After a long hiatus due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the Minnesota Wild are finally preparing to return to the game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The first to have fallen in combat within the formation, Marcus Foligno is happy to soon be able to turn the page on this unfortunate episode which filled him with guilt.
In an interview with “The Athletic”, the 29-year-old forward admitted to having felt responsible for the recent events which have disrupted his team.
“I felt guilty, I told myself that it was me who had brought this (COVID-19) here,” said Foligno.
“You never want to be the first, or even have it. It’s a feeling of guilt and it’s weird because you shouldn’t be feeling that. But it’s like that. When you are the first, everyone sees your name come out. And then there is the domino effect which affects the whole team. “
Foligno played his last game on January 30 before starting the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. The Wild have suspended operations and closed their facilities after the Feb. 2 game against the Colorado Avalanche. A total of six Wild games had to be postponed.
Even if 14 players of the formation are still unavailable, general manager Bill Guerin is confident that his squad will be able to return to service on Tuesday against the Kings.
“Inevitable”
Foligno also believes he contracted the virus in Los Angeles at the end of January, when the Kings themselves were struggling with cases of COVID-19. The Wild player recognizes that this is part of the new reality in the NHL during a pandemic.
“There are a lot of protocols in place to make you feel safe,” he said. It’s just inevitable. Indeed, it’s hard to say how we can stop this thing (the virus). The only thing to do is to stop the contamination … You have to remove the team, quarantine them, and allow them to come back when it’s safe to do so. “
In 11 games this season, the Wild are 6-5. As for Foligno, he scored one goal and two assists in nine games.
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