Whether Joel Eriksson Ek can play or not, Wild have 'lot of belief' they can turn series around

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild had an optional practice on Thursday after Wednesday’s off day. There weren’t many regulars on the ice, and there certainly was no Joel Eriksson Ek or Jonas Brodin.Coach John Hynes said Eriksson Ek and Brodin haven’t skated since suffering their injuries. We’ll see if Eriksson Ek is there for Friday’s full practice. As of the morning of Game 1, team sources said Eriksson Ek was hoping to try to play Saturday, but that was hardly set in stone. Hynes said Thursday that practicing on Friday wouldn’t necessarily determine whether the Swedish center plays in the game.Brodin, team sources said, will remain out for a while.Eriksson Ek was hurt in Game 6 of the first round against the Dallas Stars and Brodin in Game 5.