Hunt returns to the press box Friday as Minnesota's defensive carousel continues with Alex Goligoski drawing back into the lineup. The 21-year-old Hunt is in his first NHL season and has yet to score but has a goal, seven SOG, and a -1 plus/minus in 12 games played.
Sturm has been out since December 12th due to an abdomen injury but will draw back into the Sharks' lineup for the first time in a month Saturday vs. Anaheim. The 28-year-old role playing centre has struggled to produce so far in 2023-24, with his two goals, four points, 30 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus through 26 games played prior to the injury.
Spurgeon's season of bad luck and bad news continued Thursday as it was announced he will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season as he undergoes left hip surgery on February 6th. The 34-year-old ends his injury riddled campaign without a goal, and with five assists, 21 SOG, two PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 16 games played. The Wild' captain is expected to be ready for the start of training camp for the 2024-25 season.
After being a healthy scratch in his last two games, Jiricek has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The 20-year-old Jiricek had nine points (1G / 8A) in 36 games this season.
Gustavsson was horrid in his return to the lineup from a multi-week absence, allowing five goals on 18 shots (.722 SV%) in a 6-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes last week. Minnesota will hope that Gustavsson was just shaking off some rust and can get back to his form from before his injury, when he won eight of 11 (8-3-0), allowing three or fewer goals in all but one game while posting a stellar .927 SV%. Minnesota is a +123 road underdog on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Brodin is expected to return from a 17-game absence and play his first game since December 8th. Brodin had nine points (1G / 8A) in 25 games this season, averaging 23:59 time-on-ice, and will be a big addition to the Wild blueline.
Wallstedt was shelled in his NHL debut in Dallas on Wednesday, allowing seven goals on 34 shots in the Wild's 7-2 loss. With Filip Gustavsson back, Wallstedt returns to the AHL, where he is 11-9-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .917 SV% in 20 games this season.
Gustavsson has been out since December 30th with a lower-body injury but is set to start Saturday vs. the Coyotes. Prior to getting hurt, Gustavsson was on a nice run, going 8-3-0 with a .927 SV% and one shutout in his last 11 games.
After sitting out Tuesday's game in Anaheim, Trenin will re-enter the Predators' lineup on Friday in place of Cody Glass. Trenin has seven goals and two assists in 38 games this season.
Johansson is one of several Minnesota players battling an illness and was a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. Johansson has been productive lately, scoring six points (3G / 3A) in seven games while averaging 17:43 time-on-ice.
Foligno returned to the lineup from a lower-body injury after a three-game absence on Monday but was a game-time decision on Wednesday as he is battling an illness. Foligno played 12:44 time-on-ice in a 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday and recorded six hits.
Hunt will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Alex Goligoski to draw back into the lineup. Hunt played 16:41 time-on-ice on Monday, his first game in nearly three weeks, and recorded a -1 plus/minus along with one shot and two hits.
Johansson is one of several Minnesota players battling illnesses and will be a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. Johansson has been productive lately, scoring six points (3G / 3A) in seven games while averaging 17:43 time-on-ice.
Foligno returned to the lineup from a lower-body injury after a three-game absence on Monday but will be a game-time decision on Wednesday as he is battling an illness. Foligno played 12:44 time-on-ice in a 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday and recorded six hits.
With Filip Gustavsson still out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, Minnesota will turn to Wallstedt as they hope to reverse their fate against the Dallas Stars after being defeated by them 4-0 on Monday. The 21-year-old Wallstedt was the 20th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has been terrific for the Iowa Wild in the AHL this season, posting a 2.54 GAA and .917 SV% in 20 games (11-9-0). That said, Minnesota is a +166 road underdog against a Dallas Stars team that has pummelled them this season, outscoring them 12-3 through two games (0-2-0).
