Minnesota Wild News

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.

The Oilers have been inconsistent to start the 2025-26 season, scoring only 18 goals (2.57 GF / GP) through seven games (3-3-1), totals that are not aligned with an offense led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Pickard will be between the pipes on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, looking to build on a 2.54 GAA and .865 SV% through two games (1-1-0). The Oilers enter Thursday's action as sizable -216 home favorites against a Montreal Canadiens team that played last night, defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime.

Haight made his NHL debut at the beginning of October, playing two NHL games and averaging 9:22 time-on-ice. He was recalled earlier this week but did not draw into Minnesota's lineup. He returns to the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he has also played two games this season.

Six game into his NHL career, Shabanov has been effective in a sheltered role, scoring three points (1G / 2) while averaging only 11:43 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Russian forward is coming off a sensational season with Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) where he had 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games played. He will not play on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Six game into his NHL career, Shabanov has been effective in a sheltered role, scoring three points (1G / 2) while averaging only 11:43 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Russian forward is coming off a sensational season with Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) where he had 23 goals and 67 points in 65 games played. He will be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Gustavsson started the season with a sensational 26-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues, but has seen his numbers fall off since, posting a 3.04 GAA and .899 SV% in five games (2-3-0) this season. That said, the 27-year-old goalie was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as +117 road underdogs against a red-hot Devils team that played last night and is riding a five-game winning streak.