Joel Eriksson Ek took four shifts in the first period. With 5:03 left on the clock in the first period, Eriksson Ek was being looked at by Wild Head Athletic Trainer John Worley. He ended up going down the tunnel during a TV timeout and did not return for the rest of the first period.

There is concern, however, because Minnesota forwards Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek left the game with injuries and didn't return. Zuccarello was hit by a Brock Faber slap shot somewhere in his midsection. It's unclear what caused Eriksson Ek to leave the game, but he was seen wincing in apparent pain on the bench.

The Minnesota Wild announced that winger Mats Zuccarello and center Joel Eriksson Ek did not return to Thursday’s 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens due to lower-body injuries.

Joel Eriksson Ek took four shifts in the first period. With 5:03 left on the clock in the first period, Eriksson Ek was being looked at by Wild Head Athletic Trainer John Worley.

The Wild played most of the game without two of their top-six forwards but managed to dispatch the Canadiens thanks to Matt Boldy.

Mats Zuccarello left in the first period after he was hit in the abdominal area by a point shot from defenceman and teammate Brock Faber and did not return for the remainder of the game.

The Minnesota Wild were already without Jonas Brodin when they took on the Montréal Canadiens, Thursday evening, Nov. 14. That injury was just the beginning however as the Wild would lose two more forwards before the end of the first period.