The Wild have a hard time explaining why there’s been such a difference in home/road splits this season. They boast a .740 points percentage (tops in the NHL) on the road so far, and .500 at home (23rd in NHL). Their Corsi-For per 60 at home in five-on-five play is 54.65 (30th in the league), and 55.03 on the road (23rd).

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes said he is "cautiously optimistic" that star forward Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon will return to the lineup against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday.

And the clearest signal that Kaprizov and Spurgeon would be back is that the Wild reassigned defenseman David Jiricek two hours after practice. If you did the salary cap math, it really was the only option to get below the cap ceiling once Kaprizov is activated from LTIR.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes is "cautiously optimistic" that star forward Kirill Kaprizov and defenseman Jared Spurgeon will be in the lineup on Thursday.

"I wish I knew. I don’t know. I don’t have a good answer for you," Wild forward Mats Zuccarello said on the home struggles. "We try to play the same way doesn’t matter if you’re home or away. But today especially today I think we gave them a little too much easy offense."

We just put Nashville behind (us) quickly and regrouped,” Marc-Andre Fleury said, after he tied Martin Brodeur for the most seasons with 10 or more wins by a goalie in NHL history with 20.

Despite Thursday’s tough outcome, Wild players were thrilled to have their captain and star forward back in the lineup.

The BriefThe Minnesota Wild lost to the Utah Hockey Club 4-0 Thursday night in the return of Kirill Kaprizov and Jared SpurgeonThe Wild has now lost 3 straight home games and 4 of their last 5The Wild host Calgary on Saturday before leaving for a 5-game road trip MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon were back in the Minnesota

Leading Wild goal scorer Kirill Kaprizov has missed multiple games with a lower-body injury, but his return could be imminent.

The Wild are now 3-1-1 in early starts following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day afternoon game in Colorado, a 3-1 win for Minnesota.

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes wouldn't make a full proclamation at Wednesday morning's practice, but says he's "cautiously optimistic" Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon will return this week - possible as soon as Thursday's home game against Utah.

Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes and winger Marcus Foligno react after a 4-0 loss to Utah Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center as Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon returned to the lineup from injuries.