Minnesota Wild News

Mercer is an undrafted goalie out that has spent the previous five seasons playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL. The 21-year-old had an excellent 2024-25 season, posting a 2.53 GAA and .925 SV% in 46 games (27-15-4) with Drummondville.

With Stuart Skinner posting a horrendous 6.11 GAA and .810 SV% through the first two games of Edmonton's opening series, Calvin Pickard will start Game 3 vs. Los Angeles on Friday. The 33-year-old was a consistent source of wins when called upon throughout the regular season, posting a 22-10-1 record, 2.71 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Los Angeles Kings for Game 3 on Friday, who are looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead after scoring 12 combined goals in the first two games of the series.

With Stuart Skinner posting a horrendous 6.11 GAA and .810 SV% through the first two games of the series, Calvin Pickard has found himself in the starter's net ahead of Game 3 vs. Los Angeles on Friday. The 33-year-old was a consistent source of wins when called upon during the regular season, posting a 22-10-1 record, 2.71 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Los Angeles Kings for Game 3 on Friday, who are looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead after scoring 12 goals combined in the first two games.

Minnesota enters Game 3 with their first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights tied 1-1, courtesy of an excellent performance from Gustavsson in Game 2, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in the 5-2 victory. The 26-year-old Gustavsson will return to the crease in Game 3, looking to build on his 2.38 GAA and .919 SV% through seven career playoff games (3-4-0). Minnesota enters Game 3 on Thursday as +140 home underdogs against Vegas.

Down 0-1 in their first-round matchup against the Golden Knights, the Wild will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes for Game 2, looking to even the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson was beaten three times in Game 1, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-2 loss. The Swedish netminder had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.56 GAA and .914 SV% in 58 appearances (31-19-6) and has been serviceable in limited playoff action, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in six career outings (2-4-0). Still, Minnesota enters Game 2 as a sizeable +192 road underdogs against Vegas.

Down 0-1 in their first-round matchup against the Golden Knights, the Wild will likely roll with Gustavsson between the pipes for Game 2, looking to even the series. The 26-year-old Gustavsson was beaten three times in Game 1, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-2 loss. The Swedish netminder had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.56 GAA and .914 SV% in 58 appearances (31-19-6) and has been serviceable in limited playoff action, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in six career outings (2-4-0). Still, Minnesota enters Game 2 as a sizeable +192 road underdogs against Vegas.

The Florida Panthers have completed the 2024-25 season and, no longer in need of reserves, have assigned Jesse Puljujarvi, Rasmus Asplund, and Matt Kiersted to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). Kiersted has 27 points (1G / 27A) in 63 games with Charlotte this season.

Minnesota can clinch a playoff spot by recording a single point against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Gustavsson will be tending the twine, looking to build on his 2.57 GAA and .914 SV% through 57 games this season (31-19-6). After a stellar March performance, the 26-year-old Gustavsson has struggled in April, posting a 3.33 GAA and .881 SV% in five games (2-2-1). Still, Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as sizeable -251 home favorites against an Anaheim team outscored 10-3 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).

Spurgeon did not play Minnesota's previous game but he will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 35-year-old Spurgeon is averaging 20:26 time-on-ice and has 32 points (7G / 25A) in 65 games this season.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, in their penultimate game, the Oilers will turn to Pickard between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings in a preview of their first-round playoff matchup. Pickard allowed two goals on 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the Kings on April 5th. The 32-year-old goalie has a 2.63 GAA and .902 SV% in 35 games this season (22-9-1). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as slight -102 home underdogs against a Kings team outscoring their opposition 11-5 during a two-game winning streak.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, in their penultimate game, the Oilers will likely turn to Pickard between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings in a preview of their first-round playoff matchup. Pickard allowed two goals on 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the Kings on April 5th. The 32-year-old goalie has a 2.63 GAA and .902 SV% in 35 games this season (22-9-1). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as slight -102 home underdogs against a Kings team outscoring their opposition 11-5 during a two-game winning streak.

Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson in the crease on Friday as they can virtually cement a berth in the playoffs with a win over the Calgary Flames. Gustavsson was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old netminder has a solid 2.54 GAA and .915 SV% in 55 appearances this season (30-18-6). Minnesota enters Friday's contest as -116 road favorites against a Calgary team with points in four straight (2-0-2).

Stuart Skinner (upper body) returns from a multi-week absence on Friday but will serve as the backup to Pickard against the San Jose Sharks. The 32-year-old Pickard allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. He has a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% in 34 games this season (21-9-1). The Oilers enter Friday's contest as significant -391 home favorites against a Sharks team they defeated 3-2 less than a week ago.

Kaprizov has not played since late January but recently returned to practice and is expected to draw back into the lineup on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. Before his injury, the 27-year-old Kaprizov had been outstanding offensively, scoring 52 points (23G / 29A) in 37 games.

Stuart Skinner (upper body) is nearing a return, but Pickard remains the go-to option between the pipes for the Oilers and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. Pickard played well in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%), but received no goal support in a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The 32-year-old Pickard has a 2.64 GAA and .902 SV% in 33 games this season (20-9-1). The Oilers enter Wednesday's contest as -138 home favorites against a Blues team whose 12-game winning streak snapped on Monday in a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.