A day after downgrading Mats Zuccarello from day-to-day to week-to-week, the Wild announced they placed Zuccarello on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury.
Zuccarello missed his first game of the season on Monday — a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins — and then missed Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins after the team had downgraded his status.
The 36-year-old winger leads the Wild with 28 points (6 goals, 22 assists) this season.
The loss of Zuccarello is a big one for the Wild, who have already been down their top two defensemen in Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. Brodin is on long-term injured reserve while Spurgeon (lower body) is day to day and could play Thursday against Montreal.
Placing Zuccarello on injured reserve gives the Wild the ability to recall a player, but it also means he’ll be out at least the next seven days.
Vinni Lettieri played in Zuccarello’s place during Monday’s and Tuesday’s games, though he left Tuesday’s game early after blocking a shot. Lettieri has four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in the 15 games he’s played this season for Minnesota.
