Wild’s Zuccarello undergoes surgery for lower body injury vs. Canadiens

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello underwent surgery Thursday night after the team’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, coach John Hynes said Friday.

Zuccarello left in the first period after he was hit in the groin area by a point shot from defenseman and teammate Brock Faber.

The incident occurred with just over seven minutes remaining in the opening period. Zuccarello immediately doubled over in pain after being hit and was helped off the ice and to the team’s locker room. He played just 3:15 before leaving and not returning.

Hynes said Zuccarello required surgery for the lower-body injury he suffered and will be placed on injured reserve for three to four weeks as a result.

The 37-year-old had appeared in all 16 Wild games this season, recording six goals and 14 points.

Center Joel Eriksson Ek was also injured in the first period of Thursday’s game, but has apparently avoided serious injury. It was unclear when the 27-year-old was injured, but he was seen creeps on the bench after his last shift.

The Swede has five goals and eight points in 13 games this season. He missed two games in October after undergoing surgery on a broken nose.

Hynes said Friday that Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin, who missed the game against the Canadiens, are considered day-to-day.

According to HynesEriksson Ek and Brodin have not yet been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars, but the team still plans to call up a forward.