Wutze was drafted by Minnesota in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and will begin his professional season with the Iowa Wild (AHL). The 19-year-old goalie had a 3.47 GAA and .906 SV% in 38 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) this season.
With Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) returning from a multi-game absence, Sturm will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Sturm is averaging 10:53 time-on-ice and has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 46 games this season.
Haight played the last two games for Minnesota, recording one assist, but will exit the lineup to accommodate the return of Kirill Kaprizov (lower body). The 21-year-old Haight is averaging 9:59 time-on-ice and has on assist in seven games this season.
Eriksson Ek has been sidelined since March 15th, but he will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old Swedish forward has 44 points (17G / 27A) in 62 games this season, but has just two assists in his last nine games.
Kaprizov did not play in Minnesota's previous two games due to a lower-body concern, but he will be back in the lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 28-year-old forward has 80 points (38G / 42A) in 69 games this season, but has just one assist in his last three outings.
Gustavsson was outstanding in his most recent outing, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Dallas Stars. The 27-year-old Swedish goalie has elevated his game since returning from the Olympic break, posting an otherworldly 1.76 GAA and .937 SV% in eight games (6-2-0). Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as +149 road underdogs against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team they defeated 5-1 earlier this month.
Kaprizov was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Wild only announcing his absence minutes before warmups. His injury is not expected to keep him out long-term, but he will be sidelined again on Saturday against the Dallas Stars. Minnesota's offense struggled on Thursday without Kaprizov, losing 2-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks.
In a heated battle against their Central Divison rival, the Dallas Stars, Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson. The 27-year-old Swedish goalie has struggled in his last two games (1-1-0), posting a 3.59 GAA and .833 SV%. That said, he has a solid 1.88 GAA and .932 SV% in seven games (5-2-) since returning from the Olympic Break.
Kaprizov was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Wild only announcing his absence minutes before warmups. The Wild added that he is day-to-day with the injury, and we should get an update on his status ahead of their game against the Stars on Saturday.
Minnesota acquired Brink in a trade from Philadelphia before the trade deadline, but he battled an upper-body ailment that has kept him sidelined for over a week. The 24-year-old has played three games with Minnesota so far, recording one goal and a +2 plus/minus rating.
Wallstedt made an early case for winning the Calder trophy for the NHL's best rookie earlier this season, posting an outstanding 1.45 GAA and .954 SV% during a 10-game stretch (9-1-0), but has not been able to maintain that pace. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie has a less-than-stellar 3.09 GAA and .899 SV% in six appearances since returning from the Olympic break (0-2-2). Still, Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as sizable -220 home favourites in a rematch against a Chicago Blackhawks team that they defeated 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday.
Eriksson Ek has battled through a couple of injuries this season, but nothing that has sidelined him long-term, which seems to be the case with his most recent ailment, a lower-body injury listed day-to-day. The 29-year-old Eriksson Ek is averaging 19:18 time-on-ice, recording 44 points (17G / 27A), 92 hits, and 173 shots in 62 games this season. That said, he has struggled lately, with only two assists in his last nine games.
Gustavsson has been outstanding since returning from the Olympic break, but had a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. The loss ended a five-game stretch for Gustavsson (4-1-0) during which he boasted an outstanding 1.21 GAA and .960 SV%. Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as -173 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has scored three or fewer goals in six straight games (2-2-2).
Haight made his NHL debut earlier this season, but is still searching for his first career point through five games. The 21-year-old forward, a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has 23 points (12G / 11A) in 43 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Shabanov's first season in the NHL has not gone as hoped, with 16 points (4G / 12A) through 42 games. The 25-year-old forward has just one assist in his last 12 outings and is now battling a lower-body injury that could keep him out of the lineup on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Wallstedt returned from the Olympic break with a poor performance, allowing five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. That said, the 23-year-old Swedish goalie has turned things around since, despite losing both of his subsequent outings (0-0-2), posting an excellent 1.86 GAA and .935 SV%.
