While he was clearly happy about this team’s second consecutive win, and a two-goal night that snapped a lengthy scoring drought, Matt Boldy’s smile disappeared after the Minnesota Wild’s 4-0 win over Seattle on Wednesday when the topic of linemate Marco Rossi came up in postgame interviews.

Rossi left that game in the first period after a shot by Boldy struck Rossi in the left leg, causing Rossi to miss the final two periods. While it was certainly not intentional, and Rossi appeared fine at the Wild’s Friday morning practice, Boldy clearly felt bad about the play.

“If it hit him and it went in, I think he would’ve been happy,” Boldy said. “It’s unfortunate. Just kind of one of those fluke plays where it hits him in a weird spot in between padding and stuff. Yeah, I guess definitely I owe him a little bit of something.”

While Rossi emerged without serious damage, the Wild lost forward Mats Zuccarello for 13 games earlier this season when he was posted near the top of the Montreal crease in a Nov. 14 home game and a hard shot by teammate Brock Faber hit Zuccarello below the belt. Surgery was required to repair the damage caused by the errant puck.

On Friday, Faber sheepishly admitted that he probably still owes Zuccarello dinner but added that taking an inadvertent puck from a teammate is part of the game, especially for players such as Rossi and Zuccarello, who have proven their value at the opponent’s net-front.

“It happens all the time. You hate to catch it in bad spots, especially as bad as Zuccy, but guys get hit all the time with friendly fire, or other guys’ shots,” Faber said. “You just always hope they’re OK. Zuccy’s was bad. Thankfully that doesn’t happen often, but if someone shoots a puck and it hits you, you’re not mad at them.”

Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian noted that goals are scored at the net front far more often than from the perimeter, so going to the high-danger areas is where the most effective players make their money. And he joked that with the number of shots that defensemen face on the practice rink, there’s no bad feeling about friendly fire.

“I honestly don’t really feel that bad because (forwards) come down and wire shots off our ankles in practice,” Bogosian said with a grin. “So, that’s probably karma.”

Brodin expected back on blue line

Defenseman Jonas Brodin was again a full participant in practice on Friday, and Wild coach John Hynes made it sounds as if the veteran will return to the line chart for Saturday’s afternoon game with Buffalo.

“I think it’s a strong possibility, not a guarantee,” Hynes said, adding that Marcus Johansson and Rossi could return on Saturday, as well. Brodin has missed the past nine games with a lower body injury.

“I’m not hiding anything,” Hynes said, with some head-shaking about the non-stop parade of injuries the Wild have experienced. “They do the skate, and then the way that this year’s gone, I could go downstairs in five minutes and all three are out, or all three are in and three new guys are out.”

In a further sign that points to Brodin’s return, the Wild reassigned defenseman David Jiricek to Iowa on Friday. Jiricek had been a healthy scratch for every game since the Wild recalled him on March 1. Hynes added that he expects forward Marcus Foligno to miss a third consecutive game due to an upper body injury.

Briefly

The Wild signed a future blue line prospect on Friday, inking Stevie Leskovar — picked in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft — to an entry level contract.

Leskovar, 20, has a goal, four assists and 70 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League this season. He will join the Wild organization for the 2025-26 season, presumably with one of their Iowa minor league teams.

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