Minnesota Wild News

Maatta has only played one game in the last two weeks and will remain on the sidelines on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 31-year-old Maatta is averaging a career-low 11:48 time-on-ice and has one assist in 16 games this season. Before this season, Maatta's career-average ice time was 18:27.

Whether it has been Jesper Wallstedt or Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota has received tremendous netminding lately, leading them to a five-game winning streak. The 27-year-old Gustavsson is coming off a 19-save shutout, his second of the season, in a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gustavsson has a 2.79 GAA and .902 SV% in 15 games (6-7-2) and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Minnesota enters the action as -128 road favorites against a Blackhawks team that has only scored six goals in its last three games (0-3-0).

The start to Sturm's tenure in Minnesota was delayed due to an injury that needed surgery before the start of the season, but he should make his Minnesota debut shortly, now that he has been activated from Injured Reserve. After winning a cup with Florida in 2024-25, Sturm signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Minnesota in the offseason. He is coming off a seven-goal, 14-point campaign across 62 games with both San Jose and Florida in 2024-25.

With Zach Bogosian (lower body) activated from Injured Reserve, Hunt will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 23-year-old Hunt has been a regular for Minnesota the previous two weeks, averaging 11:53 time-on-ice and scoring one assist in seven games.

Bogosian has not played since October 17th due to a lower-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Through five games this season, the 35-year-old Bogosian is averaging 13:53 time-on-ice, recording zero points and a +3 plus/minus.

Minnesota is playing its best hockey of the season, 5-0-1 in its last six, largely due to the elite play of goalie Jesper Wallstedt, but the team will turn to Gustavsson on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Gustavsson has a subpar 2.99 GAA and .897 SV% in 14 games this season (5-7-2), but has played much better lately, posting a 2.50 GAA and .909 SV% in his last six (3-2-1). Minnesota enters Friday's contest as +109 road underdogs against a rested Penguins team that has not played since Sunday.

Minnesota is playing its best hockey of the season, 5-0-1 in its last six, largely due to the elite play of goalie Jesper Wallstedt, but the team will turn to Gustavsson on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Gustavsson has a subpar 2.99 GAA and .897 SV% in 14 games this season (5-7-2), but has played much better lately, posting a 2.50 GAA and .909 SV% in his last six (3-2-1). Minnesota enters Friday's contest as +109 road underdogs against a rested Penguins team that has not played since Sunday.

The Oilers will hand Pickard the start in the tail-end of their back-to-back when they travel to Tampa Bay on Thursday. Pickard turned in another poor performance in his last start, allowing five goals on 25 shots in a 5-4 loss in Columbus last Thursday. The 33-year-old netminder owns a 2-3-1 record and an ugly .830 SV% on the season. Pickard and the Oilers enter action on Thursday at +145 on the money line.

Dmitri Simashev will draw back into Utah's lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights, resulting in Maatta being a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Maatta is averaging a career-low 11:48 time-on-ice and has one assist in 16 games this season. Before this season, Maatta's career-average ice time was 18:27.

Haight was drafted 47th overall by Minnesota is the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut earlier this season, playing two games. The 21-year-old forward has five points (1G / 4A) in 13 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.

Maatta will slot in on Tuesday as the Mammoth opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Dmitri Simashev will sit in his place.

Minnesota drafted Wallstedt 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and eagerly hoped his skill would develop at the NHL level. In recent weeks, Wallstedt has done just that, earning more playing time, and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 23-year-old Wallstedt has been excellent lately, posting an absurd 0.70 GAA and .978 SV% in his last three games (3-0-0) and is currently riding a two-game shutout streak. He has a 2.10 GAA and .924 SV% in six games this season (4-0-2). Still, Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as +147 home underdogs against a Carolina team that defeated them 4-3 earlier this month.

Hartman exited Sunday's 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period and did not return. The 31-year-old forward will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Before his injury, Hartman recorded seven points (4G / 3A) and 19 hits in 20 games this season.