The Wild announced Monday a pair of massive injuries as both Kirill Kaprizov and Filip Gustavsson will be away from the team for weeks due to injury. Kaprizov (upper body) left Minnesota's December 30th game after just 15:30 TOI and is now expected to miss the next 1-to-2 weeks. The 26-year-old's absence will make a massive loss as he had 13 goals, 34 points and 110 SOG in 34 games played this year.
Gustavsson will join Kirill Kaprizov in his week-to-week injury diagnosis as he was placed on the Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury Monday. The 25-year-old last appeared on December 30th and made 22 stops (.864 SV%) in a losing effort to Winnipeg. He should return to the Wild' in a few weeks to look to improve on his 10-9-2 record, .903 SV% and 2.96 GAA on the season.
Gustavsson will start for the second straight game and search for his third consecutive win when he tends the twine on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. After allowing two or fewer goals in seven games (6-1-0), posting a stellar .954 SV%, Gustavsson has uncharacteristically allowed three or more goals in three straight (2-1-0), posting a .880 SV%. The Wild, winners of four straight, are playing a home-and-home set against the Jets on Saturday and Sunday and will turn to Marc-Andre Fleury on the latter end.
Petry skated on a pair with Ben Chiarot at practice on Thursday and is expected to make his return to the lineup after being unable to play on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. In 27 games this season, Petry has ten points (1G / 9A), 34 shots, 34 hits, and 49 blocks.
After playing in four straight games, Hunt was a healthy scratch in the last two contests for Minnesota and has been reassigned to the Iowa Wild of the AHL. In nine games with Minnesota this season, Hunt is averaging 10:07 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A).
Petry played only 11:53 in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils before exiting with an undisclosed injury. He played 13 consecutive games for the Red Wings, recording four points (1G / 3A), 15 shots, and a +2 plus/minus rating.
Cody Glass will draw back into the lineup in favour of Trenin, who will be a healthy scratch for the first time since November 11th. Trenin has nine points (7G / 2A), 49 shots, and 79 hits in 33 games this season.
Hartman did not play the last two games for Minnesota but will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Hartman has nine goals and six assists in 27 games this season while playing predominantly alongside Mats Zuccarello and Kiril Kaprizov.
Minnesota has opted to give Gustavsson some rest over the last week, but the team will turn back to him Wednesday for his second start in their last four games. After a horrendous start to the 2023-24 campaign, Gustavsson has been among the league's best goaltenders over the last month, allowing two or fewer goals in seven of nine games (7-2-0), posting a sensational .936 SV%. Minnesota is a -136 home favourite against the Detroit Red Wings, who have lost five of their last six games (1-5-0).
Hunt skated in four straight games but played just 4:28 TOI as the No.7 defenseman on Thursday. He'll be replaced by Jake Lucchini, who will be making his Wild debut up front.
Hartman was scratched Thursday vs. the Canadiens and will miss his second straight game on Saturday. The Wild rolled with seven defensemen to replace Hartman vs. Montreal, but Jake Lucchini will make his Wild debut in his spot on Saturday.
Spurgeon was on the ice for the Wild's morning skate but will miss his sixth straight game on Saturday. With Spurgeon still sidelined, Dakota Mermis will remain on the Wild blueline. Expect Spurgeon to return shortly after the Christmas break.
The Flyers finished their pre-Christmas schedule on Friday, so they have sent a couple of players back to the AHL. With Carter Hart back healthy, Petersen will likely remain in the AHL once the schedule resumes next week. Petersen has gone 4-6-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .898 SV% in 11 games with Lehigh Valley this season.
Hunt will sit in favour of Dakota Mermis on Thursday after playing in each of the Wild's last three games. Hunt has no goals and one assist in eight games this season.
