Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Wild will play their first 2026 NHL Playoff game ever at Grand Casino Arena tonight, kind of. The previous 48 postseason games, of course, were played in the same building, just under a different naming rights sponsor. Officially, the Wild finished 18-30 in the Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center.
Nonetheless, it’s fitting that Game 3 of MN Wild vs Dallas Stars will be played under a newly named arena, since this postseason has a completely different feel than previous playoff appearances.
After Bill Guerin traded for Quinn Hughes this winter, then he and Hughes, along with Brock Faber and Matt Boldy, won a Gold Medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics — expectations shifted back home in St. Paul, where a Stanley Cup suddenly feels more real than any other time in the Minnesota Wild’s 25-year history.
However, injuries to forwards Mats Zuccarello (head) in game one and NHL hits leader Yakov Trenin in game two have suddenly put a damper into the Wild’s postseason plans. Zuccy’s unavailability for game 2 was especially impactful, which we’ll get into momentarily.
Minnesota Wild lose Zuccarello, Trenin for Game 3
First, let’s get into today’s somewhat worrisome injury update. Earlier today, Michael Russo (The Athletic) reported that Zuccarello and Trenin — neither of whom participated in the MN Wild’s morning skate — would be game-time decisions for Game 3.
But moments ago, the Wild’s PR team revealed on social media that both forwards are officially out tonight. According to Russo, Brink is playing on the top line opposite Kaprizov, directly replacing Zuccarello. Sturm is playing left wing on the fourth line.
#mnwild injury update: forwards Yakov Trenin (upper body) and Mats Zuccarello (upper body) will not play tonight vs. Dallas.
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) April 23, 2026
#mnwild lines
Kaprizov-Hartman-Brink
Johansson-Eriksson Ek-Boldy
N. Foligno-Yurov-Tarasenko
Sturm-McCarron-M. Foligno
Hughes-Faber
Brodin-Spurgeon
Middleton-Bogosian
Wallstedt
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 23, 2026
More Game 3 News: MN Wild Sticking with Wallstedt
Kirill Kaprizov may need Mats Zuccarello…
In game 1, not only did Mats assist on three of the Wild’s six goals, but on the right side of Kaprizov, Minnesota’s highly-paid superstar shined just like the rest of Minnesota’s stars in that 6-1 blowout victory — potting one goal and added two assists.
Without Zuccarello in the lineup for game 2, though, Kirill had a lot less “Thrill”, registering just one point (an assist), while turning the puck over twice. He didn’t cough it up once in game 1.
Of course, the most frustrating part of Mats Zuccarello’s injury is how it happened — via Tyler Myers’ left elbow, which he clearly threw into Zuccy’s forehead (on purpose), causing the 38-year-old to crumple to the ice.
Tyler Myers caught Mats Zuccarello with the elbow and sits for 2 minutes 😳 pic.twitter.com/dBeA60O8Mp
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 18, 2026
Mentioned in this article: Dallas Stars injury updates Mats Zuccarello NHL Playoffs Yakov Trenin
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