You have to hand it to Tyler Ennis.



There’s a certain irony to the fact that when the Wild were decimated by injury earlier this season, the undersized yet very skilled winger couldn’t figure out a way to escape a third- or fourth-line role and now that the Wild are completely healthy for the first time this season, Ennis is, at least for now, locked into a top-six spot.



It has taken a lot of patience and a lot of “putting my ego aside,” but when the Wild close out the first half Thursday night against his old Buffalo Sabres, Ennis will start the game on one of Eric Staal’s wings opposite Jason Zucker.



“But it’s been up to him,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He’s the one that’s done it.”



One game after Zach Parise returned from a back injury, Nino Niederreiter will return from an ankle injury after missing five games. Niederreiter will skate with Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund,...