Yegor Sharangovich will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets, sending Kirkland to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Kirkland scored eight points (2G / 6A) in a career-high 21 games last season. He has zero points through five games in 2025-26.
Minnesota has been outscored 27-21 through eight games this season (3-4-1) and will hope for an improved defensive effort on Saturday, turning to Gustavsson between the pipes against the Utah Mammoth. The 27-year-old Gustavsson has a serviceable 3.04 GAA and .902 SV% in six games (4-2-0), but he was excellent in his most recent outing despite a 4-1 loss, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) against the New Jersey Devils.
The Oilers have been inconsistent to start the 2025-26 season, scoring only 18 goals (2.57 GF / GP) through seven games (3-3-1), totals that are not aligned with an offense led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Pickard will be between the pipes on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, looking to build on a 2.54 GAA and .865 SV% through two games (1-1-0). The Oilers enter Thursday's action as sizable -216 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens team that played last night, defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime.
Haight made his NHL debut at the beginning of October, playing two NHL games and averaging 9:22 time-on-ice. He was recalled earlier this week but did not draw into Minnesota's lineup. He returns to the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he has also played two games this season.
Six game into his NHL career, Shabanov has been effective in a sheltered role, scoring three points (1G / 2) while averaging only 11:43 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Russian forward is coming off a sensational season with Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) where he had 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games played. He will not play on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Six game into his NHL career, Shabanov has been effective in a sheltered role, scoring three points (1G / 2) while averaging only 11:43 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Russian forward is coming off a sensational season with Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) where he had 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games played. He will be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Gustavsson started the season with a sensational 26-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues, but has seen his numbers fall off since, posting a 3.04 GAA and .899 SV% in five games (2-3-0) this season. That said, the 27-year-old goalie was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as +117 road underdogs against a red-hot Devils team that played last night and is riding a five-game winning streak.
Through five games this season, Bogosian is averaging 13:53 time-on-ice, recording zero points and a +3 plus/minus. The 35-year-old defenseman did not play on Monday and will be sidelined for at least a week after surfacing on Injured Reserve.
Haight made his NHL debut at the beginning of October, playing two NHL games and averaging 9:22 time-on-ice, but has since been with the Iowa Wild (AHL). In a corresponding move, Minnesota Zach Bogosian has been placed on Injured Reserve.
Through five games this season, Bogosian is averaging 13:53 time-on-ice, recording zero points and a +3 plus/minus. The 35-year-old defenseman will be sidelined day-to-day, beginning with Monday's contest against the New York Rangers.
After a hot offensive start to the 2025-26 season, outscoring their opposition 13-7 in their first three games (2-1-0), Minnesota has lost three straight (0-2-1), outscored 12-4. Gustavsson started the season with an impressive 26-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues, but has lost three games since. He has a 3.56 GAA and .88 SV% in four games (1-3-0) and hopes to rebound on Monday against the New York Rangers. Minnesota enters Monday's contest as +123 road underdogs against New York.
Foligno took a brief leave of absence from the Blackhawks to be with his daughter following heart surgery, but was back at practice on Monday. The 37-year-old Foligno is averaging 14:15 time-on-ice, recording two points (0G / 2A) and nine hits in four games this season.
Bogosian left after playing 12:08 and did not return. The Wild recalled David Jiricek from Iowa (AHL), suggesting that Bogosian will not be available on Saturday.
To accommodate the season debut of Jonathan Huberdeau (undisclosed) Kirkland will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Kirkland played a career-high 21 games last season and scored eight points (2G / 6A). He has zero points through three games this season.
Minnesota has had an inconsistent 2-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season and hopes to own a winning record after Gustavsson tends the twine on Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 26-year-old Gustavsson had a dazzling 26-save shutout in his season-opening performance, but has gone on to allow nine goals on 54 shots (.833 SV%) in his next two contests (0-2-0). The Wild enter Friday's contest as +110 road underdogs against a Capitals team that is 3-1-0 to start the season despite scoring only nine total goals, the lowest in the entire Eastern Conference.
Kirkland will draw back in on Wednesday as the Flames opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Matvei Gridin will sit in his place.
