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The Minnesota Wild have a tough road ahead in their series with the Winnipeg Jets. The Wild announced Tuesday star player Zach Parise would be sidelined six to eight weeks with a broken sternum. With a 2-0 loss to the Jets, the Wild have to win to stay alive in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A few hours before the game, Alissa Johnson learned Parise — who had a goal in each of the first three games of this series — was out.

"I think it stings a little," Johnson said.

Parise's face greets fans from a playoff banner outside the arena. Six years ago, the Bloomington native signed matching $98 million, 13-year contracts with defenseman Ryan Suter. That pair of signings defined the Wild, and has helped send the team to six straight playoff appearances.

The Wild went into last night's game with both Parise and Suter, who was injured late in the season, sidelined.

In the first period, the Wild outshot the Winnipeg Jets 11 to 7 with opportunities to score, but the game would be defined by two late plays.

First, the Wild's leading scorer Eric Staal was cross checked to the face by Jets defenseman Josh Morrisey during a Wild power play. There was no call from the referee.

A minute later, Morrissey set up Mark Scheifele for the Jets first goal.

The Wild couldn't put a shot past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. In the final minutes of the third, the Jets scored again to make it 2-0 when the Wild pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.

After the game, Wild Coach Bruce Boudreau says the lack of penalty after the cross check to Staal was critical.

"My take is the same take that everyone in the building say it, is the refs saw it and decided not to call it because we were already on the power play. It cost us the game," Boudreau said.

Veteran Center Matt Cullen says the team can't afford to linger on that play. Harder to get over is losing Parise for the next games.

"He's the heart and soul of our team. So first and foremost you hurt for him, obviously, and he's playing great, so it's disappointing," Cullen said. "From a team standpoint it's part of the ups and downs you face in the playoffs and we've faced quite a bit and we still feel like we have enough here to win."

The Wild have two days off before game five in Winnipeg Friday night.

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Peter Cox

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The Minnesota Wild have a tough road ahead in their series with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Wild's Zach Parise celebrates his unassisted goal against the Oilers. 

Parise's injury cuts Wild's scoring power, lose to Jets 2-0

Go Deeper.

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