Advertisement

Zach Parise back for Minnesota Wild vs. Flames

Getty Images
Getty Images

The Minnesota Wild haven’t had Zach Parise in their lineup since Oct. 27, but he’s only actually missed six games with a foot injury. Thanks, NHL schedule makers!

The star winger is due back on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames. “He’s a good player. I don’t know if he’s going to be 100 percent but if he’s ready to play we’re ready to have him,” said coach Bruce Boudreau.

The Wild are currently 8-5-1, third in the Central Division with 17 points but with three games in-hand on the second-place Winnipeg Jets. Offensively, they’re ninth in the NHL in goals-per-game at 2.93, but their power play has been middling: 14.3 percent, at No. 21 overall in the NHL.

To that end, Parise could help. He was third on the team in average power-play ice time last season (03:23) and third on the team in power-play points (18).

Parise had six points in eight games before his injury, which was an encouraging sign after he had a poor showing at the World Cup of Hockey. (Then again, who didn’t for Team USA?)

He saw most of his time with Eric Staal before the injury, but Staal’s effective line with Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter probably means that Parise finds another home in the lineup; Michael Russo expects it’ll be with Jason Pominville on a third line.

Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

MORE FROM YAHOO SPORTS