Jake Middleton Suffers Upper-Body Injury During Game Against Islanders

Jake Middleton suffered an upper body injury during the second period of the game against the New York Islanders, after being driven into the boards by Bo Horvat. He left the ice with assistance from the trainer, and initial reactions indicate that the injury could be serious, with Declan Chisholm likely to take his place if Middleton misses time. The Minnesota Wild were already struggling, having lost their last six games, and Middleton's injury adds to their woes as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against the Islanders. This loss marks a disappointing end to a road trip that failed to yield any victories. With the Calgary Flames closing in on them in the playoff race, the Wild must find a way to recover quickly. The team's situation is precarious as they prepare for a critical matchup against the Dallas Stars next.