Wild will be without Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin for first two games of series vs. Avs

TL;DR

The Minnesota Wild will be without Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin for the first two games against the Colorado Avalanche due to lower-body injuries. Coach John Hynes indicated that lineup decisions are still being made ahead of Game 1.

Key points

Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin are out for the first two games.
Both players have lower-body injuries.
Coach John Hynes is evaluating the lineup ahead of Game 1.

Minnesota WildColorado AvalancheJoel Eriksson EkJonas Brodin

DENVER (AP) — The Minnesota Wild will be without forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin for the first two games of their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche because of lower-body injuries. Neither player made the trip to Denver. Wild coach John Hynes said the team is still “making a couple decisions on the lineup" ahead of Game 1 on Sunday night. The Avalanche will be without defenseman Josh Manson, who missed the series clincher against the Los Angeles Kings last Sunday with an upper-body injury. Avs coach Jared Bednar said Nick Blankenburg will slide into Manson's place. The team acquired Blankenburg in a deal with Nashville on March 4. “He's played good in the time he's been with us,” Bednar said. “We got him for a reason — like the way he moves, like the way he moves the puck. He plays with a little bite. He’s got to stay within himself. It’s going to be a challenge for him tonight, because the thing we'll miss with (Manson) is the size, the strength, the physicality." Eriksson Ek had three goals and two assists in the Wild's first-round series win over Dallas. He finished with a 56.4% faceoff win rate. and could be possibilities to take Eriksson Ek's place. “Ekky's a big part of the team," Hynes said. "When you lose a guy that plays that many situations, you have to do it collectively as a group, and it’s not all on one guy.” Brodin didn't play in Game 6 against Dallas. Hynes said given the break between Games 2 and 3 — the teams play Tuesday and not again until Saturday — that “both those guys will be reevaluated and see where it goes from there.” \\_ AP NHL playoffs: and

Q&A

What injuries are Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin dealing with?

Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin are both sidelined due to lower-body injuries.

Who will replace Joel Eriksson Ek in the Wild's lineup?

Danila Yurov and Hunter Haight are potential replacements for Joel Eriksson Ek in the lineup.

When is Game 1 of the Wild vs. Avalanche series?

Game 1 of the series between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche is scheduled for Sunday night.

Wild will be without Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin for first two games of series vs. Avs

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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