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Minnesota Wild News

Gustavsson will start Saturday in Sweden vs. the Senators.

Gustavsson draws his second start in five games for Minnesota after losing his previous start after allowing three goals on 25 shots (.880 SV%). The 25-year-old goaltender has had a disastrous start to 2023-24, with his 2-4-1 record, .872 SV% and 4.64 GAA. He takes on Ottawa in Sweden for the Global Series, who have won two straight contests and are currently second in the NHL in goals per game.

Filip Gustavsson
Nico Sturm (personal) will be away from the Sharks and miss the next two games vs Vancouver and Seattle.

Sturm let the Sharks' know Tuesday that he would be stepping away from the team for personal matters and will miss their upcoming games vs. Vancouver and Seattle. The 28-year-old centre has struggled much like his San Jose counterparts in 2023-24, with his two assists, 16 SOG, eight PIMs, and a -12 plus/minus in 17 games.

Nico Sturm
Michael McCarron will draw back in the Predators' lineup Tuesday vs. Anaheim.

McCarron has been a healthy scratch for the Predators' last game but will be back in Nashville's lineup Tuesday vs. Anaheim. The 28-year-old has a goal, an assist, four SOG and a +2 plus/minus in five games this season and will take over for Philip Tomasino on the Predators' fourth line.

Michael McCarron
Jesper Wallstedt will travel as Minnesota's third goalie for their Sweden trip.

With the Minnesota Wild travelling to Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series, the team has recalled Jesper Wallstedt to serve as their third goaltender. Wallstedt, a native of Sweden, was the 20th overall pick of the Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In eight games with Iowa (AHL) this season (6-2-0), Wallstedt has a 2.01 GAA and .932 SV%.

Jesper Wallstedt
Jared Spurgeon (upper body) will make his season debut Friday vs. Bufallo.

Spurgeon has missed the Wilds' first 13 games of the season due to an upper-body injury but has been activated from the LTIR Friday and will make his season debut Friday vs. Buffalo. The 33-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season and had 11 goals and 34 points in 79 games played in 2022-23.

Jared Spurgeon
Jared Spurgeon (upper body) has been activated from the Long-Term Injured Reserve Friday.

Spurgeon has missed the Wilds' first 13 games of the season due to an upper-body injury but has been activated from the LTIR Friday and is a game-time decision vs. Buffalo. The 33-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season and had 11 goals and 34 points in 79 games played in 2022-23.

Jared Spurgeon
Filip Gustavsson will start Friday vs. Buffalo.

Gustavsson will make his first appearance in the Wild crease since being pulled in last Saturday's shootout victory over the Rangers when he allowed three goals on just four shots. One of the breakout goaltenders of the 2022-23 season, Gustavsson has struggled mightily to recapture that same form this year. Through seven starts he owns an ugly .871 SV% and a 4.89 GAA. The good news for Gustavsson owners is that Marc-Andre Fleury has hardly played any better, with just an .898 SV% to show for his efforts, so the starting job could still be up for grabs if Gustavsson is able to get his game back on track. He's got a good chance of getting back in the win column tonight with the Wild being -105 to pick up the win in Buffalo.

Filip Gustavsson
Minnesota has acquired Zach Bogosian for a 2025 seventh-round pick and is expected to make his Wild debut Thursday.

After trading Calen Addison the the San Jose Sharks earlier in the day, the Wild have acquired veteran defenceman Bogosian from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a seventh-round pick in 2025. Bogosian has zero points and five shots while averaging 11:57 through four games with the Lightning this season and is expected to make his Wild debut Thursday.

Zach Bogosian
Calvin Pickard has been recalled from Bakersfield (AHL).

Jack Campbell cleared waivers earlier on Wednesday, allowing the Oilers to recall Pickard from the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. Pickard has not played at the NHL level since a three-game stint with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021-22 season. The 31-year-old journeyman goaltender has been lights out with the Condors this season, posting a 2.03 GAA and .939 SV% in four games (2-2-0). Stuart Skinner is expected to take priority in the starters crease for the Oilers but after a dreadful 2-8-1 start to the season, the slightest misstep could potentially give Pickard a route to seeing game action.

Calvin Pickard
Spurgeon (upper-body) will travel with the team on their upcoming three-game road trip.

Spurgeon skated in a non-contact jersey on Sunday and will travel with the team on their three-game road trip, but head coach Dean Evason was unsure when he'll be back in the lineup. Spurgeon's season debut is on the horizon, so monitor his status throughout the upcoming week.

Jared Spurgeon
Filip Gustavsson will start Saturday vs. the New York Rangers.

Gustavsson allowed five goals on 38 shots (.868 SV%) for his second-straight loss as he was downed in his previous start vs. New Jersey but will take on the New York Rangers Saturday. The 25-year-old has struggled despite his sensational 2022-23 season, with his 2-3-1 record, .882 SV% and 4.48 GAA. He'll face the surging New York Rangers, who have won six straight contest but are without superstars Adam Fox (lower body), Filip Chytil (upper body) and Igor Shesterkin (lower body).

Filip Gustavsson
FIlip Gustavsson will start Thursday vs. New Jersey.

Gustavsson will return to the crease on Thursday after serving as the Wild backup in their last two games. After a sensational 41-save shutout in his season debut, Gustavsson has struggled immensely with a 5.45 GAA and .853 SV% in four games (1-2-1). Gustavsson was one of the league's top goaltenders last season and still has plenty of time to turn things around but Thursday night's matchup against the high-octane New Jersey Devils doesn't inspire much confidence. The Wild are only slight -103 home underdogs but are facing a Devils team that is averaging 4.6 goals per game over their last five contests (4-1-0).

Filip Gustavsson
Matthew Boldy (upper body) will return to the Wild lineup Thursday vs New Jersey.

After being injured in the second game of the season and being forced to miss the subsequent seven contests, Boldy will make his much-anticipated return to the Wild lineup on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The Wild have struggled immensely in his absence, winning only twice (2-3-2). Boldy has two points (1G / 1A) in two games this season and will be a fixture in the top-six and top powerplay unit for the Wild going forward.

Matt Boldy
Jared Spurgeon (upper body) was back at Wild practice Wednesday.

Spurgeon has not played yet this season due to an upper-body injury so his presence at practice was a welcome sight for a Wild team that currently ranks worst in the league defensively (4.11 GA / GP). Last season, Surgeron averaged 21:49 time-on-ice while tallying 34 points (11G / 23A) and a +32 plus/minus rating in 79 games.

Jared Spurgeon
Filip Gustavsson will start Thursday vs. Philadelphia.

Gustavsson will return to the crease on Thursday for his third consecutive game as he looks for his third victory this season. After a heroic 41-save shutout to open the season, Gustavsson has registered a .861 SV% in his three games since (1-1-1). The Wild have had an uncharacteristic start to the season. The traditionally low-scoring, low-offence Wild, who are without Matt Boldy to boot, have the league's fourth-best offence (4.17 GF/GP) along with the third-worst defence (4.17 GA/GP). They will look to recalibrate as -111 road favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has a 3-2-1 record.

Filip Gustavsson