Jason Zucker‘s return to the lineup ended prematurely after he suffered an injury in the second period of Tuesday’s game between the Penguins and Wild.
Zucker fell awkwardly into the boards after a push from the Wild’s Kevin Fiala. He laid on his back while a trainer spoke with him before teammates helped him off the ice.
The 30-year-old winger has been limited to just 32 games this season, including one since mid-December, due to a sports hernia. Thursday marked both his return to the lineup and his first game in Minnesota since being traded from the Wild to the Penguins in February of 2020.
Before the game, Zucker opened up about the mixed emotions his return would bring.
“It seems crazy that it’s been this long,” he said. “But it’s always good to be back in this building. Lotta good memories, and just hoping that we can get a win tonight.”