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.
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.
Brink, Olle Lycksell, and Adam Ginning will all draw into the lineup on Tuesday, replacing veterans Sean Couturier, Cam Atkinson, and Marc Staal. Brink last played on March 14th and has only two points (2G / 0A) in his last 13 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.
Aube-Kubel will be the odd-man out on Thursday as the Capitals look to get fresh legs in the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Aliaksei Protas will draw into lineup in his place.
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.
Johansson hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury on March 2nd. He has 27 points (9G / 11A) in 61 games this season.
Foligno recently returned from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, but has played the last two games for the Wild and will remain in the lineup on Tuesday despite missing the morning skate. The bruising forward has five penalty minutes and five shots in his last two games.
Nicolas Deslauries will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Brink to make his return to the Flyers lineup. Brink has been out of the lineup for the last two games, but has two points (2G / 0A) in his last four contests.
Middleton was a late scratch for Thursday's game and will be sidelined again on Friday after being a game-time decision. Middleton has seven goals and 13 assists in 62 games this season.
Foligno has not played since February 9th, missing 12 games, but will return to the lineup on Friday. In 47 games this season, Foligno has 20 points (9G / 11A) and 162 hits while averaging 14:35 time-on-ice.
Middleton was a late scratch for Thursday's game but has a chance to return to the lineup just one day later. Middleton has seven goals and 13 assists in 62 games this season.
Gustavsson will be back between the pipes for the Wild when they travel to Denver on Friday after Marc-Andre Fleury got the nod for Thursday's game in Arizona. Gustavsson saw light work his last time out, facing just 15 shots in a 4-3 victory over the Sharks on Sunday. He's had a disappointing follow up to his breakout campaign a year ago, registering a 17-15-3 record and just an .892 SV%. He draws as difficult of an assignment as you could imagine on Friday with the Wild being +190 underdogs in Colorado.
