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Minnesota Wild Get Some Good News on Jake Middleton
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- Minnesota Wild Get Some Good News on Jake Middleton
Jeff Curry-Imagn Images Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The 2024-25 NHL regular season is in its home stretch the Minnesota Wild are desperately trying to hang onto a Western Conference playoff spot, after dropping their last four games , two of which have been in regulation. That's just two points in their last four contests, for the hockey people out there who can count.
With just five games remaining, the 41-29-7 (89 points) Wild woke up before Sunday's afternoon tilt against the Dallas Stars clinging to very flimsy four point lead over the Calgary Flames , who still have six games remaining on their schedule.
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Calgary Flames charging fast up Wild Card standings…
The Flames are on a heater, of late (pun intended). They've won six of their last ten and they picked up points in two of those four losses (6-2-2). Meanwhile, the MN Wild are 4-4-2 in their last ten games, a record that seems to get worse every time they take the ice. Minnesota and Calgary will meet Friday Canada. The way it's been going lately, there could very well be a playoff berth on the line.
Will Kirill Kaprizov
and Joel Eriksson Ek
be back in the lineup by then? We still don't know
. But when the Minnesota Wild lost Jake Middleton
to an apparent head/neck
upper body injury during their last loss
against the New York Islanders
, it added even more stress onto an already thin starting lineup.
Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Middleton's injury happened when Isles center Bo Horvat nudged the Minnesota Wild defenseman from behind, sending him crashing into the boards at an extremely awkward angle (see below). After the spill, the 29-year-old Canadian tough guy took awhile to get up. Eventually, the dazed former 7th round pick (kind of) skated off under his own accord.
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Minnesota Wild release Jake Middleton injury update
On Sunday, MN Wild head coach John Hynes gave an update on Middleton's injury, following an MRI and a couple days rest. Thankfully, it appears the 29-year-old avoided serious injury on that scary-looking fall.
No Jake Middleton today (upper body) but he is considered day to day as Hynes says: "he avoided major injury." #mnwild
Chisholm in for him, Gus starts.— Jessi Pierce (@jessi_pierce) April 6, 2025
Horvat, Middleton incident. pic.twitter.com/vNb4GhMlE4
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) April 5, 2025
This season, Jake Middleton has played in 66 of the Wild's 77 games , racking up 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists. His 95 shots are a career high, as are his 21:56 TOI. Seven years into his career, he is also averaging a career-high 21:56 minutes of ice time per game.
Wild need to get healthier, not vice versa…
Declan Chisholm , also Canadian, is starting in Middleton's place vs the Stars. He has played 62 games this season , which highlights the trouble Minnesota has had staying healthy on their blue line. Chisholm has scored a pair of goals to go along with ten assists.
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As mentioned, Middleton's injury is just the latest example of an extremely difficult season for the MN Wild, in that department. They are still waiting on the return of both Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, a patience that could prove futile if they don't wind up making the NHL Playoffs.
Related: When Will Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek Return to MN Wild? We Still Don't Know…
Minnesota is running out of time to get healthy, and they certainly aren't in a position to be losing more players. It's been a war of attrition this season, and the Wild are just trying to make it out alive.
