Completely refreshed and re-energized after four days south of the border (Mexico, not Iowa), it’s time to answer your myriad questions in the latest #askrusso mailbag.



Similarly, scores of Wild players will also fly back to Minnesota on Thursday from far-off destinations like Mexico, and now the sprint to the finish line begins.



The Wild aren’t allowed to practice until 5 p.m. Friday in preparation for Saturday’s Hockey Day Minnesota finale against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Coach Bruce Boudreau has been bemoaning this fact for two weeks, but the Lightning — the best team in the NHL — will enter the game having already played once and practiced twice since coming off their bye. It was this type of inequity the league was supposed to fix after instituting the “bye week” for the first time last season.



But after getting little help in the standings during their hiatus, the Wild can’t afford any excuses in the...