Wild Missing Two Key Players For Opening Games
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Denver — The Minnesota Wild will be without center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin for the first two games of their second-round series at Ball Arena after both were held out with lower-body injuries. Neither player made the trip to Denver ahead of Game 1 on Sunday, and coach John Hynes said he had not finalized the lineup.
Denver — The Minnesota Wild will be without center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin for the first two games of their second-round series at Ball Arena after both were held out with lower-body injuries. Neither player made the trip to Denver ahead of Game 1 on Sunday, and coach John Hynes said he had not finalized the lineup.
Denver also listed Colorado defenseman Josh Manson as unavailable after he suffered an upper-body injury in the series-clinching game against the Los Angeles Kings, and coach Jared Bednar said Nick Blankenburg would slide into Manson’s spot. The teams play Game 2 on Tuesday and return to St. Paul for Game 3 on Saturday night, giving a limited recovery window for injured players.
More context
Timeline
- 1. Wild defeated the Dallas Stars in a six-game first-round series, advancing to Round 2.
- 2. Colorado clinched its prior series; Josh Manson sustained an upper-body injury in the clincher.
- 3. Colorado previously acquired Nick Blankenburg on March 4 and selected him to replace Manson.
- 4. Minnesota announced Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin would not travel to Denver for Games 1 and 2.
- 5. Game 1 took place Sunday in Denver, Game 2 followed Tuesday, and Game 3 is scheduled Saturday night in St. Paul.
Why it matters
The Wild's lineup changes could affect their performance in the upcoming games. If you're a fan, it's worth keeping an eye on how the team adapts. For those who enjoy sports betting, these injuries might influence your decisions.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
