The Wild has decided to fly Brent Burns (upper body) back to the Twin Cities later today. He was unlikely to play Saturday in Vancouver, so he’s being sent back for rest and treatment to get him ready for next week.

Burns played 82 games last year. He’ll miss at least four now with this “upper body” injury. I’m not positive what the injury is. It could be his back, but I know for a fact he’s got some sort of leg injury, too, by the way he’s walking and what part of his body he’s got wrapped.

Speaking of Burns, I talked to him this morning. He’s frustrated, clearly, but excited to be on the All-Star ballot for the first time. Where’d he find out? “Russo’s Rants.” Another plug from the Wild’s best defenseman, and he’s not even on the payroll.

Colorado captain Joe Sakic, a bona fide Wild killer, skated a little this morning, but he is not playing tonight with a back injury.

Not much else going on. Looks like Craig Weller’s in for Colton Gillies, and Erik Reitz will get another game for Burns. Tomas Mojzis is out.

Jacques Lemaire is very concerned about Pierre-Marc Bouchard’s psyche right now. That’s what I’m planning on leading the notebook with tomorrow. He said Bouchard the last few games has done everything he normally does, but right now the puck lands on other’s sticks and they can’t do anything with it. Last game it was Gillies, Lemaire said.

Lemaire said the Wild’s injuries are hurting Bouchard more than any player because he can’t find linemates to play him with. Remember, the past three seasons, Bouchard was cemented with Brian Rolston, who not only was productive, but he was a shoo-in to be in the lineup everyday because he was always healthy (he has been out for New Jersey with a high ankle sprain but was rarely if ever hurt in Minnesota).

Talk to you from the Pepsi Center press box later.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 1:25 pm and is filed under Pregame skate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.