The Minnesota Wild appear set to take on the Dallas Stars without their leading goal scorer.
Forward Zach Parise reportedly visited a specialist Monday after aggravating a back injury that's affected him since January, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.
Russo continues:
Parise was diagnosed with a herniated disk that was pressing on a nerve in January. He played through the injury while getting treatment and cortisone injections. But since being tripped last week (April 5) by Sharks center Logan Couture, Parise has experienced tingling in his legs, foot numbness, and disabling back pain, sources say.
"This is an extraordinary loss for us," goalie Devan Dubnyk said. "The only way to look at it is, like any time, it’s going to be an opportunity for somebody else to step up and play a huge role, and play a role in winning the series.
"But you’re just not replacing Zach. Somebody like that, when he’s in the lineup, he’s awesome, and when he’s not, you certainly feel it. It’s sports. That’s the way it is."
General manager Chuck Fletcher declined to comment on the situation, and Parise is officially listed as day to day with an undisclosed injury.
The 31-year-old scored 25 goals in 70 games for the Wild, with only Charlie Coyle (21) and Nino Niederreiter (20) able to hit the 20-goal mark.
Minnesota's playoff campaign begins Thursday in Dallas.
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