Riding three-game skid, Wild lose another key player to injury

Things aren't exactly going to plan for the Minnesota Wild in the very early portion of their season. They've lost three straight games to begin a five-game road trip, dropping their record to 2-3-1 on the season. And injuries continue to be an issue for a depth-challenged team that can't afford them.

The Wild began the season without two key forwards in winger Mats Zuccarello and center Nico Sturm, who won't be back anytime soon. Now they'll be without another for at least Monday night's game against the Rangers in New York City.

Marco Rossi, Minnesota's first-line center, is out on Monday with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot during Saturday's overtime loss in Philadelphia. He's considered day-to-day, which gives him a chance to return to the ice when the Wild wrap up their road trip on Wednesday in New Jersey.

Rossi has played in all 82 games in each of the past two seasons. This injury snaps a streak of 173 consecutive games played for Rossi, which led all Wild players. The 24-year-old, who signed a three-year, $15 million extension this offseason, had five points in the first six games of the season. He's coming off of a breakout year where he set career highs in goals (24) and points (60).

Without Rossi, Joel Eriksson Ek will move up to the top line between star wingers Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy on Monday. That's a potent line, but the rest of the lineup looks lacking in offensive firepower with Ryan Hartman and Danila Yurov also sliding up a line.

Defenseman Zach Bogosian is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury. This weekend, the Wild sent Liam Ohgren to Iowa and recalled Tyler Pitlick and David Jiricek.