BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Wild visit the Ottawa Senators trying to continue a three-game win streak. Ottawa has gone 15-7-2 in home games and 27-20-4 overall. The Senators have conceded 139 goals while scoring 141 for a +2 scoring differential.

The Minnesota Wild passed their first test without star winger Kirill Kaprizov. They will look to continue that good fortune on Thursday night when they visit the Montreal Canadiens. The Wild announced Tuesday that Kaprizov,

The Wild survived without Kirill Kaprizov the first time, and they can do it again. That’s the message they sent Wednesday when they upended the Maple Leafs 3-1 at Scotiabank Arena to kick off Kaprizov’s second hiatus with a statement victory.

As the Minnesota Wild held their morning skate in downtown Toronto on Wednesday, ahead of their only visit to face the Maple Leafs this season, they were a man short. Again. But if there were players or coaches worried about another likely month-long stretch without high-scoring forward Kirill Kaprizov on the ice,