Minnesota Wild News

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).

Hunt has been recalled from Iowa (AHL) for a second time this season after failing to put up a point in four games but has seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus. He returns to Minnesota, where he made his NHL debut earlier this season in two games, playing only 4:52 TOI/GP.

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.

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.

Katchouk will be the odd man out of the Blackhawks' lineup on Tuesday vs. Arizona as Andreas Athanasiou draws back in. The 25-year-old has done little offensively this season as he has no goals, an assist, seven SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in eight games played.

Hunt appeared in two games after making his NHL debut on October 27th and picked up a SOG while averaging a minuscule 4:52 TOI which has led to him being reassigned to Iowa (AHL) on Monday. The 21-year-old defenseman returns to the AHL where he has yet to pick up a point, but has seven PIMs and is a -3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24.

Petry will return to the lineup for the Red Wings after missing the last three games. In four games this season, Petry has two points (0G / 2A), six penalty minutes, and seven hits. He will likely play with Ben Chiarot on the Red Wings' third defensive pair.

Hunt was the Wild's 2020 third-round pick (65th overall) and will make his NHL debut Friday vs. Washington as he takes the spot of Jujhar Khaira in Minnesota's lineup The 21-year-old defensemen had yet to pick up a point with Iowa (AHL) prior to his NHL promotion but had seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through four games.

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.

Petry missed the Red Wings' previous two contests due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup Saturday vs. Boston. Petry was acquired in the offseason for Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2025 and has two assists, four SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through four games in 2023-24.

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.

After a remarkable 41-save shutout in his season-opening performance, Gustavsson has struggled to find his footing. In three games (1-1-1), Gustavsson has struggled to keep the puck out of his net, posting a 3.93 GAA and .906 SV%. He will look to return to form on Tuesday as the Wild host a McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers team. The Oilers have struggled to score this season, averaging only 2.60 goals per game, and will be hard-pressed to find offence tonight without their captain.

Petry is expected to miss his second straight game on Tuesday as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury. The Michigan native is currently listed as day-to-day. He has two points (0G / 2A) and six penalty minutes in four games this season.

Hunt was the Wild's 2020 third-round pick (65th overall) and has been recalled to Minnesota Monday for the first time in his career. The 21-year-old defensemen had yet to pick up a point with Iowa (AHL) but had seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through four games. Hunt has a shot to make his NHL debut if John Merrill is held out of the lineup due to injury Tuesday.

The Red Wings are going with a more conventional lineup today after opting to dress seven defensemen in Saturday's game against the Senators, and Petry is the odd man out. Petry has registered two assists, four shots on goal, and seven hits in four game this season. Subbing in for Petry is Jonatan Berggren, who is set to make his season debut alongside Austin Czarnik and Christian Fischer on Detroit's fourth line.

Fabbri has been plagued with injuries throughout his career and will once again be sidelined for approximately four weeks with a lower-body injury. Thankfully for Fabbri and the Red Wings, the injury is not knee-related, which has been the culprit of most of his injury woes. In his only game this season, Fabbri scored one goal in 14:44 time-on-ice. Andrew Copp has been the biggest benefactor with Fabbri out of the lineup, as he has jumped up to the second line and scored four points (3G / 1A) in those three games.