Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello was absent from Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury. While the Wild were able to take the game with a 4-2 win, Zuccarello’s great performance so far this season (16 points in 16 games) means they’ll want him back as soon as possible. Head coach Dean Evason said after the game that Zuccarello’s got a “nasty injury” on his bottom hand. Zuccarello will try to practice during the Wild’s optional skate on Monday, but Evason offers no guarantees.
More injury news from around the league:
- Mathieu Joseph of the Tampa Bay Lightning sustained an injury and did not return to Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Joseph had been playing in the Lightning's top six along with Alex Killorn and Anthony Cirelli and had seven points in 19 games. It’s a tough blow to a team that’s already missing Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point up front. It’s unknown if Joseph will miss how much, if any, time.
- Ondrej Kase isn’t returning for the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday night, but head coach Sheldon Keefe assures that his absence is more precautionary in nature. An upper-body injury to Kase is concerning considering his concussion history, but Keefe said on Sunday, “There’s no clarity on that right now. But that has not been designated as the case.” Kase has been working out on his own without practicing with the Leafs.
More must-reads: