from Michael Russo of The Athletic,

For a team that recently won eight in a row to catapult to the top of the standings, the Wild have to feel like it’s been a month since they last won a game.

In the only NHL game played Monday night because of four postponements amid the COVID-19 positive tests wreaking havoc on a sport that will soon pause its season through Christmas, the Wild were happy to simply be playing again. Three of their final five games before the holiday break were postponed because of outbreaks on other teams.

Well, Minnesota now wishes the league included its latest game in the 49 of them that have been postponed in recent days.

The Wild not only lost their fourth in a row, falling to the rival Dallas Stars 7-4 on Monday, but also lost one of their crucial contributors, center Joel Eriksson Ek, to an upper-body injury with the Winter Classic just 11 days away.

“He’s one of our biggest heart-and-soulers. He’s everything for us,” linemate Marcus Foligno said.

Eriksson Ek, who had hoped to play in his first career outdoor game under the lights of Target Field on New Year’s night, left American Airlines Center with his right arm in a sling after being driven hard into the end boards by Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa in the second period.

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Game highlights are below.