Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek left Game 3 against the Dallas Stars after just one shift due to an apparent injury.Eriksson Ek took the opening faceoff of the game, but did not return for the rest of the first period. The Wild did not provide any further updates on his status during the game.
Eriksson Ek has been an important player for the Wild this season, recording 19 goals and 21 assists in 80 regular season games. He has also been a key contributor in the playoffs, scoring two goals and adding one assist in the first two games of the series against the Stars. Losing Eriksson Ek for an extended period of time would be a significant blow for the Wild, as they look to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
The Wild were already without forward Zach Parise for Game 3, as he was a healthy scratch after playing in the first two games of the series. Parise has struggled in the playoffs, recording just one assist in the first two games and posting a minus-4 plus/minus rating. Despite the injuries and lineup changes, the Wild were able to win Game 3 by a score of 3-1, taking a 2-1 series lead over the Stars. Forward Kirill Kaprizov scored two goals for the Wild, while goaltender Cam Talbot made 36 saves to secure the victory.
The Wild will look to build on their Game 3 win and take a commanding 3-1 series lead when they face the Stars in Game 4 on Thursday. The status of Eriksson Ek and Parise will be closely watched by Wild fans and analysts alike, as the team tries to advance deeper into the playoffs.
