Gustavsson was scheduled to start on Sunday but was unexpectedly sidelined due to a minor lower-body injury. The 26-year-old Gustavsson is amid a Vezina-worthy season, posting a 2.24 GAA and .922 SV% in 22 games (14-5-3) and is not expected to be out of the lineup for long. Marc-Andre Fluery will be between the pipes for Minnesota on Wednesday.
Gustavsson was scheduled to start on Sunday but was unexpectedly sidelined due to a minor lower-body injury. The 26-year-old Gustavsson is amid a Vezina-worthy season, posting a 2.24 GAA and .922 SV% in 22 games (14-5-3) and is not expected to be out of the lineup for long. Marc-Andre Fluery will likely be between the pipes for Minnesota on Wednesday.
Foligno missed his first game of the season on Sunday due to an illness but appears ready to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. The 37-year-old Foligno is averaging 16:49 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (7G / 6A) and 86 hits in 30 games this season.
Pickard has started roughly one of every three games for the Oilers this season, a trend that will continue on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 32-year-old Pickard has been serviceable between the pipes when called upon, posting a 2.56 GAA and .892 SV% in 10 appearances (6-3-0). The Oilers have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 12-6, and enter Thursday's contest as -144 road favorites against a Wild team with a +22 goal differential through 28 games (19-5-4), fourth-best in the NHL.
Pickard has started roughly one of every three games for the Oilers this season, a trend that will continue on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 32-year-old Pickard has been serviceable between the pipes when called upon, posting a 2.56 GAA and .892 SV% in 10 appearances (6-3-0). The Oilers have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 12-6, and enter Thursday's contest as -144 road favorites against a Wild team with a +22 goal differential through 28 games (19-5-4), fourth-best in the NHL.
Gustavsson allowed more than three goals for only the third time this season on Tuesday, allowing four on 25 shots (.840 SV%), but still salvaged a 5-4 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Despite his minor blip in his most recent outing, Gustavsson has been tremendous this season, a leading candidate for the Vezina trophy, posting an absurd 2.08 GAA and .927 SV% in 21 games (14-4-3). Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as +132 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers club they defeated 5-3 on November 21st.
Minnesota's five-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing, a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Gustavsson will return to the crease on Tuesday, looking to improve his immaculate start to the 2024-25 season, boasting a Vezina-worthy 1.99 GAA and .931 SV% in 20 games (13-4-3). Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as slight -104 road underdogs against a Utah team that has scored three or more goals in five of their last six (4-1-1).
Eriksson Ek nearly made it through the entire game on Tuesday, exiting due to a lower-body injury in overtime after playing 21:11 time-on-ice, and has not played since. The 27-year-old Eriksson Ek was off to a slow start to the 2024-25 season, scoring only 13 points (5G / 8A) in 22 games, but had four points (0G / 4A) in his last four contests.
Minnesota has won four straight and will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Gustavsson has been tremendous this season, making a case for the Vezina trophy with a sublime 2.04 GAA and .929 SV% through 19 games this season (12-4-3). Minnesota enters Friday's contest as -191 road favorites against an Anaheim club they defeated 5-2 on November 8th when Gustavsson saved 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%).
Pickard has only played one of the last six games for the Oilers but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 32-year-old Pickard was solid in his most recent outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Hockey Club, and sports a 2.50 GAA and .895 SV% through nine appearances this season (5-3-0). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -270 home favorites against a Blue Jackets club that was shutout 3-0 by the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Brodin has missed four straight games due to an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old Brodin has already missed six games this season. He is averaging 22:08 time-on-ice and has eight points (2G / 6A) in 19 games.
Eriksson Ek nearly made it through the entire game on Tuesday, exiting due to a lower-body injury in overtime after playing 21:11 time-on-ice. The 27-year-old Eriksson Ek was off to a slow start to the 2024-25 season, scoring only 13 points (5G / 8A) in 22 games, but had four points (0G / 4A) in his last four contests.
Kirkland played only 1:05 time-on-ice before exiting Friday's game with a lower-body injury and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. The 28-year-old Kirkland played a career-high 21 games this season, scoring eight points (2G / 6A) while averaging 9:42 time-on-ice.
