Jiricek has been reassigned to Cleveland (AHL) on Saturday.
Minnesota Wild News
Eriksson Ek (lower body) is a game-time decision on Saturday vs. St. Louis.
Eriksson Ek has not played the last four games due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. Eriksson Ek has been tremendous for Minnesota this season, scoring 60 points (29G / 31A) in 66 games, only one point shy of his career-high set last season.
Jiricek has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL) on an emergency basis.
Jiricek has been in Cleveland (AHL) since early January but will head back to Columbus on Thursday on an emergency basis. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman has played well despite only averaging 14:46 TOI per game this season, with a goal, eight assists, 33 SOG, 20 PIMs, and a -1 plus/minus through 36 games played.
Aube-Kubel will draw into the Capitals lineup on Wednesday.
Aube-Kubel and Michael Sgarbossa will draw in with T.J. Oshie (upper-body) and Aliaksei Protas (lower-body) missing the game due to injury. Aube-Kubel has six goals and ten assists in 49 games this season.
Brodin (lower body) will have an MRI on Wednesday and determine the extent of his injury.
Brodin exited Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks after playing only 16:30 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Brodin is averaging 23:37 time-on-ice this season and would be a major loss for a Minnesota team that has already lost Jared Spurgeon for the duration of the season.
Brodin (lower body) left Tuesday's game vs. Anaheim and was without an update following the game.
Goalie Start
Gustavsson will start on Tuesday in Anaheim.
Marc-Andre Fleury has controlled Minnesota's crease lately, but the team will turn to Gustavsson on Tuesday in the front end of a back-to-back. Gustavsson last played on March 8th when he allowed two goals on 40 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Minnesota and Gustavsson have a favourable matchup as -215 road favourites against an Anaheim Ducks club that has been shut out twice in their last three games.
Minnesota has signed Rasmus Kumpulainen to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Kumpulainen was the second-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and has been rewarded with a three-year, entry-level contract. The 18-year-old Kumpulainen has 55 points (28G / 27A) in 56 games with the Oshawa Generals (OHL) this season.
Eriksson Ek (lower body) did not join the Wild on their California road trip and is expected to miss at least the next two games.
Eriksson Ek has not played the last two games due to a lower-body injury and will miss at least two more. Eriksson Ek has been tremendous for Minnesota this season and, although the severity of his injury seems minor, it creates a sizeable void down the middle in the lineup. Through 66 games this season, Eriksson Ek already has 60 points (29G / 31A), only one shy of his career-high set last season.
Firstov has been reassigned to Iowa (AHL) from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL).
Aube-Kubel is listed as a scratch for Thursday's game in Seattle.
Aube-Kubel will be the odd-man out on Thursday as the Capitals look to get fresh legs in the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Aliaksei Protas will draw into lineup in his place.
Eriksson Ek (undisclosed) is considered day-to-day as he is expected to miss the next "few games".
Eriksson Ek exited Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes after playing 14:55 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Eriksson Ek has been tremendous for Minnesota this season and, although the severity of his injury seems minor, it creates a sizeable void down the middle in the lineup. Through 66 games this season, Eriksson Ek already has 60 points (29G / 31A), only one shy of his career-high set last season.
Eriksson Ek left Tuesday's game against the Coyotes with an undisclosed and did not return.
The team has not given an update about the undisclosed injury but it's been speculated that Eriksson Ek could be forced to miss a couple games. The Wild can ill afford to be without Eriksson Ek, who has been enjoying a career year. The Wild's number-one centreman has 29 goals and 31 assists in 66 games on the season while playing over 20 minutes a night.
Johansson (lower body) has been activated from Injured Reserve and will return on Tuesday vs. Arizona.
Johansson hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury on March 2nd. He has 27 points (9G / 11A) in 61 games this season.
Foligno (lower body) is good to play on Tuesday after missing morning skate.
Foligno recently returned from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, but has played the last two games for the Wild and will remain in the lineup on Tuesday despite missing the morning skate. The bruising forward has five penalty minutes and five shots in his last two games.
Middleton (upper-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Sunday.
Middleton (upper-body) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Predators.
Middleton (upper-body) will not play in Colorado on Friday.
Middleton was a late scratch for Thursday's game and will be sidelined again on Friday after being a game-time decision. Middleton has seven goals and 13 assists in 62 games this season.
Foligno (lower-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Friday.
Foligno has not played since February 9th, missing 12 games, but will return to the lineup on Friday. In 47 games this season, Foligno has 20 points (9G / 11A) and 162 hits while averaging 14:35 time-on-ice.
Middleton (upper-body) is a game-time decision for Friday's game in Colorado.
Middleton was a late scratch for Thursday's game but has a chance to return to the lineup just one day later. Middleton has seven goals and 13 assists in 62 games this season.