Jason Pominville Out For The Minnesota Wild vs Chicago Blackhawks
By Ger Devine
Apr 9, 2013; St. Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville (29) carries the puck during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Pominville will sit-out Game 1 of the Stanley Cup play-offs due to injury.
The Minnesota Wild have been dealt a blow in the build-up to tonight’s hotly anticipated game at the United Center against the Chicago Blackhawks. Deadline-day acquisition, Jason Pominville, who was recovering from an elbow by Dustin Brown that has kept him out of the line-up since April 23rd, will not be ready to play.
There was speculation that the right-winger would be fully recovered in time for the start of the play-offs but Mike Yeo said the Wild have to “look at the big picture” and make sure that when he returns “we get him back in for good.”
According to Michael Russo, of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Pominville woke up not feeling well, after initially expecting to play.
This news will be devastating to Wild fans, as Pominville had scored 9 points in 10 games and was enjoying some great chemistry with Kyle Brodziak and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who were benfiting from having a sniper to take advantage of their possession-dominating and playmaking skills respectively.
Mar 12, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Anaheim Ducks forward Patrick Maroon (62) fights with Minnesota Wild forward Zenon Konopka (28) in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
It is most likely Zenon Konopka will dress in his place, meaning Cal Clutterbuck will continue at RW on the 3rd line. This hurts the Wild, as rolling 4 strong lines will be key to competing with the ultra-deep Blackhawks. Konopka has 0 points and 117 PIM in 37 games this year.
Stay tuned to Gone Puck Wild for more info as we get closer to puck-drop, and make sure to read our previews and re-caps tonight and throughout the play-offs.
Go Wild!