Koivu, Scandella questionable for Wild’s return

Feb. 27--EDMONTON, Alberta -- Captain Mikko Koivu and defenseman Marco Scandella continue to recover from injuries, and both are questionable for the Wild's first game back from the Olympic break against the Oilers on Thursday night.

Koivu underwent ankle surgery Jan. 6. Scandella, who sprained his knee Feb. 4, was placed on injured reserve, along with winger Jason Zucker (lower body).

The Wild play Friday night at Vancouver, which Yeo said complicates the issue.

"Back-to-back games might be tough for (Koivu)," Yeo said. "But that said, I don't want to say that he's in, I don't want to say that he's out. But those are the things that we'd have to consider along with making sure that he's 100 percent.

"I know from speaking to him, he's not quite there yet, so we'll see."

Koivu said he's likely past the point of reinjuring his ankle but needs to feel more comfortable skating with the pain before he plays in his first game since Jan. 4.

"I'm just waiting for it to feel like it's game-ready, and then I'll play," Koivu said. "The key is always how it responds the next day to (make sure) it's not getting worse."

Scandella and Zucker's IR move is retroactive to Feb. 7, so they're eligible to play at any time. The move makes room for goaltender John Curry and winger Stephane Veilleux, recalled from AHL Iowa.

Zucker won't join the team on this road trip and has yet to skate since the Olympic break started Feb. 7.

Curry, who is 7-5-2 with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage in 15 games with Iowa, was called up as insurance after Niklas Backstrom was unable to practice Tuesday because of soreness.

Briefly

The Wild and Chicago Blackhawks swapped minor league players Wednesday. Minnesota acquired veteran left winger Brad Winchester in exchange for minor league defenseman Brian Connelly. Winchester, 32, is a tough fourth-liner with 390 career NHL games and 24 playoff games on his resume. He was set to report to the Wild'sAHL affiliate in Iowa but could bring energy and a veteran presence to the Wild this season.

Follow Chad Graff at twitter.com/ChadGraff.

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