Greetings. Thought we’d give Russo a day off after the road trip.

The team practiced at Parade Ice Garden, but three players missed it: Mikko Koivu, who continues his stop-and-start return from a cracked bone in his left leg; Derek Boogaard, who has having his back re-examined Monday; and Pavol Demitra, who had the flu.

We talked to Koivu after practice and it doesn’t appear he’s very close to returning to practice. He has, when able, been skating on his own for a couple weeks now. But there are days — like Monday, for example — when he is too sore to do so.

There is no question Koivu is anxious to get back. He talked Monday about how difficult it is to be doing rehab work with the team out of town on an extended road trip.

GM Doug Risebrough said he doesn’t expect Koivu to return to practice this week, something Jacques Lemaire agreed with.

Koivu said the bone has healed. The pain is in the mucles in the back of his lower leg. Koivu compared it to back pain in the sense that it is difficult pain to play through.

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