Despite rotating goalies nearly all season, Jesper Wallstedt, to some surprise, was between the pipes to start Game One against the Dallas Stars, and never looked back en route to a 4-2 series win. Wallstedt returns to the crease in Game One of round two against the Colorado Avalanche, looking to build on his impressive 2.05 GAA and .924 SV% through four games (4-2). Minnesota enters Game One as +170 road underdogs.
Despite rotating goalies nearly all season, Jesper Wallstedt, to some surprise, was between the pipes to start Game One against the Dallas Stars, and never looked back en route to a 4-2 series win. Wallstedt returns to the crease in Game One of round two against the Colorado Avalanche, looking to build on his impressive 2.05 GAA and .924 SV% through four games (4-2). Minnesota enters Game One as +170 road underdogs.
With Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) expected to miss at least the first two games of Minnesota's second-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, Yurov will enter the lineup for Game One. Yurov, a 22-year-old rookie, battled some adversity during his postseason debut in round one against the Dallas Stars, recording zero points, four penalty minutes, and a -1 plus/minus through four games.
Eriksson Ek had an awkward non-contact fall midway through the third period of Game Six against the Dallas Stars. He exited the game for a few minutes but returned to help the team hold on and advance to the second round. That said, he did not travel with the team to Colorado and is expected to miss the first two games of the series, creating a sizeable void at centre-ice.
Eriksson Ek left Game 6 vs. the Stars briefly after crashing into the sideboards leg-first. Eriksson Ek finished the game, but is still feeling the effects of the incident, and is questionable to play in Game 1 in Colorado. If Eriksson Ek is unavailable, expect Danila Yurov to draw back in.
Brodin missed Game 6 vs. the Stars and will miss Game 1 in Colorado as the Wild start Round 2. In Brodin's absence, Jacob Middleton was elevated to the second pair with Jared Spurgeon, expect the Wild to roll with the same pairings on Sunday.
The Wild will be looking to ride Wallstedt's excellent form between the pipes to a series victory over the Stars on Friday. Wallstedt turned in another strong performance in Game 5, turning away 20 of the 22 shots he faced in the 4-2 victory. The 23-year-old netminder has posted a 3-2 record and a .926 SV% across the first five games of the series. Wallstedt and the Wild enter action on Friday at -125 on the money line.
Bobby Brink will be a healthy scratch in Game Six, allowing Sturm to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Sturm is averaging 10:10 time-on-ice and has one assist in two game this postseason.
Brodin exited Tuesday's 4-2 Game Five win over the Dallas Stars with only 7:22 time-on-ice after blocking a shot. Minnesota Head Coach John Hynes has not provided a concrete update on Brodin, who was seen leaving the arena in a walking boot and has officially been ruled out for Game Six. The 32-year-old Swedish defenseman averaged 23:46 time-on-ice through the first four games of the series. Jeff Petry will make his series debut, drawing in as Brodin's replacement.
Nico Sturm will draw into Minnesota's lineup in Game Six, sending Brink to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. In four games this postseason, the 24-year-old Brink has one assist and four penalty minutes.
Brodin exited Tuesday's 4-2 Game Five win over the Dallas Stars with only 7:22 time-on-ice after blocking a shot. Minnesota Head Coach John Hynes did not have an update on Brodin, who was seen leaving the arena in a walking boot. The 32-year-old Swedish defenseman averaged 23:46 time-on-ice through the first four games of the series.
Wallstedt was outstanding in Game 4, allowing just two goals on 45 shots as the Wild edged out a 3-2 overtime victory to even the series. The 23-year-old netminder owns an impressive .929 SV% across the opening four games of the series. Wallstedt will need to be at his best again on Tuesday in a pivotal Game 5 matchup, as the Wild enter action at +105 on the money line.
Trenin was on the receiving end of a massive open-ice hit from Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars early in Game Two and has not played since. Trenin led the NHL with 413 hits in the regular season, and his physical presence will certainly add a boost to Minnesota's lineup.
Sturm will take a seat for Game 5 along with Danila Yurov as both Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin return from upper-body injuries. Yurov averaged just under 12 minutes of ice time through the first four games of the series and did not register a point.
Yurov will take a seat for Game 5 along with Nico Sturm as both Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin return from upper-body injuries. Yurov averaged just under 12 minutes of ice time through the first four games of the series and did not register a point.
Trenin was on the receiving end of a massive open-ice hit from Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars early in Game Two and has not played since. The 29-year-old Trenin was back at practice on Monday, but his status for Game Five on Tuesday remains uncertain. Trenin led the NHL with 413 hits in the regular season, and his physical presence will certainly add a boost to Minnesota if he can return to the lineup.
Trenin was on the receiving end of a massive open-ice hit from Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars early in Game Two and has not played since. The 29-year-old Trenin was back at practice on Monday, but his status for Game Five on Tuesday remains uncertain. Trenin led the NHL with 413 hits in the regular season, and his physical presence will certainly add a boost to Minnesota if he can return to the lineup.
Despite rotating goalies nearly all season, Jesper Wallstedt will start his fourth straight game of the playoffs as he attempts to even up Minnesota's opening round series vs. Dallas on Saturday. The 23-year-old has struggled a bit in Minnesota's previous two games, allowing seven goals after holding Dallas to only one in Game 1. He brings his 1-2-0 record, alongside his 2.27 GAA and .916 SV% into Game 4 as he looks to even the series on home ice.
Trenin was on the receiving end of a massive open-ice hit from Colin Blackwell of the Dallas Stars early in Game Two on Monday, exiting the game immediately after, playing only 3:02 time-on-ice. He was subsequently held out of the lineup in Game Three and will miss at least one more game. The 29-year-old Trenin led the NHL with 413 hits in the regular season, and his physical presence will be sorely missed by Minnesota during his absence.
