Gustavsson will start his fifth straight game on Thursday and look to extend his winning streak to four. The 25-year-old Gustavsson has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0), posting a serviceable .919 SV%. Minnesota, -112 home favourites, face off against division rivals, the Nashville Predators, who have lost two straight, being outscored 7-3.
With Carter Hart being granted an indefinite leave of absence, Cal Petersen has been recalled from Lehigh Valley (AHL) on Tuesday. The 29-year-old veteran netminder returns to the NHL for a second time this season after posting 1-1-0 record, 3.50 GAA and .896 SV% the last time Hart was out.
Gustavsson will search for his third straight win when he tends the twice against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Gustavsson was tremendous in his last outing, saving 40 of 42 shots (.952 SV%) in a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Minnesota is a -165 home favourite against a Washington club that has scored two or fewer goals in three of their last four games (2-2-0).
With Marc-Andre Fleury still unavailable due to an upper-body injury he suffered in Friday's game in Florida, the Wild will turn to Filip Gustavsson when they travel to Carolina on Sunday. Gustavsson relieved Fleury after the injury on Friday night and secured a victory, allowing three goals on 24 shots as the Wild were able to stave off the Panthers' comeback and hold onto a 6-4 win. Gustavsson has struggled since returning from a lower-body injury on January 13th, posting an ugly .813 SV% across three appearances. He'll have his hands full again on Sunday with the Wild being +160 underdogs in Carolina.
Jiriceck has spent most of the season with the Blue Jackets, appearing in 36 games and tallying nine points (1G / 8A). During his brief stint in Cleveland, the No.6 pick from 2022 had three assists in three games. He'll be with the team as they leave for a West Coast road swing.
Hunt returns to the press box Friday as Minnesota's defensive carousel continues with Alex Goligoski drawing back into the lineup. The 21-year-old Hunt is in his first NHL season and has yet to score but has a goal, seven SOG, and a -1 plus/minus in 12 games played.
Sturm has been out since December 12th due to an abdomen injury but will draw back into the Sharks' lineup for the first time in a month Saturday vs. Anaheim. The 28-year-old role playing centre has struggled to produce so far in 2023-24, with his two goals, four points, 30 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus through 26 games played prior to the injury.
Spurgeon's season of bad luck and bad news continued Thursday as it was announced he will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season as he undergoes left hip surgery on February 6th. The 34-year-old ends his injury riddled campaign without a goal, and with five assists, 21 SOG, two PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 16 games played. The Wild' captain is expected to be ready for the start of training camp for the 2024-25 season.
After being a healthy scratch in his last two games, Jiricek has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The 20-year-old Jiricek had nine points (1G / 8A) in 36 games this season.
Gustavsson was horrid in his return to the lineup from a multi-week absence, allowing five goals on 18 shots (.722 SV%) in a 6-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes last week. Minnesota will hope that Gustavsson was just shaking off some rust and can get back to his form from before his injury, when he won eight of 11 (8-3-0), allowing three or fewer goals in all but one game while posting a stellar .927 SV%. Minnesota is a +123 road underdog on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Brodin is expected to return from a 17-game absence and play his first game since December 8th. Brodin had nine points (1G / 8A) in 25 games this season, averaging 23:59 time-on-ice, and will be a big addition to the Wild blueline.
Wallstedt was shelled in his NHL debut in Dallas on Wednesday, allowing seven goals on 34 shots in the Wild's 7-2 loss. With Filip Gustavsson back, Wallstedt returns to the AHL, where he is 11-9-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .917 SV% in 20 games this season.
