ST. PAUL, Minn. -- For Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker, preparing for another Stanley Cup Playoff series is something he couldn't have imagined two months ago.
Instead, Zucker will be a critical player for the Wild when they play the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference First Round. Game 1 is at Scottrade Center on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA, SN360, FS-N, FS-WI, FS-MW).
After fracturing his clavicle in a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 9, and a surgical procedure to repair the damage a few days later, the prognosis for a return was 12 weeks.