Mats Zuccarello Set for Dramatic Game-5 Comeback—Can the Wild Flip the Series?

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello is officially back in the lineup for Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 against the Dallas Stars, giving the Wild a major boost as the Western Conference First-Round series shifts to American Airlines Center with the teams deadlocked 2-2. The 36-year-old fan favorite missed the past three contests after absorbing an elbow to the head late in Game 1, but he skated Monday on the club’s top power-play unit and cleared morning-skate hurdles to earn medical clearance. Zuccarello had already left his imprint on the series, recording three assists—including two with the man advantage—in Minnesota’s 6-1 opening-night victory. Without him, the Wild sputtered to a 1-for-15 power-play drought, underscoring how critical his vision and right-shot playmaking are to a unit that finished seventh league-wide during the regular season. Head coach John Hynes praised the veteran’s intangible value as much as his production: “He has a big, big impact on and off the ice. His leadership and personality are good for our group in multiple ways,” the bench boss said after confirming the Norwegian’s return. Teammate Quinn Hughes echoed that sentiment, noting Zuccarello’s Stanley Cup Final experience with the 2014 New York Rangers as a calming presence for a roster leaning on emerging stars like Matt Boldy and Jesper Wallstedt. Zuccarello is expected to reunite with first-line center Kirill Kaprizov at even strength and reclaim his usual spot on the right half-wall of the No. 1 power-play unit, where his cross-seam passes and quick wristers force penalty-killers to respect multiple shooting lanes. His return also bumps rookie Danila Yurov to a depth role, improving lineup balance just as Dallas copes with the continued absence of top center Roope Hintz (lower-body, out through at least Game 6). Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET in Dallas. With the series effectively reset to a best-of-three, Zuccarello’s comeback could tilt momentum toward a Wild squad seeking its first playoff series win since 2025—and searching for that elusive road victory that often decides tightly contested Stanley Cup Playoff matchups.