Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarello Both Left Game Injured And Did Not Return

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Wild opened the game against the Montreal Canadiens all healthy. They left the first period in a 0-0 game with two injuries to their forward group.

Mats Zuccarello took a point shot from Brock Faber to the midsection. He left the game with 7:08 left on the clock in the first period.

Joel Eriksson Ek took four shifts in the first period. With 5:03 left on the clock in the first period, Eriksson Ek was being looked at by Wild Head Athletic Trainer John Worley. He ended up going down the tunnel during a TV timeout and did not return for the rest of the first period.

Eriksson Ek had a chance to score in front of Sam Montembeault but it was stopped. After the chance, Eriksson Ek skated slowly through the zone and went to the bench.

He left after that.

The Minnesota Wild announced during the second period that both Eriksson Ek and Zuccarello would not return to the game. Lower-body injuries for both players.

Wild head coach John Hynes did not have an update on either forwards following the game.

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