Crotty made his NHL debut for the Coyotes on Sunday and registered four hits in 10:03 time-on-ice in a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old Crotty was the 82nd overall pick of the Coyotes in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the entirety of the last four seasons playing with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).
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 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.
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.
After a night off yesterday in the front end of a back-to-back, the Minnesota crease will be returned to Fleury on Wednesday for the fifth time in the last six games. The veteran netminder has turned the clock back lately, playing his best hockey of the season, allowing three or fewer goals in seven straight (5-1-1) while posting a tremendous .937 SV%. Minnesota enters action as a +130 road underdog against the Los Angeles Kings.
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.
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 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.
Minnesota has won four of their last five and will turn to Fluery for the third straight game on Thursday. Fleury has looked poised and motivated lately, riding a three-game winning streak, including saving 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Minnesota enters action as sizeable -281 home favourites against the Anaheim Ducks.
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.
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.
