Minnesota Wild News

Fleury picked up the rare relief win in the Wild's previous game after coming in to stop 13 of 14 shots (.929 SV%) in the first period vs. the Rangers and will take on the Islanders on Tuesday. The 38-year-old has had a disappointing start to his campaign, as he is 2-2-21 with a .892 SV% and 2.83 GAA. He will head to Long Island Tuesday to take on New York, who has struggled offensively placing 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.7) and 18th in shots per game (30.9).

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.

Boyd was a healthy scratch for the Coyotes previous game but will draw back into the lineup Saturday asa. replacement for Josh Brown. The 30-year-old veteran centre has been productive despite his limited minutes (10:23 TOI/GP) as he has three assists, seven SOG and a +2 plus/minus in five games played.

Merrill has two assists, seven SOG and six PIMs in 10 games played this season but will be the odd man out of the Wilds' lineup for the first time Saturday vs. the New York Rangers. The 31-year-old is in his 11th NHL season but will take a seat as Daemon Hunt rejoins the Wild lineup.

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).

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).

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.

Dermott will return to the Coyotes lineup after missing the last two games with an illness. In six games this season, Dermott has zero points, -3 plus/minus and six shots while averaging 18:20 time-on-ice. He will likely replace Josh Brown, who suited up for him during his two-game absence.

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.

Fleury will make his second consecutive and fourth start of the season on Sunday against the Devils. The 20-year veteran is coming off his best start of the young season. Fleury stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced in Friday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Capitals. He owns an .895 SV% and a 2.96 GAA along with a 1-1-1 record on the season. Fleury and the Wild draw a difficult assignment on Sunday with the Devils being sizable favourites at -170.

Dermott will be forced to sit on Friday for the first time this season. The 27-year-old blue-liner is still searching for his first point as a Coyote. He's registered six shots on goal, eight blocked shots, and four hits across his opening six games. The Coyotes have classified Dermott as day-to-day.

Laura left the Bruins' previous game after 9:13 TOI after taking the back end of a skate to the face and will be out at least a week with a facial fracture. The 23-year-old centre has yet to pick up a point in six games played so far in 2023-24, but has six SOG, six PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. It is a hard hit to the Bruins who also lost Milan Lucic (lower-body) week-to-week Thursday.

Fleury will return to the net on Friday for a Minnesota Wild team that has uncharacteristically been unable to keep the puck out of their net, regardless of who is in between the pipes. In two games this season (1-1-0), Fleury has a 3.55 GAA, which is slightly better than the Wild's league-worst 4.43 goals allowed per game. Fleury and the Wild will have a chance to get things back on track Friday as they visit a Washington Capitals team that is scoring an average of only 2.00 goals per game, second lowest in the league.

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.

Spurgeon has yet to appear in any of the Wilds' first six games this season due to an upper-body injury and has been placed on the long-term injured reserve Wednesday. The 33-year-old Wild Captain is a massive loss for Minnesota after he put up 11 goals, 34 points, and a +32 plus/minus in 79 games in 2022-23. There is still no expected timetable for his return but he was back on the ice for the first time since October 5th this week at practice.

Gaudreau did not travel with the team as they head to Philadelphia and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old forward has yet to pick up a point through five games after putting up 19 goals and 38 points in 82 games with the Wild in 2022-23. More updates and clarity should be provided on Gaudreau's health in the upcoming days.

Shore participated in one game with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) and failed to pick up a point before getting called up to Seatle on the weekend and will make his team debut Tuesday vs. Detroit. The 29-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season and has 50 career goals and 135 points in 422 games played. He had a goal, eight assists, 61 SOG, four PIMs and a +6 plus/minus in 47 games played with Edmonton in 2022-23.