ST. PAUL, Minn. — This was supposed to be a night to celebrate for Jason Zucker, with his friends and family in the building, cheering him on as he returned to both the Pittsburgh lineup and the place he called home for nearly a decade.
But midway through the second period Thursday, Xcel Energy Center went eerily quiet as the veteran forward, a fan favorite here in Minnesota, writhed in pain on the ice after a dangerous hit near the boards by the Wild’s Kevin Fiala.
Concerned teammates looked on for about a minute until Zucker was helped to his feet. With Zucker unable to put weight on his right leg, Sidney Crosby and Mike Matheson helped him get to the bench then he limped down the tunnel.
