Minnesota Wild News

Eriksson Ek was considered week-to-week after suffering a lower-body injury just over one week ago, but his presence at Monday's morning skate suggests that he's not far from returning to the Wild lineup. Head coach Dean Evason would not disclose any lineup information, so it's unclear if Eriksson Ek will play in Game 1. Consider him a game-time decision.

Johansson suffered an injury vs. the Jets last Tuesday and missed Thursday's season finale in Nashville. Over the weekend, he was back on the ice, skating on a line with Frederick Gaudreau and Matt Boldy. The veteran winger has been great since joining the Wild, picking up 18 points (6G / 12A) in 20 games.

Giroux picked up an assist on 13:57 TOI with two PIMs in his first NHL game Thursday vs. Nashville but has been reassigned to Iowa (AHL) on Friday. The 23-year-old returns to Iowa, where he had three goals, 18 assists, 28 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 65 games this season.

Rossi had an assist, 13 SOG, eight PIMs and a -7 plus/minus across 19 games with Minnesota but has been reassigned to Iowa (AHL) on Friday. The 21-year-old returns to the minors, where he had 16 goals, 50 points and a 46 PIMs across 51 games played.

Pitlick was a healthy scratch for the Blues' previous game but will draw into the lineup Thursday as a replacement for Hugh Mcging.

Gustavsson stopped 40 of 42 shots (.952 SV%) for his fifth win in six starts as he beat the Chicago Blackhawks on the road in his last game. The 24-year-old is having an incredible first season after being traded to Minnesota as he is second in both GAA (2.05) and SV% (.933SV%) to only Linus Ullmark and has a 22-9-6 record. He takes on the Nashville Predators, who have won three of their last four games and are 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.7).

Faber was a healthy scratch for the Wilds' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Nashville for his second career NHL game. The 20-year-old defenseman joined the Wild after a successful season with the University of Minnesota (NCAA), where he had four goals, 23 assists, 12 PIMs and +29 plus/minus in 38 games played.

Giroux had three goals, 18 assists, 28 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 65 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) and will make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Nashville. The 23-year-old was the Wilds' 2018 fifth-round pick (155th overall).

Johansson was the subject of a slashing play involving Winnipeg's Neal Pionk which resulted in a $5,000 fine and will now be forced to miss Thursday's game as he deals with an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old closes out another productive season, as it ends with 19 goals, 27 assists, 137 SOG, eight PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 80 games played between Minnesota and Washington.

Zuccarello has 22 goals, 45 assists, 198 SOG, 26 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 78 games this season but will not play in game 82 due to rest-related reasons. The 35-year-old reached the 20-goal, 65-point mark for a second straight season as he has solidified himself as a key part of Minnesota's top-six.

Spurgeon has 11 goals, 23 assists, 149 SOG, 14 PIMs and a +32 plus/minus through 79 games this season but will not play Thursday as he rests ahead of the playoffs. The 33-year-old impressively reached double-digit goal totals for the sixth time in his career in 2022-23.

Boldy has 31 goals, 32 assists, 255 SOG, 39 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 81 games in his sophomore campaign but will not play in game 82 for the Wild as he rests ahead of the playoffs. The 22-year-old old broke out in a big way in his second career-season and will hope to carry his strong late-season momentum into the playoffs.

Brodin finishes his 2022-23 campaign with three goals, 11 assists, 90 SOG, 30 PIMs and a +13 plus/minus through 60 games this season and will not play Thursday due to rest-related reasons. The 29-year-old had a down season as he put up his lowest career totals in points since the 2015-16 season.

Kaprizov has 40 goals, 35 assists, 261 SOG, 45 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 67 games this season but will not play Thursday in Minnesota's final game of the season. The 25-year-old impressively closes out his second-straight 40-goal season.

Hartman interfered with Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers on April 11th ensuing in a massive scrum and has been suspended one game by the Department of Player Safety. The 28-year-old has 15 goals, 22 assists, 149 SOG, 90 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through 59 games prior to the suspension.

Raska failed to pick up a point, while getting one SOG through three games with the San Jose Sharks and has been resigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Wednesday. The 21-year-old returns to the minors, where he had four goals, seven assists, 121 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 53 games played prior to his previous call-up.

Jiricek has failed to pick up a point through four games played, with five SOG and a -4 plus/minus but has been reassigned to Cleveland (AHL) Wednesday. Jiricek returns to Cleveland where he had six goals, 32 assists, 34 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 52 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) before being called to Columbus on an emergency basis Tuesday.

Brodie missed the Wilds' previous game for rest related reasons but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday vs. Winnipeg. Brodin has three goals, 11 assists, 89 SOG, 30 PIMs and a +14 plus/minus through 59 games played this season.