The line juggling continued for the Wild, but this time for a different reason.
After Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek left injured in the first period, the shorthanded Wild used patchwork combinations to blank the Canadiens 3-0 on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center in their return home from a trip that already had them down a defenseman.
Matt Boldy scored his NHL-leading fifth game-winning goal, Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and assist, and goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 19 saves for his first shutout of the season in the Wild’s third win during their last four games.
At 11-2-3, they’re third in the league ahead of hosting the Stars on Saturday in what has the feel of their toughest test of the season — especially if their health doesn’t improve.
Zuccarello was the first to exit, with 7 minutes, 8 seconds to go in the first period, after he was struck by a Brock Faber shot that knocked him to the ice before Zuccarello gingerly skated off.
Soon after, Eriksson Ek also disappeared; he logged just four shifts.
Neither player returned the rest of the game, both suffering lower-body injuries.
