Koivu sustained a lower-body injury when he was hit knee-to-knee by Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano during the third period of a game Thursday in Calgary. Koivu flew back to Minnesota for further examination, Fenton said.

EDMONTON -- The Wild will be without captain Mikko Koivu on Friday when it faces the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.

"It's being evaluated by our doctors. As time goes on here, we'll let you know what the situation is," Wild General Manager Paul Fenton said Friday. "I think we'll find out in the next little bit ... [but] I'm not a doctor and I don't even want to speculate where it is."

Tweet from @NHLPlayerSafety: Calgary���s Mark Giordano has been suspended for two games for kneeing Minnesota���s Mikko Koivu. https://t.co/771Qz2CB0z

Giordano, who was assessed a two-minute tripping minor in the game, was suspended two games by the NHL for the hit. Koivu left the game afterward and did not return for the final 13:43 of the game.

With Koivu out, Matt Hendricks will scratch into the lineup against the Oilers. Hendricks skated in 214 games with Edmonton between 2013 and 2017, scoring 20 goals and 38 points.

A veteran of 590 NHL games, he's played more games in an Oilers uniform than with any of the other six teams he's skated for.

Video: Paul Fenton on Mikko Koivu injury

"He can play most any position. He's looking forward this game. He played here for this team," said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau. "Anytime you play against a former team, you look forward to playing them."

If Koivu is out long-term, Fenton said he's confident in the group that remains in the dressing room currently.

"Right now, yes. I'm confident in the group we have in here. We've been fortunate to not be nicked up this year up to this point," Fenton said. "I think it gives other guys an opportunity to step up, take up some of those vital minutes that [Koivu] does."



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Wild Warmup: Minnesota at Edmonton