Kirill Kaprizov’s monthlong layoff is over. The Wild’s leading scorer and captain Jared Spurgeon will be back in action Thursday when the Wild face Utah Hockey Club at Xcel Energy Center. Both practiced Wednesday at Tria Rink in St.

The Minnesota Wild are trying to stay afloat near the top of the West, a mission that will be easier if Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon return Thursday, as expected.

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

One of the players, Kirill Kaprizov, is the leading scorer on the Wild. The other, Jared Spurgeon, is the team captain and a respected leader in the dressing room."It's exciting," Eriksson Ek said. "Two very important players for us. It's fun to have them back out there."

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.”

The Utah Hockey Club (19-19-7) recorded a crucial 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues at Delta Center on Saturday to remain in the thick of the Western Conference wild card race, but the week ahead provides no relief.

Linus Ullmark traveled with the Senators for their three-game road trip that begins Sunday at the New Jersey Devils (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, RDS, TSN5, MSGSN). "He's coming on the road. ... We're still day by day,” coach Travis Green said of Ullmark following a 6-5 shootout win against the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

I’m excited. I feel good. It obviously sucks being hurt. First time in a really long time that I’ve had to miss games,” said Brock Faber, who suffered an upper body injury early in a Jan. 7 home

Kaprizov has missed the past 10 games with a lower-body injury that has required lots of treatments and pushed-back timetables.

The Minnesota Wild are trying to hang onto their spot near the top of the NHL standings, and on Friday they revealed the reinforcements are on the way.

Frederik Andersen was activated from injured reserve and will be the backup for the Hurricanes against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, SCRIPPS, NHLN, TVAS2).

The move was necessary to make the call-ups needed to have a full roster. It's retroactive, so Kaprizov can return whenever he's ready.