Minnesota Wild ironman Andrew Brunette has no plans to sit out tonight's home opener
The fact that winger Andrew Brunette missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday tells you he's hurting.
But don't think he won't play tonight.
Brunette is the Wild's ironman: He played in 509 consecutive NHL games before missing two late in the 2008-09 season, then came back and played in all 82 last season.
Brunette rarely misses practices either, but a hip injury has bothered him this week. Coach Todd Richards said the team wanted to keep him off the ice Wednesday to give him another day to heal.
Asked if he expects to be able to play in the home opener against the Edmonton Oilers tonight at the Xcel Energy Center, Brunette said, "I don't want to miss it, that's for sure."
Brunette, 37, has been ready for the opening faceoff 950 times in 14 NHL seasons, despite assorted ailments. "It's luck," he said, "and being able to fight through it."
If Brunette is unable or unlikely to play, the Wild will bring up Casey Wellman or another forward from Houston of the American Hockey League, but Richards said no decision has been made on that.
Some urgency: The Wild (0-1-1) are two games into the season, so although there is a sense of urgency to get that first win, Richards said he's not about to start talking about "must-win" situations.
"We've got three games at home," Richards said. "You want to win, but if you lose tomorrow, we aren't eliminated from the playoffs."
Briefly: Longtime NHL referee Kerry Fraser will autograph copies of his book, "Final Call: My Life as an NHL Official" at Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub from 1-3 p.m. Sunday and after the Wild's home game against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 19.
Defenseman Marek Zidlicky, who missed the Wild's two games in Finland last week with a groin injury, practiced Wednesday and is expected to be ready to play tonight.
Backup goaltender Jose Theodore, who has worked out at the X the past four days after working out with the Aeros in Houston since signing as a free agent last week, said he's ready to play. Richards said the plan is to use Niklas Backstrom as the starter and try to work Theodore in when possible.
A red-carpet entrance for players begins at 4:15 p.m. today at the RiverCentre, and a pregame party will follow.
