard. He's got the skills. He's got the vision. He's got the speed. Basically all the tools that hockey players can have, he has them and it makes him such a dangerous player.

"He made those plays [Saturday], and there could've been even more I think."

Evason said Oskar Sundqvist (lower-body injury) still hasn't resumed skating and remains day-to-day.

Sundqvist was hurt Thursday at Pittsburgh.