Jets’ Toews, Namestnikov exit pre-season game vs. Wild

Marcus Foligno’s short-handed goal at 14:29 of the second period snapped a 2-2 deadlock and lifted the Wild to the win at Grand Casino Arena.

Toews left the contest after his last shift, which came with 9:05 remaining in the second frame, and he didn’t return in the third.

Namestnikov, meanwhile, went to the locker room after being hit from behind by Yakov Trenin into the boards late in the third period. The 32-year-old didn’t return after appearing to hit his head on the play.

Before leaving, the 37-year-old Toews logged just over 10 minutes of ice time and won six of the 10 faceoffs he took.

Arniel added that Namestnikov was pulled by the concussion spotter, but said he was fine and that it was “more upper body than his head.”

Cole Koepke and Namestnikov scored for the Jets in the losing effort.

Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov also scored for the Wild, who were tied 1-1 after the first period and took a 3-2 lead into the third.

Wild netminder Jesper Wallstedt stopped 26 of 28 shots to post the victory. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 16 of 19 shots in the Jets’ net.

The Wild went 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Jets were 0-for-4.

Toews landed with his hometown Jets on a one-year, $2 million contract in the off-season, returning to the NHL after missing significant time due to long COVID and a chronic immune response syndrome diagnosis.

He last played in April 2023 and took two seasons off to focus on his health before indicating making the decision to return to hockey earlier this year.

Tuesday marked the third pre-season game that Toews has played. The three-time Stanley Cup champ has been skating on a line with wingers Cole Perfetti and Nino Niederreiter.

— With files from the Canadian Press

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