Aube-Kubel has not played since suffering a lower-body injury after only 5:45 time-on-ice in the opening game of the season. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Sabres in the offseason after a 2023-24 campaign with the Washington Capitals where he scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 60 games.
Jiricek played the last two games but will continue to rotate with Jordan Harris in Saturday's game in Nashville. Jiriceck has on assists in two games this season.
Gustavsson stopped 24 of 25 shots in the Wild's win in Florida on Tuesday. Gustavsson has won won three in a row while giving up just three goals on 77 shots (.961 SV%). This afternoon he'll get the start in Philadelphia, where the Wild are -125 road favourites.
Novak was a fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old made his North American professional hockey debut last season, splitting time between the Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL) and the Iowa Wild (AHL).
Aube-Kubel played only 5:45 time-on-ice before exiting Buffalo's season-opening game and has missed seven straight since then. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Sabres in the offseason after a 2023-24 campaign with the Washington Capitals where he scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 60 games.
Hartman has missed the last three games and will miss at least two more due to an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old Hartman was off to a strong start to the season before his injury, with two goals in his first four games.
Spurgeon will remain out of the lineup on Thursday but could return to action in one of the final three games of their seven-game road trip. After missing 66 games in 2023-24 due to injury, Jared Spurgeon has missed three straight games in the 2024-25 campaign due to a lower-body injury.
After missing 66 games in 2023-24 due to injury, Jared Spurgeon has missed three straight games in the 2024-25 campaign due to a lower-body injury. The 34-year-old Spurgeon was replaced by Declan Chisholm since he exited the lineup on October 12th.
Hartman will miss a second straight game on Tuesday when Minnesota visits the Florida Panthers. Hartman was off to a strong start to the season with two goals in his first four games.
For the fourth straight game, Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. After a forgetful 2023-24 season, posting a pedestrian 3.06 GAA and .899 SV%, Gustavsson has been tremendous, starting the 2024-25 campaign with an outstanding 1.49 GAA and .950 SV% in four outings (3-0-1). That said, Minnesota will be hard-pressed for success against a Panthers club that has points in four straight (3-0-1) and will welcome Matthew Tkachuk (illness) back into the lineup.
Jiricek had 10 points (1G / 9A) in 43 games with the Blue Jackets last season. The talented 20-year-old offensive Czech defenseman had an impressive playoff run with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) last season, scoring 11 points (3G / 8A) in 14 games, and is trying to become a full-time NHLer this season.
Hartman showed no signs of an ailment in his last contest when he scored a goal in a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday. He has two points (2G / 0A) in four games this season and will be a game-time decision on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Hunt being recalled likely indicates that Jared Spurgeon (lower body) will not be ready to return to Minnesota's lineup on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 22-year-old Hunt has played one game with Minnesota this season, tallying 8:01 time-on-ice and two shots on goal.
Originally expected to return on Tuesday, Eriksson Ek is likely to make his return on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Eriksson Ek did not travel with Minnesota for the start of their seven-game road trip after he took an elbow to the face from Adam Larsson in the second period and went to the locker room in last Saturday's game. He missed the final 12:45 of the period before returning to the game in the third period with a full face shield. He only played one shift, though, left the game again and did not return.
Hunt's reassignment to the Iowa Wild (AHL) is likely a paper transaction unless Jared Spurgeon (lower body) is deemed ready to return to the lineup. The 22-year-old Hunt has played one game with Minnesota this season, tallying 8:01 time-on-ice and two shots on goal.
Johansson has gotten off to a hot start in the first two games of the season with two points but will not play on Tuesday in St. Louis. The 34-year-old was a game-time decision on Sunday but ended up playing 14:57 time-on-ice.
Hunt was the 65th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut last season, playing 12 games, but spent most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, tallying 29 points (3G / 26A) in 51 games for the Iowa Wild.
