Shore will be the odd-man out on Friday as the Wild opt to shake up their forward lineup. Brendan Gaunce will draw into the lineup in his place.

Gaunce will slot in for Devin Shore, who is a healthy scratch. Gaunce has played in five games this season and is yet to register a point.

The Wild will turn to Gustavsson between the pipes for the 39th time this season when they travel to Denver on Friday. Gustavsson had a rare off night in his last outing, allowing three goals on 16 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday. The 26-year-old netminder owns a 22-12-3 record and a .914 SV% on the season. Gustavsson will have his hands full on Friday as the Wild enter action at +265 on the money line.

Merrill will slot in for Zach Bogosian, who was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury. Merrill has one goal and three assists in 48 games this season.

Bogosian was a late scratch on Friday, with the Wild not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Jon Merrill will draw into the lineup in his place.

Minnesota's three-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, and the team will switch to Fleury between the pipes on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. Fleury was solid in his most recent outing, a 4-3 overtime win over the Red Wings when he saved 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%). The 40-year-old netminder has a 2.58 GAA and .910 SV% in 20 appearances this season (12-6-1). Minnesota enters the action on Thursday as +161 road underdogs against a Utah team riding a two-game winning streak.

Oliver Wahlstrom will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Brazeau to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Brazeau has already played a career-high 54 games this season, recording 20 points (10G / 10A) while averaging 13:04 time-on-ice.

Gaunce has 28 points (13G / 15A) in 182 career NHL games but has primarily been an AHL player this season, limited to only five contests with Minnesota. The 30-year-old forward has 29 points (15G / 14A) in 35 games with Iowa (AHL) this season.

Madden is yet to appear in an NHL game in his career. He has eight goals and 17 assists in 48 AHL games this season and will report to the Iowa Wild.

Chisholm will likely return to Minnesota's lineup on Tuesday when they host the Detroit Red Wings, his first action since before the break for the 4Nations Face-Off. The 25-year-old Chisholm is averaging 17:29 time-on-ice and has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 48 games this season.

Oliver Wahlstrom will draw back into Boston's lineup on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, resulting in Brazeau being a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Brazeau has already played a career-high 54 games this season, recording 20 points (10G / 10A) while averaging 13:04 time-on-ice.

Eriksson Ek recorded an assist in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings but has been placed on Injured Reserve and is considered week-to-week even though will not be eligible to return until, at earliest, March 2nd against the Boston Bruins. Already without Kirill Kaprizov (lower body), Minnesota can ill-afford to lose Eriksson Ek's offensive production. The 28-year-old Eriksson Ek has 24 points (9G / 15A) in 42 games this season.

Hartman was originally issued a 10-game suspension for roughing Ottawa's Tim Stutzle, which has since been reduced to eight games, making him eligible to return on March 4th. The 30-year-old Hartman has four games remaining in his suspension. He is averaging 14:45 time-on-ice and has 17 points (7G / 10A) in 48 games this season.

Gustavsson strung together several strong performance before the break for the 4Nations Face Off and will make his return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 26-year-old Gustavsson has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, starting the season with an immaculate .926 SV% in his first 27 games (18-6-3) before posting a subpar .889 SV% in his next 10 (4-5-0).