Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The NHL regular season is underway, and the Minnesota Wild start their year tonight (Thursday) on the road against the Nashville Predators. Puck drop at Bridgestone Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Wild will be shorthanded on the blue line and in goal. Defenseman Brock Faber begins the season on injured reserve after a puck to the head fractured his skull in Minnesota’s final preseason game, an injury that required surgery. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson is also out with a hip injury.
That leaves Jesper Wallstedt as the Wild’s No. 1 goalie to open the year. He went 18-9-6 with a 2.61 goals-against average in 35 games last season. Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes lead an opening-night roster that includes several new faces.
Nashville is expected to counter with Juuse Saros in net. He has a 10-3-3 career record against Minnesota.
The Wild are coming off a 46-24-12 season that included a first-round playoff win over the Dallas Stars in six games before a second-round loss to the Colorado Avalanche in five. The Predators went 38-34-10 last season and missed the playoffs, and they are looking to avoid the kind of slow start that has hurt them in recent years.
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