Wild without Faber, Brodin vs. Avalanche due to injuries

The Minnesota Wild will have to combat one of the NHL's most prolific offenses without their top defense pair.

Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin are out Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche due to injuries, head coach John Hynes said, per The Athletic's Michael Russo. Brodin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. There's no update on Faber, who departed Tuesday's game in the first period after hurting his upper body.

The Wild also continue to be without captain Jared Spurgeon and leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov.

Fortunately for Minnesota, No. 4 defenseman Jake Middleton returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing 11 games. He figures to play a key role with the rest of the blue line beleaguered by injuries.

David Jiricek was recalled from the AHL on Wednesday and will make his Wild debut Thursday after the 2022 No. 6 pick was acquired in a November trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Minnesota's blue line projects as follows against the Avs:

Additionally, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is battling an illness and is questionable to dress versus Colorado. If he can't go, the club may require an emergency backup behind starter Filip Gustavsson.