Zuccarello was originally scheduled to be out of the lineup until late November but he likely finds himself a couple weeks ahead of schedule. The 38-year-old Zuccarello has remained productive for Minnesota over the years, playing primarily alongside Kirill Kaprizov, including scoring 54 points (19G / 35A) in 69 games last season.

Butler is a 23-year-old undrafted right-winger who made his only NHL appearance in 2023-24 with the Blue Jackets. He struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, only scoring two goals and three points in 37 games played with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).

Milne made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with Minnesota, but has primarily been an AHL player. The 23-year-old scored 26 points (15G / 11A) in 60 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) last season.

Minnesota has been abysmally defensive lately, outscored 20-11 during a four-game losing streak (0-2-2). The team hopes for a heroic performance out of Gustavsson when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Gustavsson had a 26-save shutout in his first game of the season, but has struggled saving the puck since, posting a 3.90 GAA and .876 SV% in his subsequent seven outings (1-5-1). Still, Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as a -166 home favorite against a Pittsburgh team with points in seven straight games (5-0-2).

Foligno did not play in Minnesota's most recent game, tending to an upper-body injury, but looks set to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 34-year-old Foligno has zero points, 29 hits, and a -7 plus/minus through nine games this season.

Foligno did not play in Minnesota's most recent game, tending to an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 34-year-old Foligno has zero points, 29 hits, and a -7 plus/minus through nine games this season.

After starting their season with a dominant 5-0 over the St. Louis Blues, Minnesota has been outscored 24-39 in their following nine games (2-5-2). Gustavsson had an excellent 2024-25 season, but has struggled to start this 2025-26 season. The 27-year-old goalie returns to the crease Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets and hopes to improve on his 3.34 GAA and .897 SV% through seven games (2-5-0). Minnesota enters the contest as slight -104 home underdogs.

Minnesota has been outscored 27-21 through eight games this season (3-4-1) and will hope for an improved defensive effort on Saturday, turning to Gustavsson between the pipes against the Utah Mammoth. The 27-year-old Gustavsson has a serviceable 3.04 GAA and .902 SV% in six games (4-2-0), but he was excellent in his most recent outing despite a 4-1 loss, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) against the New Jersey Devils.

Haight made his NHL debut at the beginning of October, playing two NHL games and averaging 9:22 time-on-ice. He was recalled earlier this week but did not draw into Minnesota's lineup. He returns to the Iowa Wild (AHL), where he has also played two games this season.

Rossi showed no signs of an injury in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, playing 18:01 time-on-ice and scoring one point (0G / 1A), but did not play on Monday against the New York Rangers. The 24-year-old forward played 82 games in each of the previous two seasons. He has five points (1G / 4A) in six games this season.

Gustavsson started the season with a sensational 26-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues, but has seen his numbers fall off since, posting a 3.04 GAA and .899 SV% in five games (2-3-0) this season. That said, the 27-year-old goalie was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as +117 road underdogs against a red-hot Devils team that played last night and is riding a five-game winning streak.