Injuries Threaten Wild's Playoff Aspirations

Injuries are already threatening to impact the Minnesota Wild's playoff series against the Dallas Stars. The Wild are set to face the Stars on the road in the first round, and while the injuries are primarily on the Dallas side, they could still play a significant role in the series.

Miro Heiskanen, a key player for the Stars, left a recent game against the Wild with a lower-body injury and underwent an MRI. Head coach Glen Gulutzan expressed skepticism about Heiskanen's availability, stating, "We won't have him for the rest of the regular season, but we're certainly hoping to get him in the first round." Speculation suggests Heiskanen may be available for Game 1 but not at 100 percent, which could give the Wild an advantage.

Roope Hintz is another Stars player whose absence could affect the series; he is set to miss the remainder of the regular season. Neither Heiskanen nor Hintz will have any game time before the playoffs, which could impact their performance.

The Wild's recent game against the Stars showed their potential, as they led 3-1 before ultimately losing 5-4, highlighting the firepower of Dallas players like Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Mikko Rantanen.

Despite the loss, the Wild demonstrated resilience and physicality, indicating they will not go quietly in this year’s playoffs. However, questions remain about the confidence of goaltender Filip Gustavsson and the overall depth of the Wild roster against a strong Stars team.