Philadelphia Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson has been called up to the Swedish national team for the 4 Nations Face-Off, replacing Jacob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils due to injury. Coach Sam Hallam's announcement came two weeks before the tournament, where Sweden will face Canada, Finland, and the U.S. Ersson has previously represented Sweden internationally, including a bronze medal win at the 2024 world championships.

With Markstrom sidelined for at least a month, Ersson joins Filip Gustavsson from Minnesota Wild and Linus Ullmark from Ottawa Senators as the squad's goalkeepers. The Swedish Hockey Federation may need to manage more injuries as players like William Karlsson from Vegas and Jonas Brodin from Minnesota are also dealing with health issues.

The Minnesota Wild have faced significant challenges this season, yet they have remained competitive despite numerous injuries to key players. Recently, they welcomed back star forward Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon from injured reserve. Their return was timely, although it coincided with a tough 4-0 loss to Utah. Kaprizov, who missed 12 games due to a lower-body injury, recorded minimal time on ice, taking three shots. His coach, John Hynes, noted that adjusting to game timing can be difficult after a long absence. Spurgeon, who had also missed several games with injuries to his ankle and knee, managed to log over 20 minutes of ice time. Both players' presence is expected to strengthen the team's lineup, although they still face challenges without Jonas Brodin and Marcus Johansson.

The Minnesota Wild face a challenging road ahead as they deal with a slew of injuries to key players, including Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon. Kaprizov is set to miss his 11th and 12th games due to a lingering lower-body injury, while Spurgeon has also been sidelined. In positive news, Brock Faber and Jakub Lauko are expected to return for Saturday's matchup against the Nashville Predators. Coach John Hynes expressed optimism that Kaprizov could return next week, but the team is currently dependent on their remaining players to step up.

This season, despite his absence, Kaprizov leads the team in scoring with 50 points, a testament to his significant impact on the ice. Meanwhile, Faber, who suffered an injury earlier this month, is looking to bounce back. Lauko returns from a muscle injury that has plagued him multiple times this season. His addition could provide a boost to a Wild roster that has struggled with injuries.

As they prepare for their upcoming games, the Wild will also have to navigate the goalie rotation, with Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustavsson splitting time in net. With the Predators on an upswing and the Colorado Avalanche close behind in the standings, the Wild's ability to field a competitive lineup will be critical to maintaining their position in the playoff race.

Vasily Podkolzin netted the decisive goal early in the third period as the Edmonton Oilers rallied to defeat the Minnesota Wild 5-3, marking their seventh victory in eight games. Connor McDavid shone with two goals and an assist, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins contributed a goal and an assist. Zach Hyman’s 15th goal of the season was crucial in sparking Edmonton’s comeback from an early 2-0 deficit.

For Minnesota, Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Ryan Hartman found the net, but injuries plagued the team, resulting in their third loss in four games. Filip Gustavsson made 31 saves as Minnesota struggled without their key players, including leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov, who missed his tenth consecutive game.

After missing four games due to personal reasons, Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry has made a timely return to the lineup, providing a boost for his team. Meanwhile, Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill provided updates on several injuries, revealing that forward Mason Marchment is a couple of weeks away from returning. Marchment has resumed skating in Dallas but will need to wear a bubble or cage upon his return and will need media clearance regarding his ability to breathe properly.

Additionally, the Stars are monitoring Tyler Seguin, whose timeline for return is uncertain until he begins skating. Roope Hintz, another Stars forward, left the game early with an upper-body injury after a hit from Auston Matthews and will be evaluated upon returning to Dallas.

In Minnesota, the Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, along with defensemen Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon, practiced prior to yesterday's session, showing signs of recovery. Defenseman Jonas Brodin, however, is still limited to off-ice workouts and has not yet started skating.

On the injury front for the Eastern Conference, Utah Hockey Club defenseman John Marino made his season debut after recovering from back surgery. Conversely, forward Dylan Guenther has been placed on the IR retroactively. In Vancouver, defenseman Filip Hronek has returned after a six-week absence due to both upper and lower body injuries. Lastly, Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel also returned to the lineup after a brief one-game absence due to illness.