Is Mats Zuccarello playing tonight? Why Wild injury news isn't good in playoffs vs. Stars originally appeared on The Sporting News.

Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Minnesota Wild are playing shorthanded on Monday night.They're taking on the Dallas Stars, already leading 1-0 in the series.They picked up a dominant 6-1 win to open the postseason over the weekend. To double down, they'll do it without a veteran presence.Mats Zuccarello didn't get good news before the game.MORE: Sabres provide Buffalo a magical night 5,472 days in the makingIs Mats Zuccarello playing tonight?No, Zuccarello is out on Monday night.The Wild ruled him out shortly before puck drop with an upper-body injury.Why isn't Mats Zuccarello playing tonight?The upper-body injury Zuccarello has hasn't been specified further.However, there is video of this moment from Game 1:Tyler Myers caught Mats Zuccarello with the elbow and sits for 2 minutes 😳 pic.twitter.com/dBeA60O8Mp— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 18, 2026Interestingly, Zuccarello took part in morning skate on Monday.Apparently, he just wasn't quite ready to suit up for the game.MORE: 'Better Days,' Buffalo and a Sabres team uniting a city