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Injured MN Wild Forwards Still Up in Air for Game 3
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- Injured MN Wild Forwards Still Up in Air for Game 3
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Wild will play their first 2026 NHL Playoff game ever at Grand Casino Arena tonight, kind of. The previous 48 postseason games, of course, were played in the same building, just under a different naming rights sponsor. Officially, the Wild finished 18-30 in the Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center.
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Nonetheless, it’s fitting that Game 3 of MN Wild vs Dallas Stars will be played under a newly named arena, since this postseason has a completely different feel than previous playoff appearances.
After Bill Guerin traded for Quinn Hughes this winter, then he and Hughes, along with Brock Faber and Matt Boldy , won a Gold Medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics — expectations shifted back home in St. Paul, where a Stanley Cup suddenly feels more real than any other time in the Minnesota Wild’s 25-year history .
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However, injuries to forwards Mats Zuccarello (head) in game one and NHL hits leader Yakov Trenin in game two have suddenly put a damper into the Wild’s postseason plans. Zuccy’s unavailability for game 2 was especially impactful, which we’ll get into momentarily.
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Minnesota Wild injury updates are… incomplete
First, let’s get into today’s somewhat worrisome injury update. According to Michael Russo (The Athletic) , neither Zuccarello or Trenin participated in the MN Wild’s morning skate today. Both are game-time decisions for game 3 tonight.
If neither can go, per Russo, then both Nico Sturm and Bobby Brink will play in their place. If one plays, Brink will get the nod, meaning Sturm would be a healthy scratch for the third time in this series.
Zuccarello and Trenin gametime decisions. If one can’t go, Sturm will play.
Haight and Jones part of big team now so they can be part of meetings, etc, in case called upon— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 22, 2026
Both out, Sturm in. One out Brink in https://t.co/AOjf9rVEKQ
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 22, 2026
More Game 3 News: MN Wild Sticking with Wallstedt
The thought of going without Mats Zuccarello again tonight is especially worrisome, just given how much Kirill Kaprizov struggled without his best friend on the ice with him earlier this week.
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Kirill Kaprizov may need Mats Zuccarello…
In game 1 , not only did Mats assist on three of the Wild’s six goals, but on the right side of Kaprizov, Minnesota’s highly-paid superstar shined just like the rest of Minnesota’s stars in that 6-1 blowout victory — potting one goal and added two assists.
Without Zuccarello in the lineup for game 2 , though, Kirill had a lot less “Thrill”, registering just one point (an assist), while turning the puck over twice. He didn’t cough it up once in game 1.
Of course, the most frustrating part of Mats Zuccarello’s injury is how it happened — via Tyler Myers ’ left elbow, which he clearly threw into Zuccy’s forehead (on purpose), causing the 38-year-old to crumple to the ice.
Tyler Myers caught Mats Zuccarello with the elbow and sits for 2 minutes 😳 pic.twitter.com/dBeA60O8Mp
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 18, 2026
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