Minnesota Wild News

Minnesota snapped a four-game losing skid (0-2-2) in their most recent game, a 5-2 win over the Canucks where Gustavsson saved 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%). Outside of a shutout in his first game of the season, the 27-year-old Gustavsson has struggled in 2025-26, posting a concerning 3.23 GAA and .895 SV% in 10 games (3-6-1). Still, Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as sizable -202 home favorites against a Nashville Predators team that played last night and lost 5-4 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Oilers will turn to Pickard on Monday against the St. Louis Blues. Despite a serviceable 2-1-1 record, the 33-year-old Pickard has struggled this season, posting an ugly 3.50 GAA and .846 SV% in four games. That said, the Oilers have played well lately, recording at least a point in six of their last seven games (4-1-2), and enter Monday's contest as -129 road favorites against a Blues team that has been outscored 51-34 through 12 games this season (3-7-2).

Hughes has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on October 25th, but he will draw back into the lineup on Monday, retaking his spot on the team's top powerplay unit. The 26-year-old Hughes was averaging a monstrous 26:38 time-on-ice before his injury. He has seven points (1G / 6A) in nine games.

Minnesota has been abysmally defensive lately, outscored 20-11 during a four-game losing streak (0-2-2). The team hopes for a heroic performance out of Gustavsson when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Gustavsson had a 26-save shutout in his first game of the season, but has struggled saving the puck since, posting a 3.90 GAA and .876 SV% in his subsequent seven outings (1-5-1). Still, Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as a -166 home favorite against a Pittsburgh team with points in seven straight games (5-0-2).

Foligno did not play in Minnesota's most recent game, tending to an upper-body injury, but looks set to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 34-year-old Foligno has zero points, 29 hits, and a -7 plus/minus through nine games this season.

Hughes did not play in Vancouver's most recent game and will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday for a second consecutive contest. The 26-year-old Hughes showed no signs of injury in his most recent game, tallying two assists and playing 26:25 time-on-ice. Filip Hronek has filled in on Vancouver's top powerplay unit in the interim, but Hughes is not expected to be sidelined for long.

Foligno did not play in Minnesota's most recent game, tending to an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 34-year-old Foligno has zero points, 29 hits, and a -7 plus/minus through nine games this season.

After starting their season with a dominant 5-0 over the St. Louis Blues, Minnesota has been outscored 24-39 in their following nine games (2-5-2). Gustavsson had an excellent 2024-25 season, but has struggled to start this 2025-26 season. The 27-year-old goalie returns to the crease Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets and hopes to improve on his 3.34 GAA and .897 SV% through seven games (2-5-0). Minnesota enters the contest as slight -104 home underdogs.

Yegor Sharangovich will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets, sending Kirkland to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Kirkland scored eight points (2G / 6A) in a career-high 21 games last season. He has zero points through five games in 2025-26.

Minnesota has been outscored 27-21 through eight games this season (3-4-1) and will hope for an improved defensive effort on Saturday, turning to Gustavsson between the pipes against the Utah Mammoth. The 27-year-old Gustavsson has a serviceable 3.04 GAA and .902 SV% in six games (4-2-0), but he was excellent in his most recent outing despite a 4-1 loss, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) against the New Jersey Devils.