Tarasenko did not play on Monday due to an illness but was back at practice on Wednesday. Tarasenko is averaging only 14:44 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2012-13. He has 20 points (6G / 14A) in 48 games this season.
On the front end of a back-to-back, Minnesota will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Gustavsson was reliable in his most recent outing, saving 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. That said, the 26-year-old netminder has struggled lately, allowing four or more goals in five of his last six appearances (1-4-0), posting an ugly .850 SV%. Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as +153 road underdogs against a Toronto team outscored 7-2 during a two-game losing skid.
Tarasenko did not play on Monday due to an illness but was back at practice on Wednesday. Tarasenko is averaging only 14:44 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2012-13. He has 20 points (6G / 14A) in 48 games this season.
Jones has split time between Minnesota and Iowa (AHL) this season. He has been productive at the AHL level, scoring 14 points (5G / 9A) in 20 games but hasn't seen that success translate to the NHL, scoring zero points through 26 games this season.
Brodin has not played since January 7th, missing nine straight games with a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old Brodin is averaging 23:13 time-on-ice and has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 31 games this season. He had five points (1G / 4A) in his last four games before his injury.
Aube-Kubel has been in and out of the lineup for the Sabres this season, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in 19 contests. The 28-year-old forward has 80 points (32G / 48A) in 301 career NHL games.
Bill Guerin, GM of the Minnesota Wild, announced on Tuesday that Kaprizov will be out of the lineup for at least four weeks after undergoing surgery. The surgery will address the same lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for 12 games earlier this month. The 27-year-old Kaprizov has been outstanding offensively when healthy, scoring 52 points (23G / 29A) in 37 games.
With Patrick Kane (upper body) sidelined, Tarasenko has seen an increase in deployment, including being on the top powerplay unit, but will be sidelined as well on Monday due to an illness. Tarasenko is averaging only 14:44 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2012-13. He has 20 points (6G / 14A) in 48 games this season.
Aube-Kubel has been in and out of the lineup for the Sabres this season, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in 19 contests. The 28-year-old forward has 80 points (32G / 48A) in 301 career NHL games.
With Patrick Kane (upper body) sidelined, Tarasenko has seen an increase in deployment, including being on the top powerplay unit, but could be sidelined as well on Monday due to an illness. Tarasenko is averaging only 14:44 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2012-13. He has 20 points (6G / 14A) in 48 games this season.
Sturm missed three games earlier this month with a lower-body injury, returned to the lineup for five games, and is once again sidelined. The 29-year-old Sturm is averaging 9:51 time-on-ice and has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 41 games this season.
Gustavsson did not play the previous two games due to an illness but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 26-year-old netminder has struggled lately, allowing four or more goals in four straight (1-3-0). He has a 2.58 GAA and .914 SV% in 31 games (18-9-3). Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as -140 home favorites against a Utah team coming off an impressive 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Updates surrounding Kaprizov's lower-body injury were few and far between, but after missing 12 straight games, he will finally return to the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. Before his injury, the 27-year-old Kaprizov was amid an excellent campaign among the league leaders, scoring 50 points (23G / 27A) in 34 games.
Spurgeon has missed nine straight with a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. Before his injury, Spurgeon had four goals, 13 points and 59 SOG while averaging 20:43 TOI in 32 games played this season.
With Jared Spurgeon poised to return from a lower-body injury, Minnesota has reassigned Jiricek to the Iowa Wild (AHL). The 21-year-old Jiricek averaged 13:02 time-on-ice, scoring two points (1G / 1A), in six games with Minnesota.
