Minnesota likely will be without junior captain Tyler Sheehy and freshman forward Scott Reedy this weekend against North Dakota.
Both players were question marks at the beginning of the week. While they each skated in practice Wednesday, head coach Don Lucia was cautious about their chances to make the road trip.
"I doubt that they'll be playing this weekend. We're going to take a long-term approach," he said Wednesday. "Unless we feel really comfortable, we're preparing like they won't play."
Sheehy missed both games against Penn State and was listed as "week to week." Reedy left the end of Friday's game before not playing in Sunday's 6-3 win.
The injuries, mixed with Leon Bristedt being suspended - he'll be back for the series against the Fighting Hawks - allowed Minnesota to juggle lines. Lucia singled out his normal fourth line of Jack Ramsey, Ryan Norman and Darian Romanko as guys he believed stepped up and can play in elevated roles.
"The other guys did a good job. Our lineup on Sunday without three important players, and the other guys stepped up like you hope. That's what the team game is all about, that you're going to have a mix," he said. "You can't use it as an excuse. I don't know who they are yet, but we'll have 18 guys who are ready to go.
"In the long run it'll make us a better team."
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