The Minnesota Wild are set to face off against the Montreal Canadiens in an exciting NHL matchup on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET, taking place at Grand Casino Arena and available for streaming on ESPN+. As it stands, the Wild hold a strong position in the Western Conference, sitting second with 74 points, while the Canadiens are fourth in the Eastern Conference with 69 points.
In terms of injuries, both teams are dealing with some key player absences. The Wild will be without defenseman Jonas Brodin due to a lower body injury and have Jesper Wallstedt listed as day-to-day with an illness. The Canadiens are also facing challenges, as Alexandre Texier is day-to-day with a lower body issue, while Patrik Laine is out with an abdominal injury and Alexander Newhook will miss the game due to an ankle injury.
Highlighting individual performances, Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov has been impressive this season, accumulating 67 points over 56 games, which includes 30 goals and 37 assists. On the defensive front, Filip Gustavsson has allowed 86 goals this season, maintaining a 2.57 goals-against average and securing 863 saves. For the Canadiens, Nick Suzuki has stepped up with notable contributions, having scored 18 goals and tallied 46 assists for a total of 64 points. Jakub Dobes, though facing some challenges, has an .893 save percentage and an average of 2.9 goals against.
As both teams prepare to clash, fans can look forward to an exhilarating game filled with talent and competitive spirit. The Wild and Canadiens will be aiming to solidify their positions in their respective conferences, making this matchup a must-watch for hockey enthusiasts.