Minnesota fell back on depth, defense and Filip Gustavsson’s goaltending and improved its NHL-best road record.

The Wild are bringing Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon back from injuries as the NHL season reaches the home stretch.

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes said he is "cautiously optimistic" that star forward Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon will return to the lineup against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday.

The Wild had their best player back for the first time in a month, but they didn’t play like it. Kirill Kaprizov’s return was spoiled by a 4-0 shellacking from Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center that continued the Wild’s woes at home.

David’s come in and I think he’s really shown some of his very good attributes,” John Hynes said, with a nod to Jiricek’s imposing 6-foot-3 frame. “You can’t teach size.”

Top scorer Kirill Kaprizov will have surgery later this week. The big picture: News that the star winger's lingering lower-body injury hasn't fully healed comes as the Wild embark on a challenging four-game road trip this week.

Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov turns up ice against the Utah Hockey Club during a Dec. 20, 2024 game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.