Wild's Vanek practices Tuesday, more concerned about scoring slump than apparent finger injury

Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek practiced with his teammates on Tuesday. 

The good news: he seems no worse for wear despite being hit on the thumb by a Ryan Suter slap shot during Minnesota's 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. The bad news: Vanek has recorded just one assist through his first four games with the Wild.

In an effort to get Vanek going, Wild head coach Mike Yeo juggled his lines on Tuesday. The coach has reunited center Mikko Koivu with promising young power forward Charlie Coyle, in part hoping that their familiarity will rub off on Vanek. 

"This was our intention going into the season, to have (Coyle) start (on a line with Koivu and Vanek),'' Yeo told Rachel Blount of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Whether injuries or other factors came into play, or the play of him on the (Niederreiter-Haula) line, that’s a line we haven’t tried yet.

"Mikko and Charlie have had a lot of chemistry together in the past. They're both big bodies, they're both strong on the puck, and Thomas should fit that as well. One thing that excites us right now is the way Charlie is skating. His speed is very noticeable; it's been a real factor out there. We think adding that element to that line could really help."

Vanek and Koivu have been mainstays on the Wild's second forward line since the beginning of the season, but have just one combined point to show for it. Vanek admitted this weekend that his slump is on his mind, but is confident he'll be able to work through it.

"As a team and for myself, you just need that first one and hopefully it opens up," said Vanek. "I don’t feel like I’m squeezing my stick quite yet. We had some good looks. They’re just not going in right now."