MN Wild Superstar Sidekick Expected to Return

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NHL: Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks
Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Wild took their first loss in three games out on Thursday night, out east a disappointing 4-3 miss against the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a weird game, tons of scoring early… then nothing for most of two periods.

Last night’s game went went into the second period, 3-2. Before one minute had even gone off the clock, however, it was already 4-3, thanks to three goals in a matter of 46 seconds, to start the middle period.

The last two goals of the evening came off of Boldy (at 00:37), which tied it up at 3-3. Nine seconds later, Carolina took the lead back on Nikolaj Ehlers goal. It was the second of the night for both guys. And that’s where it stayed for the rest of the contest, even as Minnesota fought its way back in the Shots on Goal department.

At one point midway through the second period, the Wild were being outshot by the Canes 22-6. At that point the score was already 4-3. By the time the final horn sounded at the end of the third period, the score was the same but the SOG gap was down to 27-24.

Minnesota Wild getting Mats Zuccarello back?

Mats Zuccarello — who has missed the Wild’s first 15 games with a lower-body-injury — traveled with the team out east, but did not play on Thursday. The mysterious injury/surgery was sprung on media and the fanbase prior to training camp, but it sounds like the 38-year-old is ready to get back on the ice.

According to Michael Russo (The Athletic), Kirill Kaprizov’s partner in crime is expected to make his 2025-26 debut Friday night, when Minnesota plays the second of a back-to-back in the Metro Division, this time in Elmont, NY against the 6-5-2 Islanders. He was activated late this morning.

“Mats Zuccarello was with the Wild on this trip, as we reported earlier this week, and is likely to make his season debut Friday on Long Island against the Islanders. Zuccarello missed the first month of the season after having surgery on his lower-body injury.”

Michael Russo – The Athletic

Related: MN Wild Snag Insane OT Win in Controversial Fashion

The Minnesota Wild need Mats Zuccarello’s offense back, and the plan is for him to get back on a top line with Kirill Kaprizov. That should allow Matt Boldy to move off of his line for good, creating a much more balanced offensive attack up and down a lineup that’s been very top heavy, in Zuccarello’s absence.

And they need help on that side of the ice desperately. The season is still early, but the MN Wild have occupied the bottom of the Central Division standings for most of the season, thus far. If Zuccy can’t help change that in a big way, this is an organization that will have a lot of questions going into the NHL Trade Deadline later this season.

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