Stensaas here, checking in from St. Paul. The Wild practiced for about 45 minutes or so this afternoon before heading to Columbus. Nothing too striking about this skate, other than Marek Zidlicky (sore leg) was still not present and Marc-Andre Bergeron skated with a full cage helmet. Bergeron, you might recall, got into his third fight in as many games a few nights back. This last one was not kind. His nose is busted up pretty good (a host of stitches all over the bridge) and the black-and-blue under each eye makes it look as if he’s wearing face paint a la Ultimate Warrior of WWF fame circa 1989. OK - maybe it’s not that bad. But you get the idea.

Josh Harding was also in the building. He watched the team practice and was in good spirits a day after his scary third-period incident against Buffalo. The blade of a stick made it through the eye hole of his goalie mask, sending him tumbling to the ice and eventually to the hospital as a precaution. Donning sunglasses, Harding today said he’s fine - it’s a scratch to his cornea. He cannot open his right eye much.

Official word from the Wild is both Zidlicky and Harding are out for the final two preseason games, with reevaluations to come when the team returns from Montreal.

I’ll have a bit more on all this in tomorrow’s paper.

Russo’s already in Ohio. Check back for updates from there Friday.

Oh - the Wild will also unveil its first-ever team mascot this Sunday at 4pm at the X. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Doors open at 3:30.

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