St. Paul, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Wild will be without both their leading scorer and No. 1 goaltender for their upcoming road trip, with the team placing both center Mikko Koivu and netminder Josh Harding on injured reserve Monday.
Koivu, who has generated a team-best 35 points and 27 assists this season, underwent successful surgery Monday morning to repair an ankle fracture the 30-year-old sustained while blocking a shot during Minnesota's 5-3 win over Washington on Saturday.
Koivu is expected to make a full recovery and return to action in approximately four weeks.
The Wild captain notched two assists against the Capitals to extend his point streak to five games, during which he recorded one goal and seven helpers.
Harding has sat out Minnesota's last two contests with what the team described as an illness. The 29-year-old has been battling multiple sclerosis for over a year.
Despite the disease, Harding has put together an outstanding season for the Wild, as his 1.65 goals-against average currently leads the NHL and he's gone 18-7-3 with three shutouts in 29 games (26 starts).
Harding also missed nearly two weeks in December as his doctors prescribed changes in his treatment program.
The Wild begin a two-game trek Tuesday in Los Angeles.
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