Fleury will guard the home net Saturday against Calgary, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
Fleury's won four of his last five starts, posting an impressive .932 save percentage in that span. Overall, the 40-year-old netminder is 10-4-1 with a .909 save percentage and 2.61 GAA this season.
Khusnutdinov was held off the scoresheet for the 13th consecutive game in Thursday's 4-0 loss to Utah.
Khusnutdinov was not alone in futility Thursday, but he has done little while operating in a fourth-line role this season. He's at four points over 45 contests -- matching his total from 16 games in 2023-24. He's added just 22 shots on net, 35 hits, 26 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating in 2024-25. Khusnutdinov didn't see much extra ice time while the Wild were missing several key players earlier in January, and his role could potentially even shrink as the team gets healthier.
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Wild's Filip Gustavsson: Gives up four goals Thursday
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Gustavsson stopped 25 of 29 shots in Thursday's 4-0 loss to Utah.
Gustavsson was beaten at least once each period and extended his losing streak to four contests. During that four-game stretch, the 26-year-old netminder has gone 0-4-0 with a 4.80 GAA and an .853 save percentage. Gustavsson's overall season stats continue to look good, as he's gone 18-10-3 with three shutouts, a 2.63 GAA and a .913 save percentage. However, that's mostly based on his amazing campaign start and doesn't reflect how he's been playing of late.
Gustavsson will defend the home crease versus Utah on Thursday, per Wild insider Kevin Falness.
Gustavsson has struggled of late, going 0-3-0 while allowing 19 goals on 118 shots (.839 save percentage) over his last four starts. Gustavsson's season stats still look solid following his stellar start to the year, as he is 18-9-3 with a 2.58 GAA and a .914 save percentage over 31 appearances this season. Utah is averaging 2.87 goals per game this season, which ranks 21st in the NHL.
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Wild's Jared Spurgeon: Back in action Thursday
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Spurgeon (lower body) will return to the lineup for Thursday's clash with Utah, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Spurgeon missed the Wild's last nine games due to his lower-body issue but looks good to go again. In order to activate Spurgeon and Kirill Kaprizov (lower body) off injured reserve, the team needed to send David Jiricek back to the minors. Additionally, Spurgeon's return figures to see Travis Dermott relegated to a spot in the press box as a healthy scratch.
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Wild's Kirill Kaprizov: Returning against Utah
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Kaprizov (lower body) will be back in the lineup versus Utah on Thursday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Kaprizov will return to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 23 against Chicago, a stretch of 12 games on long-term injured reserve. Prior to his absence, the dynamic winger was rolling offensively with five goals and two helpers over his previous six contests. With Kaprizov ready to suit up, he figures to reclaim his first-line spot and link up with the No. 1 power-play unit.
Jiricek has a goal and three points in 12 appearances between Columbus and Minnesota in 2024-25. It's possible the Wild are sending him down to free a roster spot ahead of activating a player -- Marcus Johansson (concussion), Jonas Brodin (lower body), Kirill Kaprizov (lower body) and Jared Spurgeon (lower body) are all on either IR or LTIR. However, Minnesota doesn't play until Thursday, so the Wild also have the option to simply recall Jiricek or another player before the squad's next game.
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Wild's Frederick Gaudreau: Posts assist Monday
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Gaudreau recorded an assist and went plus-3 in Monday's 3-1 win over the Avalanche.
Gaudreau helped out on a Jake Middleton tally in the first period. The Wild's third line contributed on all three goals, a rarity for a team that tends to lean heavily on its top players with few depth-scoring contributions. This helper ended a four-game slump for Gaudreau, who now has 18 points, 62 shots on net, 29 blocked shots, 25 hits and an even plus-minus rating over 47 appearances.
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Wild's Brendan Gaunce: Relegated to minors
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Gaunce was reassigned to AHL Iowa on Tuesday.
Gaunce being sent to the minors could be an indication that one of Kirill Kaprizov (lower body) or Marcus Johansson (concussion) is ready to return to the lineup. Minnesota's next game is at home Thursday versus Utah. Gaunce has not found the scoresheet through five contests with the Wild this season.
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Wild's Liam Ohgren: Records two assists vs. Colorado
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Ohgren recorded two assists, three shots on goal and a plus-3 rating in 9:04 of ice time during Monday's 3-1 win over the Avalanche.
Ohgren posted a minus-4 rating Saturday against Nashville in his return to NHL action, but he was much more effective Monday while getting on the scoresheet for the first time in 10 NHL appearances this year. The 20-year-old recorded his first helper on a first-period tally by Jake Middleton and also helped out on the game-winning goal by Yakov Trenin in the third period. Despite his solid performance against Colorado, it wouldn't be surprising to see Ohgren lose his spot on the NHL roster once the Wild get closer to full health.
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Wild's Brock Faber: Records goal Monday
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Faber recorded a goal on three shots along with a blocked shot in 28:17 of ice time during Monday's 3-1 win over the Avalanche.
Faber made just his second appearance since a four-game absence due to an upper-body injury, and his playing time hasn't seemed to be monitored since returning to action. He scored his first goal since the start of the calendar year Monday, as his last goal came against Dallas on Dec. 27. Now that he appears to be back to full health, Faber should continue to see plenty of playing time for Minnesota.
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Wild's Yakov Trenin: Finds twine in win
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Trenin recorded the game-winning goal on two shots while also recording three hits in 10:37 of ice time during Monday's 3-1 win over Colorado.
Trenin had recorded a minus-3 rating over his two appearances leading up to Monday's matchup, but he was more effective against the Avalanche and got on the scoresheet for just the third time over his last 12 outings. The 28-year-old has appeared in each of the Wild's 13 matchups following a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury, and he's racked up multiple hits in 11 of those appearances.
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Wild's Jake Middleton: Two points in victory
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Middleton recorded a goal, an assist, two shots on net and four blocked shots in Monday's 3-1 win over the Avalanche.
Middleton was held without a point over his last five appearances, but he bounced back with a multi-point performance Monday, his second over seven outings since returning from a hand injury. The 29-year-old has had spotty production this season, but he's still on pace to surpass his offensive numbers from the 2023-24 campaign, as he's logged seven goals and 10 assists while averaging 21:07 of ice time over 36 contests in the 2024-25 season.
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Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury: Allows one goal in win
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Fleury turned aside 26 of 27 shots in Monday's 3-1 win over the Avalanche.
Although Filip Gustavsson (illness) was available as a backup Monday, Fleury drew a second consecutive start and turned things around after he allowed five goals on 37 shots (.865 save percentage) in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Predators. Fleury has now picked up wins in four of his last five outings and has seen more time between the pipes recently. The Wild will have a few days off before facing Utah at home Thursday.
Fleury will defend the road net versus the Avalanche on Monday, according to Joe Smith of The Athletic.
Fleury allowed five goals on 37 shots in Saturday's loss to Nashville. Following a one-game absence, Filip Gustavsson (illness) will return to the lineup in the backup role. The Wild will wait a little longer before getting Gustavsson back between the pipes because he hasn't skated in a few days. Fleury has a 9-4-1 record with a 2.72 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 15 appearances this season. Colorado sits fifth in the league with 3.36 goals per game in 2024-25.
