Eriksson Ek scored a goal Thursday in a 4-3 overtime loss to Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

As the Wild took the ice for warmups on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center, center Joel Eriksson Ek was conspicuously absent while his teammates filed out of the tunnel. The surprise absence came roughly 24 hours after head coach John Hynes said Eriksson Ek missed practice for maintenance.

Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) will suit up for Team Sweden for Wednesday's matchup against Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. There was initially uncertainty surrounding Eriksson Ek after he missed Minnesota's final game before the break due to a lower-body injury.

Eriksson Ek, 28, is the Wild's net-front guy on their top power play unit. But based on Sweden's practice, Eriksson Ek may be higher in the slot and point instead of net-front. In normal line rushes,