Injury bug sidelines key stars as Avalanche-Wild open playoffs
The playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild starts with notable injuries: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek will miss Games 1–2, and defenseman Jonas Brodin is out for the first two; Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson is out for Game 1, with Nick Blankenburg stepping in. Eriksson Ek's absence forces Minnesota to juggle lines (Haight vs. Yurov to fill his spot) and the Wild’s middle depth is tested, while Colorado leans on its matchup depth. Puck drop for Game 1 is at 7:10 p.m. on Sunday.