Dermott will be the odd-man out on Thursday as the Oilers are going back to dressing just six defencemen. His absence makes room for Kasperi Kapanen to make his Oilers debut.
Minnesota Wild News
Devin Shore will make his season debut on Thursday, resulting in Jones being a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Jones has played three NHL games but has primarily been an AHL player. He has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 14 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Shore is no stranger to the NHL, with 139 career points (51G / 88A) in 443 career games. That said, the 30-year-old Shore has been primarily an AHL player the previous two seasons and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 14 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL).
Fleury has seen limited action lately but will be in the crease for Minnesota on Thursday, only his second start in November. The veteran 39-year-old Fleury has been serviceable when called upon this season, posting a respectable 2.70 GAA and .904 SV% in four games (3-0-1). That said, Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as +135 road underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers club without Zach Hyman (undisclosed).
Jiricek has been limited to six games with the Blue Jackets, scoring one point (0G / 1A0, and played a season-low 8:14 time-on-ice in their previous outing. The 20-year-old defenseman was the sixth overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Eriksson Ek exited Thursday's game against the Montreal Canadiens in the first period after playing only 3:43 time-on-ice and did not play on Saturday. The 27-year-old Eriksson Ek is averaging 17:33 time-on-ice but only has eight points (5G / 3A) through 14 games, a 0.57 point per game pace, after producing at a 0.81 point per game pace over the previous two seasons.
Brodin (upper body) has not played since exiting last Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after playing 16:38 time-on-ice but will return to the lineup on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Bordin is averaging 22:04 time-on-ice, second most among Minnesota defensemen, and has six points (1G / 5A) in 15 games this season.
Jones was a seventh-round pick, 189th overall, of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 25-year-old Jones made his NHL debut with the Golden Knights in the 2021-22 season, playing two games, but has exclusively been an AHL player since. He has 12 points (4G / 8A) in 14 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL).
Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes for the fourth straight game on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Gustavsson has been great all season but has been exceptional lately. Despite a modest 2-1-1 record in his past four games, Gustavsson has saved 110 of 116 shot for a dazzling .948 SV%.
Eriksson Ek exited Thursday's game against the Montreal Canadiens in the first period after playing only 3:43 time-on-ice and did not play on Saturday. The 27-year-old Eriksson Ek is averaging 17:33 time-on-ice but only has eight points (5G / 3A) through 14 games, a 0.57 point per game pace, after producing at a 0.81 point per game pace over the previous two seasons.
Brodin has not played since exiting last Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after playing 16:38 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old Bordin is averaging 22:04 time-on-ice, second most among Minnesota defensemen, and has six points (1G / 5A) in 15 games this season.
Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Jiricek to re-enter the lineup after a four-game absence. The 20-year-old Jiricek has been limited to only five games this season, avearging 11:47 time-on-ice and tallying one point (1G / 0A).
Ohgren was recalled to fill the roster spot vacated by Mats Zuccarello, who was placed on injured reserve earlier on Friday due to a lower-body injury. Ohgren is yet to register a point in seven games with the Wild this season.
Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes on Saturday in a divisional matchup against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has been excellent this season, boasting a stellar 2.08 GAA and .924 SV% in 12 games (8-2-2). Gustavsson and the Wild will host a Dallas Stars team that has outscored their opposition 14-3 over their past two games (2-0-0).