The Minnesota Wild are heading into a tough second-round playoff matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, but they'll have to do it without two key players for the first two games. Forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin are both sidelined with lower-body injuries and did not travel to Denver for Games 1 and 2.

Wild coach John Hynes confirmed the absences, noting the team is still finalizing lineup decisions ahead of Sunday night's Game 1. "We're making a couple decisions on the lineup," Hynes said, keeping fans guessing about who will step up.

Eriksson Ek was a standout in the Wild's first-round series win over Dallas, tallying three goals and two assists while winning 56.4% of his faceoffs. His versatility will be missed. "Ekky's a big part of the team," Hynes added. "When you lose a guy that plays that many situations, you have to do it collectively as a group." Potential replacements include Danila Yurov and Hunter Haight.

The Avalanche are also dealing with injuries, as defenseman Josh Manson will miss the game with an upper-body injury. He was absent from the series clincher against the Los Angeles Kings last Sunday. Coach Jared Bednar said Nick Blankenburg will step in, acquired from Nashville on March 4. "He's played good in the time he's been with us," Bednar said. "We got him for a reason — like the way he moves, like the way he moves the puck. He plays with a little bite. It's going to be a challenge for him tonight, because the thing we'll miss with (Manson) is the size, the strength, the physicality."

With a break between Games 2 and 3—the teams play Tuesday and not again until Saturday—Hynes noted that both Eriksson Ek and Brodin will be reevaluated after the first two contests. "Both those guys will be reevaluated and see where it goes from there," he said.

For fans, this series is shaping up to be a test of depth and resilience. Whether you're cheering for the Wild or the Avs, make sure your team's gear is ready for the playoff push.