Jason Pominville remains out for the Minnesota Wild with an injury, and the forward may not be healthy enough to play against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. Pominville sat out on Tuesday with a lower-body injury and is "doubtful" for the next game for the Wild.
Pominville was originally injured his leg against the Buffalo Sabres earlier in the month. The forward missed practice and was listed day-to-day with an injury. Pominville sat out against the Edmonton Oilers last Thursday, which snapped a streak of 231 consecutive games played. Pominville has been out for the last three games for the Wild and is in question for Thursday night.
The last time Pominville had missed a regular season game before the injury was back in the 2013 season. Pominville has 33 points in 67 games this season, including 11 goals and 22 assists. Pominville's streak was the second longest in team history behind the 283 straight games that Antti Laaksonen played in. Justin Fontaine took over for Pominville in the lineup for Minnesota.
"We think Fontaine is going to come in and do a good job," interim coach John Torchetti said. "It's a good situation for him. We had him in a checking role before, and he's got the good hockey sense offensively to fill it in. We'll miss Pominville, for sure, but someone else gets an opportunity, and it's good that we have extra bodies to have that opportunity to be in the lineup."
Chris Porter and Mike Reilly were scratched for a game for the Wild, but the team got back Jarrett Stoll in after he missed time with an injury. Torchetti said that he spoke to the players about the lineup changes, including with Pominville out. The Wild are pushing towards the playoffs and they are currently in the second wild card spot for the Western Conference.
Minnesota is currently eight points back of the Nashville Predators for the first wild card spot. The team is in position to make the playoffs, but Colorado is just one point back in the standings. Minnesota has gone 32-27-11 this season with 75 points.
