There are five weeks remaining until the NHL playoffs begin. The Wild, after trade deadline moves, were aiming to use the next month to fine-tune for the postseason.
As it turns out, that road to the playoffs might be rocky.
All-Star winger Kirill Kaprizov, who had a hand in 41% of the team's goals this season, will be out three to four weeks after suffering a lower-body injury in Wednesday's victory in Winnipeg.
The Wild announced that timeline Thursday and recalled forward Sammy Walker from their minor league affiliate in Iowa.
Kaprizov, who has 39 goals and 35 assists in 65 games, is 17th in the NHL with 74 points. The 25-year-old Russian set Wild records in all three scoring categories last season with 47 goals and 61 assists for 108 points.
The Wild, after finishing fifth in the league in scoring in 2021-22, are 25th in the NHL this season with 179 goals. Still, they are in second place in the Central Division and have a 10-point cushion over ninth-place Calgary in the Western Conference playoff race with 17 games remaining.
Kaprizov's injury came during the third period Wednesday. While protecting the puck, he was the victim of a clumsy check by 6-7 Jets defenseman Logan Stanley. Stanley fell on top of Kaprizov and the Wild's leading scorer did the splits.
No penalty was called, and Kaprizov's left leg appeared to bend awkwardly. He took a few moments to gather himself before rejoining play and eventually skating gingerly to the bench.