ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild came back from their five-day bye with a most unwelcome visitor: the mumps virus.
Forwards Zach Parise and Jason Pominville were diagnosed with the highly contagious disease and must miss at least three games.
Assistant coach Scott Stevens was also stricken, coach Bruce Boudreau said after the Wild beat Los Angeles 5-4 in overtime on Monday night.
Two seasons ago, when Boudreau was the coach for Anaheim, both the Wild and the Ducks were hit hard by mumps as it made its way around the NHL. The Wild had five defensemen get the virus that time, with absences ranging from one game to roughly three weeks.