Wild’s Marcus Foligno to miss matchup with Canucks

Marcus Foligno will not play in the Minnesota Wild’s contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday as he battles a lower-body injury. 

Foligno, 31, has notched four goals and 15 points through 48 games this season, but his biggest contributions are not on the scoresheet. Foligno’s 174 hits pace the team, even ahead of fellow bruiser Ryan Reaves. His five fighting majors are also first on the club.

While Foligno remains an effective bottom-six forward and alternate captain, his physical style has started to take a toll on his statistical output. The left winger has already missed 13 games, and his .31 points per game would be his lowest since 2018-19.

The Wild will want Foligno back as soon as possible as they continue a furious race for the Central Division crown. 

With 74 points, Minnesota is three points behind of the top-seeded Dallas Stars and two points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets. Each team has played 61 games. The Colorado Avalanche, meanwhile, have 73 points through just 59 games.

Each team has tried to bolster its position via the trade market over the past week. The Stars flipped Denis Guiranov for Evgenii Dadonov, the Wild added Gustav Nyquist from Columbus, the Avs swapped a pick for Washinton’s Lars Eller and the Jets traded for Nashville power forward Nino Neiderreiter. 

After their game against the Canucks, the Wild will remain in Western Canada to battle the Calgary Flames on Saturday.