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Minnesota Wild News

Maatta (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.

Maatta was on the ice for the second day in a row and skated alongside Kris Letang in Tuesday’s practice, but remains a game-time decision for Game 1 vs. the Rangers. Monitor his status during the Penguins morning skate on Wednesday, but things are trending in the right direction for him to return after a nine-game absence.

Olli Maatta
Maatta (lower-body) practiced on Monday but remains questionable for Game 1.

Maatta missed the final nine games of the regular season and might miss the start of the postseason as well. He took part in the Penguins’ practice this morning, but said “I really can’t say for sure” when he was asked if he would play on Wednesday.

Olli Maatta
Pickard starts Thursday in Dallas.

Pickard stopped 23 of 24 shots after replacing Semyon Varlamov in Colorado’s loss to the Blues on Sunday. Pickard has only started 12 games this season, but has appeared in seven other games—overall he is 7-5-1 with a 2.53 GAA, .923 SV% and one shutout. He’ll be in tough against a Stars team that has won seven of their last nine while averaging 3.44 goals per game.

Calvin Pickard
Pickard was the first goalie off of the ice for the Avalanche.

Pickard stopped 23 of 24 shots after replacing Semyon Varlamov in Colorado’s loss to the Blues on Sunday. Pickard has only started 12 games this season, but has appeared in seven other games—overall he is 7-5-1 with a 2.53 GAA, .923 SV% and one shutout. He’ll be in tough against a Stars team that has won seven of their last nine while averaging 3.44 goals per game.

Calvin Pickard
Spurgeon (lower-body) is expected to return to the Wild lineup on Tuesday.

Spurgeon missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but is expected to be back in vs. the Sharks. Monitor his status during the morning skate, but expect him to draw back in alongside Ryan Suter. Spurgeon has 11 goals and 18 assists (29 points) in 75 games this season.

Jared Spurgeon
Foligno (illness) missed the morning skate and is questionable for Tuesday’s game.

Foligno is battling an illness and head coach John Tortorella listed him as questionable for tonight’s game vs. the Flyers. Consider him a game-time decision and expect Alex Wennberg, who missed Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury to replace Foligno if he can’t play.

Nick Foligno
Pickard starts Saturday vs. the Predators.

Pickard allowed two goals on 40 shots in Colorado’s win over the Panthers on Thursday. Pickard has won three straight starts while posting a 2.27 GAA and .930 SV%. This afternoon he takes on a Predators team that is 5-0-1 in their last six—Pickard is 3-1-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .945 SV% in five starts and one relief appearance on home ice.

Calvin Pickard
Pickard will start Thursday vs. the Panthers.

Pickard stopped 15 of 16 shots after replacing an ineffective Semyon Varlamov in Colorado’s loss to the Wild on Tuesday. Pickard has landed the Avalanche backup gig with a 5-4-1 record, 2.62 GAA, .918 SV% and two shutouts. He has a tough matchup with the Atlantic Division leading Panthers in town—Florida is 1-1-1 to start their five-game road trip.

Calvin Pickard