Minnesota Wild News

Lauko was a late scratch on Thursday due to the undisclosed injury, with the team announcing his absence less than 10 minutes before puck drop. Matthew Poitras will take his place in the Bruins' lineup.

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.

Frederick Gaudreau will return from an upper-body injury on Tuesday, prompting Minnesota to make Raska a healthy scratch. Raska played 7:24 time-on-ice in his last outing and recorded five hits.

Gaudreau has been out of the lineup since exiting Thursday's contest with an upper-body injury but will re-enter the lineup in favour of Adam Raska on Tuesday. Gaudreau has one point (0G / 1A) in his last nine games.

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.

Fleury will take the Minnesota crease back for the second time in three games after backing up Filip Gustavsson in a 7-3 loss last time out. The 39-year-old legendary goaltender has improved his overall numbers as of late but still carries an ugly 8-9-3 record, 2.97 GAA and .897 SV% on the season. He draws the tough task of taking on the Florida Panthers on the road Friday, who have surprisingly lost three straight games but rank second in the NHL in shots on goal per game (34.1) after leading the NHL in the same category in 2022-23.

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.

Raska has been a healthy scratch for Minnesota's previous two games but will draw back in the lineup Friday vs. Florida as Fredrick Gaudreau (upper body) is on the mend. The 22-year-old Czechia winger has yet to pick up a point or shot on goal in three games this season but has only averaged 7:28 TOI per game in a complimentary role.

Gaudreau played only 9:02 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury and will be out on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Gaudreau has one point (0G / 1A) in his last nine games.

Gaudreau played only 9:02 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury and is unlikely to play on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Gaudreau has one point (0G / 1A) in his last nine games.

Johnson will take the place of Ryan Donato, who is listed as a scratch. Johnson has two goals and no assists in 27 games this season.

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.

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.