Zuccarello showed no signs of illness in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, recording three points (2G / 1A), but was not available for practice on Monday. The 37-year-old Zuccarello is having another great season, scoring 25 points (10G / 15A) in 27 games.
Minnesota has won three straight and will roll with Gustavsson between the pipes on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Gustavsson was excellent in his most recent outing, saving all 21 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 26-year-old netminder remains a strong candidate for the Vezina trophy, boasting a stellar 2.20 GAA and .926 SV% in 27 games (18-6-3). Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as -125 home favorites against a St. Louis squad that has scored four or more goals in six straight (4-2-0).
Lambos was the 26th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 27 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Kaprizov has missed five straight games and, despite not returning to practice, remains day-to-day. The 27-year-old Kaprizov has been sensational this season, among the league leaders, scoring 50 points (23G / 27A) in 34 games.
Middleton has not played since December 12th, missing 11 consecutive games, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Before his injury, the 28-year-old Middleton was averaging a career-high 20:36 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (5G / 8A), 76 blocks, and 42 hits in 29 games this season.
Zuccarello showed no signs of illness in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, recording three points (2G / 1A), but was not available for practice on Monday. The 37-year-old Zuccarello is having another great season, scoring 25 points (10G / 15A) in 27 games. Minnesota returns to action on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.
Sturm is battling an undisclosed ailment and his status for Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils is up in the air. The 36-year-old Sturm is averaging 9:43 time-on-ice and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 36 games this season.
Spurgeon was the unlikely recipient of a Zachary L'Heureux slew-foot in Minnesota's previous game and is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The injury is not as bad as originally expected according to Minnesota's training staff but the team will still be missing their captain mightily, who had four goals, 13 points and 59 SOG while averaging 20:43 TOI in 32 games played this season.
Lambos was the 26th overall pick of Minnesota in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 27 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL) this season.
Spurgeon exited Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators after being slew-footed by Zachary L'Heureux, leaving the game after only playing 7:53 time-on-ice. L'Heureux was not issued any penalties on the play. Minnesota will likely provide an update on Spurgeon before they return to the ice on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Still, the outlook doesn't seem promising as Spurgeon was seen leaving the arena with crutches.
Gustavsson was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) in a 3-1 losing effort to the Ottawa Senators, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has an outstanding 2.25 GAA and .923 SV% in 25 games this season (16-6-3). Minnesota enters Tuesday's contest as -127 home favorites against a Nashville club coming off a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets last night.
