Ad
Minnesota Wild News
Sturm (mid-body) was placed on injured reserve on Friday.

Sturm suffered a mid-body injury on Tuesday that limited him to only 8:44 time-on-ice. The 28-year-old German has only registered on the score sheet once in the last nine games, a two-goal performance on December 7th against the Detroit Red Wings.

Nico Sturm
Pittsburgh has placed Vinnie Hinostroza on waivers Friday.

Hinostroza played three consecutive games for the Penguins, averaging over 13 minutes per night, but was held off the score sheet and has been placed on unconditional waivers. Assuming he clears, he will report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, where he has four points (2G / 2A) in five games this season.

Vinnie Hinostroza
Marcus Foligno (undisclosed) left last game early due to injury but is expected back in the lineup Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Foligno exited Thursday's matchup against the Calgary Flames with an undisclosed injury after playing only 10:20 time-on-ice but appears to be no worse for wear as he is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday. Foligno has been held off the scoresheet in four straight games, recording only two shots and nine hits.

Marcus Foligno
Filip Gustavsson will start Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Gustavsson will start for the third straight game on Saturday and look for his third consecutive victory in the process. The Swedish netminder has been outstanding lately, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last six appearances (5-1-0), posting a phenomenal .950 SV%. Gustavsson and the Wild will face off against the Vancouver Canucks, who they played less than two weeks ago in a 3-0 loss when Gustavsson allowed two goals on 17 shots (.882 SV%).

Filip Gustavsson
Jared Spurgeon (lower body) will be a game-time decision Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Spurgeon was not able to play on Thursday due to a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. Minnesota turned to Brock Faber in Spurgeon's absence, playing a season-high 30:08 and seeing increased exposure in all on-ice situations.

Jared Spurgeon
Nico Sturm (mid body) is out Friday vs. Arizona and is expected to miss the next two games.

Sturm suffered a mid-body injury on Tuesday that limited him to only 8:44 time-on-ice. The 28-year-old German has only registered on the score sheet once in the last nine games, a two-goal performance on December 7th against the Detroit Red Wings.

Nico Sturm
Jonas Brodin (upper body) has been placed on the Long Term Injured Reserve.

Brodin did not play in the last contest for Minnesota on December 10th due to an upper-body injury and has since been played on the long-term injured reserve. He last played on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers, exiting the game after only 15:41 time-on-ice after an awkward hit. Brodin had nine points (1G / 8A) in 25 games this season, averaging 23:59 time-on-ice, and will be a big loss on the Wild blue line.

Jonas Brodin
Filip Gustavsson will start Thursday vs. Calgary.

Gustavsson saved all 24 shots he faced in his last outing for his second shutout of the season and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. After a horrendous 10-game stretch (1-6-2) where he posted a .864 SV%, Gustavsson has been tremendous in his last five games (4-1-0), dating back to John Hynes taking over as Minnesota's head coach, posting a ridiculous .951 SV% in the process. The Wild are -146 home favourites against a Flames team that has lost three straight and five of their last six (1-4-1).

Filip Gustavsson
Jared Spurgeon (maintenance) is a game-time decision Thursday vs. Calgary.

Spurgeon did not practice on Wednesday and appears to be a game-time decision ahead of Thursday's contest against the Calgary Flames. Spurgeon was recently quarterbacking the top powerplay unit but if he is unavailable to play on Thursday, Brock Faber could be a candidate to slot into that role, as he had some success there earlier this month.

Jared Spurgeon
Daemon Hunt has been recalled from Iowa (AHL).

Hunt had a goal, eight assists, nine PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 14 games with Iowa (AHL) and has been recalled to Minnesota Wednesday. The 21-year-old defensemen was Minnesota's 2020 3rd round pick and made his first NHL appearance earlier this season, appearing in five games with no points while averaging 8:36 TOI.

Daemon Hunt