LOS ANGELES – The Wild had a bit of a different look on their blue line during morning skate at Crypto.com Arena on Monday. Both veteran Zach Bogosian and top-line defender Brock Faber were missing, and the news was a mixed bag from coach John Hynes.

Headed into their Monday night rematch with the Los Angeles Kings, the Wild recalled David Jiricek from Iowa, with Hynes revealing that another lower body injury meant Bogosian would be unavailable. He planned to play Matt Kiersted on defense, and said that they expected Faber to play, despite sitting out practice for undisclosed reasons.

It was the third time this season that Bogosian has missed time. He was out for much of October and November after blocking a shot in Washington on Oct. 17. He missed a four-game stretch before Christmas, and is out of the lineup again after a blocked shot during Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Kings.

“I know he’s disappointed. Obviously he’s a tremendous competitor and he wants to play and make an impact on it,” Hynes said. “It’s a little bit frustrating for him, but you have to deal with the situation you’re in.”

The injury meant a fourth game this season in a Wild sweater for Kiersted, who is 27 and originally from Elk River. Watching the past few games from the pressbox as one of the team’s healthy scratches, Kiersted admitted a yearning to be on the ice, especially versus a scrappy team like Los Angeles.

“It’s hard from the pressbox, because the competitor in you wants to be in the lineup and play,” said Kiersted, who has one assist in his previous three games after signing in his home state as a free agent last summer. “But at the same time, it’s a pretty good team, and you cheer on the guys that do well. But anytime you get to slot back in, I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Wild captain Jared Spurgeon said the injuries they’ve absorbed on the blue line this season mean that having players like Kiersted and Jiricek available to step in when needed has been vital to the success they’ve had on the ice after their rough October.

“Unfortunately we’ve had a lot of guys in and out this year, but we have guys that take care of each other and can play the position,” Spurgeon said. “Obviously, Kiersted has been here for a while now and has played some very big games for us, so we know he can come in and play the game.”

It was not all bad news on the defensive front, as Hynes said he expects injured defenseman Daemon Hunt to join the team in Seattle when they close out their seven-game road trip on Thursday. Hunt, who has played 12 games, missed his 10th in a row on Monday as he works his way back from a lower body injury.

“He’s progressed pretty well over the last couple of days,” Hynes said. “Today will be a big factor, skating and then I think again tomorrow, and then if everything goes well I’d anticipate seeing him in Seattle.”

Hunt was sent to Columbus last season in the trade for Jiricek, but was reclaimed by the Wild off waivers after training camp.

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