Wild vs. Sharks: Defensemen piling up points even with absence of Jared Spurgeon

The Minnesota Wild have won seven straight games and picked up a point in the last eight overall even while one of team’s top players has been sidelined.

Jared Spurgeon has not played since he was injured midway through a loss to the Florida Panthers on Nov. 20. The Wild’s veteran defenseman and captain has returned to team practice and is expected to make a return to the lineup  — perhaps even as soon as Thursday night’s matchup in San Jose.

His presence would add to both a team and defensive group that is on a current roll.

Minnesota defensemen have accounted for 74 points through 25 games so far (17 goals-57 assists), and had a hand in all four goals in the Wild’s 4-1 win over Edmonton on Tuesday that was the first of a four-game road trip.

Jonas Brodin had two assists, and Matt Dumba and Jordie Benn both had one.

Benn and forward Kirill Kaprizov picked up the assists on defenseman Dmitry Kulikov’s pretty goal in the third period that was the final score of the game.

Minnesota is 5-2-1 in its last seven road games, and Tuesday’s win in Edmonton marked the 14th time in the past 17 games overall that the Wild have scored at least four goals.

The Wild fell to the Sharks 4-1 on Nov. 16 at the Xcel Energy Center,  and  has points in eight of the last 12 games played at SAP Center in San Jose (7-4-1).

The Sharks are coming off a 5-3 home win over the Pacific Division-leading Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

San Jose enters Thursday night in fifth place in the Pacific

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Betting odds

The Wild vs. Sharks  odds on WynnBET has Minnesota  as a 1.5 goal favorite on the road.. The Wild  are also  listed as -145 favorites on the moneyline with San Jose the home  underdog at +125 The total goals is set at an over/under of six.

Upcoming Wild schedule

Saturday, Dec. 11: @ L.A. Kings, 9:30 p.m., CST

Sunday, Dec. 12: @Vegas, 8 p.m. CST

Tuesday, Dec. 14: Carolina, 7 p.m. CST