The Minnesota Wild will have to dig deep to start their second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche. Just before Game 1 in Denver on Sunday, the team announced that two key players—forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin—will miss the first two games due to lower-body injuries.

Eriksson Ek has been a driving force for the Wild this postseason, bringing physicality and two-way reliability to the center position. Brodin, meanwhile, is a cornerstone of the blue line, known for his shutdown defense and smooth skating. Losing both players is a significant blow, especially against a high-octane Avalanche offense led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

For Wild fans, this is a tough pill to swallow. The team will need to rely on depth players to step up in their absence. Defensemen like Alex Goligoski and Jake Middleton will likely see increased minutes, while forwards such as Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman will be called upon to fill the void left by Eriksson Ek.

In the high-stakes atmosphere of a playoff series, every shift matters. The Wild's resilience will be tested right from the opening puck drop. Can they weather the storm without two of their most important players? The hockey world will be watching closely.