The Minnesota Wild have a four-point lead on the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with four games left to play.

Making the playoffs would prove to be a triumph in itself considering the slew of injury woes the club has endured throughout the 2024-25 campaign. 

Franchise star Kirill Kaprizov was in Hart Trophy consideration early in the season until sustaining an injury. The Russian goal scorer then missed a month to a lower-body injury before returning to action for three games and subsequently needing to undergo surgery in late January. 

Kaprizov has missed 28 games with that injury and 41 overall this season.

Joel Eriksson Ek, another invaluable piece of the roster, has made appearances back in the lineup on five separate occasions, but has missed the last 21 games after hardly being able to walk because of a lower-body injury. 

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) calls for the puck.

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Ek has scored nine goals and 24 points this season in 42 games.

As they prepare to take on the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, the team announced that it could have its two most valuable players back in action. 

Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek joined the Wild in New York at the start of their road trip last week after being cleared for contact. 

On Tuesday, both took part in the team’s full practice, including contact drills late in the session — their first taste of physical action in a full-team setting.

Before that, the two had participated in smaller skates, engaging in moderate contact drills according to The Athletic. 

If the Wild can in fact secure a playoff berth, it would be their 11th in the past 13 seasons.