Wild’s Mats Zuccarello gets official injury designation for critical Game 4 vs. Stars

The Minnesota Wild could’ve used an extra bit of depth in Game 3 against the Dallas Stars, with the game going to double overtime. Losing both Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin to an injury proved costly, as the Stars eventually won on a powerplay to take a 2-1 series lead. With all eyes on whether the Wild will get healthier for Game 4 on Saturday afternoon, John Hynes announced that Zuccarello will be a game-time decision, via NHL.com’s Dan Rosen.

“He’s questionable for tomorrow, making good strides,” Wild coach John Hynes said after practice.

Zuccarello missed both Games 2 and 3 after taking an elbow to the head from Tyler Myers in the first period of Game 1. It’s clear how important Zuccarello is to the team, as they haven’t been able to get back on track since his absence. The Wild’s superstar Kirill Kaprizov echoed that after Friday’s practice.

“It’s always tough to lose someone who plays all season in the lineup, but it is what it is,” Kaprizov said. “Obviously, Mats is a big part of us, and we’ve played together for a long time. I hope he feels better and comes back in this series.”

Mats Zuccarello skated before Friday’s practice, but he didn’t stay for the full team practice. Considering it was a contact upper-body injury, it’s possible that Minnesota would need him to take some contact in practice before committing to putting him in the lineup on Saturday. With an earlier start on Saturday, the Wild may not have a pre-game skate.

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