Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno will not play on Saturday due to illness

The Minnesota Wild are going to be without one of their key players on Saturday night.

Prior to their game against the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced that forward Marcus Foligno will not play, sitting out due to an illness.

Foligno has already missed time this season, as he was out of the lineup for three games earlier this month with a lower-body injury. He also had to sit out a few games late last season due to a different lower-body injury.

This is also not the first time Foligno has missed games due to illness in his career. During the pandemic, the former Buffalo Sabre was out of the lineup a couple of times due to COVID-19 protocol.

Foligno’s production has risen after a down 2022-23 season. Though he might not be on pace to reach the career-high 42 points the 13-year pro set two years ago, but Foligno has been playing better on a Wild team that has certainly taken a dip.

Through 45 games, the Buffalo native has scored eight goals and 11 assists, including a goal and an assist this past Tuesday against the Washington Capitals.

In 788 career NHL games, Foligno has potted 124 goals and 167 assists, while notching seven points in 28 playoff games.

It is not clear how much time he will miss, if any more than just one game. Thankfully, Saturday’s night clash is Minnesota’s last game before the All-Star break. Their next contest is not until Feb. 7, when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Wild (21-22-5) are currently seventh in the Central Division, 17 points ahead of the last-place Hawks. They are 18 points back of the Winnipeg Jets for third, but only six back of the Nashville Predators for the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.