The Minnesota Wild expect star winger Kirill Kaprizov and top center Joel Eriksson Ek to return before the end of the regular season, general manager Bill Guerin told reporters before Sunday's game against the Boston Bruins at the X in St. Paul, Minn.

That's Wild Before their grinding 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins, the Minnesota Wild were not having a fun time. Without Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, it felt like the dynamism and heartbeat of the team was missing.

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild placed forward Joel Eriksson Ek on injured reserve after he picked up an injury in practice on Monday.  The centerman must miss at least seven days, which includes four games for the Wild,

Lauko’s goal Tuesday was more than a hint he can fill some of the gap left by the absences of Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov.

See an updated list of injuries, with active and inactive players for the Minnesota Wild vs. Boston Bruins NHL March 2 game.

Center Joel Eriksson Ek, one of the team's best forwards, suffered a serious injury in practice on Monday, according to The Athletic 's Michael Russo. He's been placed on injured reserve, which means he has to miss at least the next four games, but Russo says he hears the absence is going to be "a lot longer" than that.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Wild first-line center Joel Eriksson Ek was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday with a lower-body injury, and the team announced his status as week-to-week.