Zach Parise, Thomas Vanek, Erik Haula sidelined for Wild

Zach Parise and Thomas Vanek will not travel with the Wild to Dallas for the first two games of the Wild-Stars opening round playoff series. Erik Haula will travel, but will miss the opening game Thursday with a lower-body injury.

Parise is battling a back injury and Vanek has an upper body injury. Vanek is week-to-week, Parise is out indefinitely.

Parise spent Monday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for an exam on his herniated disc, as detailed in this story.

"You know, we played a couple games without him, too," coach John Torchetti said of Parise. "The Washington game and the Philly game. And I thought we played quite well; probably two games I thought we should have won. So you're always going to miss his leadership and his tenacity, and his workmanship. Just everything. He's one of our leaders for the team. But you can't worry about what you don't have. You have to work with what you have. So that's what we're focused on."

Other reaction

Mikko Koivu:

"It is for sure when we're missing a player like him it's more about everyone else. It's also playoffs so you need depth, scoring-wise, and every area of the game. ... At the same time, it's good that we have depth, and guys can jump into the lineup, and know our systems, and things like that. Know the players around them. That's a good thing. We've been rotating now for the last month or two, a lot of players, so right now it's a good thing we did that. Like I said, it's very important that even the guys that haven't played a lot, they still know the systems, and know the players around them.
Mikael Granlund:

Stars coach Lindy Ruff on Parise being out: "He's a top goal scorer. He's a top net-front guy that is a guy that can make a difference. We realize though as team, the guys they're putting in are hard working, are going to be hard to play against. They're going to miss him on the offensive side for sure, it's something we don't want to take a breath and say, 'Boy, it's going to be easier.'"

Tyler Seguin, who alternated in and out of the top line today: "Anytime you see a player like that, guy that's a point on their team, not playing it leaves room for other guys working to work even harder. So you can expect them to work even harder when they're missing guys like that."

Parise's former teammate Johnny Oduya: "He's a top player in the league obviously. But, I think it has very little impact in the way they're gonna play and compete. Just the style of hockey they play, kind of responsible, tough to score on. They have some experience too, obviously, have been to the playoffs. I think the challenge is not going to change. Of course for them, it's probably a little bit tougher having that top guy out. He's the leader and kind of the guy they look to for a lot of offense, tough guy probably to replace. But, like I said, for us it doesn't make a real difference."

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Also, I am hearing Alex Tuch is very close to a decision on whether or not to sign with the Wild. As I've maintained for months, I think he's turning pro and I think it's close.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards
• Jason Zucker-Mikko Koivu-Charlie Coyle
• Nino Niederreiter-Mikael Granlund-Jason Pominville
• Chris Porter-Zac Dalpe-David Jones
• Ryan Carter-Jarret Stoll-Justin Fontaine

Defensemen
• Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon
• Marco Scandella-Jonas Brodin
• Nate Prosser-Matt Dumba

Goalies
• Devan Dubnyk; Darcy Kuemper

Extra forward: Jordan Schroeder.
Extra defenseman: Christian Folin.