Minnesota Wild News

Faber (upper-body) is out vs. Colorado on Thursday and without an update on his injury.

Faber suffered an upper-body injury midway through the first period of Tuesday's game and was unable to return. The 22-year-old Faber is averaging 24:58 time-on-ice and has 20 points (5G / 15A) in 41 games this season. Minnesota's next game will be on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.

Brock Faber
Gustavsson will start vs. Colorado on Thursday.

Minnesota is coming off a disappointing 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday when Gustavsson allowed four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%). Gustavsson's performance on Tuesday was a minor blip in an otherwise fantastic season, boasting an impressive 2.31 GAA and .922 SV% in 28 appearances (18-6-3). Minnesota enters the action on Thursday as +116 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club defeated 3-1 by the Chicago Blackhawks last night.

Filip Gustavsson
Jiricek has been recalled from Iowa (AHL) on emergency conditions.

With Brock Faber exiting Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury, Minnesota has recalled Jiricek from Iowa (AHL). The 21-year-old Jiricek has not played an NHL game since being acquired in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has two points (0G / 2A) in 11 AHL games with the Iowa Wild.

David Jiricek
Middleton (upper-body) will play against the Blues on Tuesday.

Middleton has not played since December 12th, missing 11 consecutive games, but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Middleton was averaging a career-high 20:36 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (5G / 8A), 76 blocks, and 42 hits in 29 games this season.

Jacob Middleton
Lambos has been assigned to Iowa (AHL).

Lambos was recalled on Monday due to Minnesota having a round of illness go across the team but was not needed for their matchup Tuesday vs. St. Louis and will return to Iowa (AHL). The 21-year-old will have to wait to make his NHL debut as he return to Iowa, where he has two goals and five points in 27 games played this season.

Carson Lambos
Sturm (lower-body) will remain out on Tuesday vs. Vegas and is considered day-to-day.

Sturm missed San Jose's previous game due to a lower-body injury and will remain out on Tuesday vs. Vegas as he remains day-to-day with the ailment. The 29-year-old undrafted German forward has been a staple in San Jose's bottom six this season, with four goals, nine points and 23 SOG in 36 games played.

Nico Sturm
Middleton (upper-body) will be a game-time decision vs. St. Louis on Tuesday.

Middleton has not played since December 12th, missing 11 consecutive games, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Middleton was averaging a career-high 20:36 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (5G / 8A), 76 blocks, and 42 hits in 29 games this season.

Jacob Middleton
Zuccarello (illness) is expected to play on Tuesday vs. St. Louis.

Zuccarello showed no signs of illness in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, recording three points (2G / 1A), but was not available for practice on Monday. The 37-year-old Zuccarello is having another great season, scoring 25 points (10G / 15A) in 27 games.

Mats Zuccarello
Gustavsson will start vs. St. Louis on Tuesday.

Minnesota has won three straight and will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Gustavsson was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 21 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 26-year-old netminder remains a strong candidate for the Vezina trophy, boasting a stellar 2.20 GAA and .926 SV% in 27 games (18-6-3). Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as -125 home favorites against a St. Louis squad that has scored four or more goals in six straight (4-2-0).

Filip Gustavsson
Kaprizov (lower-body) has yet to resume skating and is still considered day-to-day.

Kaprizov has missed five straight games and, despite not returning to practice, remains day-to-day. The 27-year-old Kaprizov has been sensational this season, among the league leaders, scoring 50 points (23G / 27A) in 34 games.

Kirill Kaprizov
Middleton (upper-body) skated on Monday and is a possibility to return on Tuesday vs. St. Louis.

Middleton has not played since December 12th, missing 11 consecutive games, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Middleton was averaging a career-high 20:36 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (5G / 8A), 76 blocks, and 42 hits in 29 games this season.

Jacob Middleton
Zuccarello missed Monday's practice due to illness.

Zuccarello showed no signs of illness in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, recording three points (2G / 1A), but was not available for practice on Monday. The 37-year-old Zuccarello is having another great season, scoring 25 points (10G / 15A) in 27 games. Minnesota returns to action on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

Mats Zuccarello
Sturm (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision vs. New Jersey on Saturday.

Sturm is battling an undisclosed ailment and his status for Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils is up in the air. The 36-year-old Sturm is averaging 9:43 time-on-ice and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 36 games this season.

Nico Sturm
Spurgeon is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Spurgeon was the unlikely recipient of a Zachary L'Heureux slew-foot in Minnesota's previous game and is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The injury is not as bad as originally expected according to Minnesota's training staff but the team will still be missing their captain mightily, who had four goals, 13 points and 59 SOG while averaging 20:43 TOI in 32 games played this season.

Jared Spurgeon