The Minnesota Wild are already without their best shutdown defenseman in Jonas Brodin and one of their best offensive wingers in Mats Zuccarello. Now, the Wild stalwart center Joel Eriksson Ek will be out “weeks, not days,” according to a team source.
Eriksson Ek was injured in overtime Tuesday night when he was checked by the Vancouver Canucks’ Jake DeBrusk. Eriksson Ek’s right leg absorbed the collision before he landed awkwardly on the ice.
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Eriksson Ek, who was named to Team Sweden’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off on Wednesday along with Wild teammates Brodin and Filip Gustavsson, has dealt with myriad maladies this season. On Oct. 12, he broke his nose. On Nov. 14, he sustained a leg injury.
Eriksson Ek, often dubbed the Wild’s most irreplaceable player because he’s first over the boards in every key situation, usually tries to play through anything. Despite his hard brand of hockey, he only missed 14 regular-season games the previous three years. Coming off a 30-goal, 64-point season, Eriksson Ek has five goals and 13 points in 22 games this year.
Brodin missed the past four games with an upper-body injury. The Wild are hoping his injury settles down after receiving injections earlier this week so he can avoid surgery. Zuccarello missed the past nine games with a lower-body injury. The Wild have also been without left wing Jakub Lauko the past four games due to a lower-body injury.
The Wild are 17-4-4 this season and lead the NHL in points (38), points percentage (.760), goals allowed per game (2.32) and save percentage (.920).
They’ll likely have to recall a forward from AHL Iowa on Wednesday afternoon as they embark on a three-game road trip Thursday to Anaheim, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
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