Wild defenceman Jake Middleton leaves game vs. Oilers after blocking shot

The Minnesota Wild will have to fend off one of the NHL’s best offences without a key defender.

Jake Middleton was ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers with an upper-body injury, the team announced.

The 28-year-old blocked a shot from the Oilers’ Evan Bouchard, appeared to favour his right hand and headed to the locker room soon after.

In 28 games this season, Middleton has tallied five goals and eight assists for the league-leading Wild.

Should Middleton miss more games, recently acquired defenceman David Jiricek could be called upon to step in.