The Minnesota Wild may have Mats Zuccarello back when they try to take control of their first-round series against the Dallas Stars in Game 5 on Tuesday night. John Hynes said Tuesday that Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin are game-time decisions, a possible lift after Minnesota’s comeback win in Game 4.
That comeback had the kind of finish that can change a series. Marcus Foligno tied Game 4 with five minutes left in regulation, then Matt Boldy scored the overtime winner with just seconds remaining to give Minnesota a wild score and even the series momentum heading into the next night.
Zuccarello’s return would be a notable one. He was hit in the head by Tyler Myers’ elbow in Game 1 and had been sidelined since then, even though he had three assists in that game. On Monday, he took part in team practice and lined up on the top power play unit, signs that suggested a possible comeback was moving closer.
The Wild have been undermanned since the opening game, and Zuccarello’s absence has been felt most around Kirill Kaprizov, where his playmaking normally gives Minnesota another layer of threat. In a player with 19 goals and 42 assists in 103 playoff games, the value is not just in the numbers but in the way he changes the pace of a shift and the options around him.
Before Game 1, Zuccarello had 15 goals and 39 assists in 59 games, a reminder of how often he has produced when healthy and available. Minnesota now has a chance to push Dallas to the brink of elimination, and whether Zuccarello is back or not, Game 5 carries the weight of a turning point.