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.

Gaudreau joined Mats Zuccarello as Minnesota players to miss practice due to an illness on Monday. The 31-year-old Gaudreau has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 40 games this season but has only one point is his last 11 (0G / 1A). Minnesota returns to action on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

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.

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.

Dermott has not played since December 20th, but will return to the lineup for the first time in five games on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 28-year-old Dermott is averaging 12:22 time-on-ice and has a -4 plus/minus in 12 games this season.

Minnesota will turn to Fleury between the pipes for the first time in two weeks. Fleury was unsuccessful in his most recent outing, allowing two goals on 18 shots (.889 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club. The veteran 40-year-old Fleury has a 2.81 GAA and .898 SV% through 11 games this season (6-3-1). Minnesota enters Thursday's contest as +142 road underdogs against a Washington Capitals team coming off a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins.

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.

Gaunce played four games over the last two weeks, recording zero points, and has been reassigned to the AHL. The 30-year-old has spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 14 points (8G / 6A) in 21 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL).

Gustavsson was solid in his return from a lower-body injury on Monday, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and will return to the crease on Friday against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old Gustavsson boasts a terrific 2.28 GAA and .921 SV% in 23 games this season (15-5-3). Minnesota, without their leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov, enters Friday's contest as +186 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars club coming off a 3-2 win over Utah HC.

Kaprizov will not play against the Dallas Stars on Friday, a crushing blow for a Minnesota team already without top-six forward Joel Eriksson Ek. The 27-year-old Kaprizov has been sensational this season, among the league leaders, scoring 50 points (23G / 27A) in 34 games.