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.
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.
Brink will be a healthy scratch on Friday, exiting the lineup for the first time in over a month, allowing Nicolas Deslauries to draw back into the lineup. Brink has been held off the scoresheet in five straight games and has seen his ice-time dip to 12:07 after averaging 14:44 and scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in his previous 10.
Foligno, currently on IR due to a fractured finger, has made an impact in his first season with the Blackhawks, scoring 17 points (8G / 9A) in 39 games, his best point-per-game pace (0.44) in five seasons. Foligno has also contributed an impressive 73 shots and 84 hits this season. His $4.5 million AAV next season ranks second among all forwards on the Blackhawks, only behind Taylor Hall ($6 million AAV).
Pickard has settled nicely into his role as the Oilers' backup netminder and has been serviceable in limited action when called upon. The Oilers are riding an eight-game winning streak, with two wins courtesy of Pickard, in which he saved 51 of 56 shots (.911 SV%). The Oilers have an excellent opportunity to extend their winning streak to nine games as -160 road favourites on Thursday against a Detroit Red Wings club that is suddenly surging, winning four of their last five games (4-1-0).
Kirkland has spent most of his eight-year professional career in the AHL, making his NHL debut last season with the Anaheim Ducks, being held without a point in seven contests. Kirkland has 13 points (1G / 12A) this season in 12 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).
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.
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).
