NEW YORK >> The groups who are most directly impacted by the who and when of the NHL schedule — coaches and players — have zero say when it is put together. Instead, consideration of TV coverage and travel distances and whether Kylie Minogue has already booked dates at a particular arena are given the most weight.

The 2024-25 schedule has been more condensed due to the two-week break in February for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Still, the New York Rangers play at Madison Square Garden, which is one of the busiest venues in sports, which leads to schedule anomalies like the one experienced Wednesday night.

While the Wild have essentially had a game every other day for the past month or so, the Rangers were playing for the first time since Saturday. While Wild coach John Hynes reiterated the lack of say they have in the schedule, he said his job is to strive for a balance between rested and rusty when teams are off for multiple days.

“I think at this time of year you want to be able to play. It’s just that you have to take what the schedule gives you. Whatever that situation is, you’ve got to make the best of it,” Hynes said. “So I don’t think there is any one recipe. If you’re playing every other day, then you’ve kind of got to get in your groove in the schedule. If you have a couple days off…managing that the right way is important.”

The Wild conclude a stretch of eight games in 14 days on Sunday afternoon when they host Dallas, then get a two-day break before San Jose visits for one of the final home games of the season on April 9.

More progress for Kaprizov

While the Wild were playing games versus the Devils and Rangers, star forward Kirill Kaprizov checked in with his New York-based doctors and got some more encouraging news about a potential return to the ice.

“It was positive feedback, so he is going to go into the next phase of his rehab, ramp it up, test out some contact and things like that, so that’s where he’s at,” Hynes said, adding that he does not anticipate Kaprizov would be ready to return when the Stars come to Xcel Energy Center on Sunday.

“Let me put it to you this way: I think the feedback that he got and we got was in the positive direction, so we’re hopeful that he’s gonna be able to return before the end of the regular season,” he said.

The Wild have six games remaining in the regular season.