ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for Minnesota in the second-round series against Colorado in the NHL playoffs because of broken bones in their feet, the veteran stalwarts revealed Friday in season-ending interviews with reporters.
Brodin suffered a fracture in the big toe in his right foot when he blocked a shot in Game 5 of the Wild's first-round series against Dallas, requiring surgery and forcing him to miss the clinching win over the Stars and all five games against the Avalanche.
The Wild were eliminated on Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime loss in Denver, with both Brodin and Eriksson Ek relegated to watching the game on TV. Their defensive acumen, physical presence and playoff experience were all missed against the high-scoring Avalanche, who had the best regular season record in the league.
Brodin, who finished his 14th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, was aiming to return at the end of the conference finals if they were to advance.
“It’s awful to not play in the playoffs," Brodin said. "Best time of the year.”
Eriksson Ek, who finished his 10th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, broke the heel bone in his right foot in Game 6 against Dallas. He took part in practice in a limited basis before Game 3 against Colorado last week, but he said he was unable to fully push off the foot on the ice.
“You want to play,” Eriksson Ek said. “I just couldn't do it. Too painful to skate.”
Brodin also had to miss the Olympics this year when surgery on an earlier lower body injury kept him from playing for Sweden.
“It’s a frustrating year. We’ve got to stay positive and come back stronger next year,” Brodin said.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
FILE - Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin shoots against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game April 11, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Ollie Watkins scored two goals and had another disallowed as Aston Villa set itself up nicely for next week’s Europa League final with a 4-2 win at home against Liverpool on Friday.
The win also guaranteed Villa a place in next year’s Champions League.
The win just five days before Villa faces Freiburg in the Europa League decider means Unai Emery’s side ensured a top-five finish in the Premier League.
"It’s a great performance and a great way to end the season at Villa Park,” captain John McGinn told broadcaster Sky Sports “We’ve just made this club a Champions League club again, and it allows us to be excited and enjoy the game on Wednesday.
Liverpool was three points behind in fifth and still sweating whether it will make it into next year’s Champions League.
Liverpool had the better of the opening exchanges with Cody Gakpo seeing a goal ruled out for offside and Emiliano Martinez pushing away a swerving long-range effort from Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, Villa found its composure as the half went on and took the lead three minutes before halftime. Morgan Rogers placed a perfect right-foot shot beyond the reach of Giorgi Mamardashvili after a well-worked corner kick.
Virgil van Dijk’s header eight minutes into the second half brought Liverpool level but Villa started to dominate as the game opened up. Watkins had a goal chalked off for offside but made up for it just a few minutes later when he took advantage of a slip by Szoboszlai that set Villa free on the counterattack.
He added a third in the 73rd when he side-footed home from point-blank range after Mamardashvili made two excellent stops.
It was Watkins’ sixth goal in his last seven league games and he was a constant threat to a Liverpool rearguard that looked shaky every time Villa stormed forward.
“We’ve conceded far too many games, but we also haven’t scored enough goals," said Liverpool coach Arne Slot, who admitted his team lacked backbone after going behind in the second half.
"(After) the 2-1 we crumbled, we struggled. In the end made it 4-2, so they did not give up, but we struggled to control their pace, intensity and quality.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is scored on by Aston Villa's John McGinn during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili fails to prevent Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, not shown, from scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, left, scores a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, front, tries to block Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers from the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
