Minnesota Wild News

Lambos was the 26th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old defenseman play one game with Minnesota last season, his NHL debut, but spent most of the season in Iowa (AHL), where he scored 19 points (8G / 11A) in 70 games.

Primarily an AHL player, Kirkland appeared in at least 20 games for the Calgary Flames the past two seasons and was acquired by the Minnesota Wild in the offseason. The 29-year-old forward scored two points (1G / 1A) in 20 games with the Flames last season.

Lambos was the 26th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old defenseman play one game with Minnesota last season, his NHL debut, but spent most of the season in Iowa (AHL), where he scored 19 points (8G / 11A) in 70 games.

Maatta's time on ice was limited to 17:27 in Minnesota's previous game, and he will not play on Thursday due to an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old Finnish defenseman is averaging 21:24 time on ice and has two assists in six games. Matt Kiersted will make his season debut, replacing Maatta.

Olli Maatta (upper body) will not play on Thursday, allowing Kierstad to enter the lineup for his season debut. The 28-year-old Kierstad spent most of last season in the AHL, where he scored 12 points (4G / 8A) in 49 games for Iowa.

Wallstedt has been busy with Filip Gustavsson (hip) sidelined, and he got his first night off in Minnesota's previous game, but the team fared poorly without him, losing 5-2 to the Winnipeg Jets. Wallstedt emerged as Minnesota's starting goalie in the playoffs and has carried that momentum into the 2026-27 season. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie has an outstanding 1.82 GAA and .933 SV% in six games (4-1-1). Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as -140 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues team on a two-game winning streak.

With Filip Gustavsson (hip) sidelined, Minnesota has started Jesper Wallstedt in every game of the 2026-27 season, but Pickard will get his first chance on Tuesday in the tail end of a back-to-back. The 34-year-old Pickard has had some success at the NHL level, but struggled in limited action in 2025-26, posting a 3.68 GAA and .871 SV% in 16 games (5-6-2) with the Edmonton Oilers.

Foligno did not play on Saturday due to a lower-body injury and is going to be re-evaluated. The 35-year-old forward has 13 hits and a +4 plus/minus four games this season.

Bogosian did not play on Saturday due to an undisclosed injury, but he will be back in the lineup on Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The veteran 36-year-old defenseman is averaging 16:02 time-on-ice and has zero points in four games this season.

With Filip Gustavsson (hip) sidelined, Minnesota has started Wallstedt in every game of the 2026-27 season and will continue that trend on Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 23-year-old Wallstedt has given Head Coach John Hynes no reason to deviate, posting a stellar 1.78 GAA and .936 SV% in five outings (3-1-1). Minnesota enters the action on Monday as slight -103 home underdogs against a Vegas team off to a hot 5-1-0 start to the season.