Minnesota Wild News

Pickard will bring his five-game winning streak to Vegas as he takes the crease for a sixth straight start on Thursday for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 33-year-old veteran netminder reached career highs in wins (22) during the regular season and has given Edmonton new life in the playoffs with his 5-0-0 record, 2.76 GAA and .891 SV%. He will head to Vegas on Thursday to take on the Golden Knights, who have been averaging 3.3 goals per game throughout seven games in the playoffs.

Pickard allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Oilers' Game 6 win over the Kings. Pickard provided exactly what the Oilers needed in Round 1, going 4-0 with a. 2.93 GAA and .893 SV% after taking over for Stuart Skinner in Game 2. Pickard hasn't been spectacular this season but he's done just enough to win 70 percent of the games he's started. In his only start vs. Vegas this season, Pickard stopped 20 of 22 shots in a 3-2 win in early-April.

Gustavsson exited Game 5 in the 2nd intermission on Tuesday, with Minnesota trailing Vegas 2-1 due to an illness. Minnesota lost the contest 3-2 in overtime, falling behind 3-2 in the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has seemingly recovered from his ailment and will be between the pipes for a must-win Game 6. He has a 2.63 GAA and .919 SV% through five appearances this postseason. Minnesota enters Game 6 as +143 home underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.

After losing their first two games with Stuart Skinner tending the twine, the Oilers switched to Pickard in Game 3 and have gone 3-0 since, taking a 3-2 series lead. The 33-year-old Pickard was solid on Tuesday in Game 5, saving 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in a 3-1 victory. He has a 2.62 GAA and .904 SV% through four appearances this postseason. The Oilers can advance to the second round with a win and enter Game 6 as -169 home favorites against the Kings.

Gustavsson exited Game 5 in the 2nd intermission on Tuesday, with Minnesota trailing Vegas 2-1 due to an illness. Minnesota lost the contest 3-2 in overtime, falling behind 3-2 in the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has seemingly recovered from his ailment and will likely be between the pipes for a must-win Game 6. He has a 2.63 GAA and .919 SV% through five appearances this postseason. Minnesota enters Game 6 as +143 home underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Gustavsson exited Game 5 on Tuesday in the second intermission due to an illness with his team trailing 2-1. Marc-Andre Fleury entered the contest in relief and helped his team get to overtime before ultimately losing 3-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights. Minnesota returns to action for Game 6 on Thursday.

The Wild will unsurprisingly stick with Gustavsson between the pipes for Game 5 as they look to take control of their series against the Golden Knights. Gustavsson was unfortunate not to come away with the victory in Game 4, stopping 42 of the 46 shots he faced in the 4-3 overtime loss. The 26-year-old netminder is off to a great start this post-season, posting a .919 SV% across the opening four games. Minnesota enters action on Tuesday at +185 on the money line.

Pickard has faced some adversity since entering the Oilers crease in Game 3 but is 2-0 and will return to crease on Tuesday for Game 5. The 33-year-old Pickard saved 38 of 41 shots (.927 SV%) in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings, tying the series at 2-2. The Oilers enter a pivotal Game 5 as +111 road underdogs against a Kings team that has yet to lose at home in the postseason (2-0) and had a league-best 31 wins at home during the regular season.

Mercer is an undrafted goalie out that has spent the previous five seasons playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL. The 21-year-old had an excellent 2024-25 season, posting a 2.53 GAA and .925 SV% in 46 games (27-15-4) with Drummondville.

With Stuart Skinner posting a horrendous 6.11 GAA and .810 SV% through the first two games of Edmonton's opening series, Calvin Pickard will start Game 3 vs. Los Angeles on Friday. The 33-year-old was a consistent source of wins when called upon throughout the regular season, posting a 22-10-1 record, 2.71 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Los Angeles Kings for Game 3 on Friday, who are looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead after scoring 12 combined goals in the first two games of the series.

With Stuart Skinner posting a horrendous 6.11 GAA and .810 SV% through the first two games of the series, Calvin Pickard has found himself in the starter's net ahead of Game 3 vs. Los Angeles on Friday. The 33-year-old was a consistent source of wins when called upon during the regular season, posting a 22-10-1 record, 2.71 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Los Angeles Kings for Game 3 on Friday, who are looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead after scoring 12 goals combined in the first two games.

Minnesota enters Game 3 with their first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights tied 1-1, courtesy of an excellent performance from Gustavsson in Game 2, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in the 5-2 victory. The 26-year-old Gustavsson will return to the crease in Game 3, looking to build on his 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% through seven career playoff games (3-4-0). Minnesota enters Game 3 on Thursday as +140 home underdogs against Vegas.

Down 0-1 in their first-round matchup against the Golden Knights, the Wild will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes for Game 2, looking to even the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson was beaten three times in Game 1, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-2 loss. The Swedish netminder had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.56 GAA and .914 SV% in 58 appearances (31-19-6) and has been serviceable in limited playoff action, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in six career outings (2-4-0). Still, Minnesota enters Game 2 as a sizeable +192 road underdogs against Vegas.

Down 0-1 in their first-round matchup against the Golden Knights, the Wild will likely roll with Gustavsson between the pipes for Game 2, looking to even the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson was beaten three times in Game 1, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-2 loss. The Swedish netminder had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.56 GAA and .914 SV% in 58 appearances (31-19-6) and has been serviceable in limited playoff action, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in six career outings (2-4-0). Still, Minnesota enters Game 2 as a sizeable +192 road underdogs against Vegas.

The Florida Panthers have completed the 2024-25 season and, no longer in need of reserves, have assigned Jesse Puljujarvi, Rasmus Asplund, and Matt Kiersted to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). Kiersted has 27 points (1G / 27A) in 63 games with Charlotte this season.

Minnesota can clinch a playoff spot by recording a single point against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Gustavsson will be tending the twine, looking to build on his 2.57 GAA and .914 SV% through 57 games this season (31-19-6). After a stellar March performance, the 26-year-old Gustavsson has struggled in April, posting a 3.33 GAA and .881 SV% in five games (2-2-1). Still, Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as sizeable -251 home favorites against an Anaheim team outscored 10-3 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).