Gameday preview: Wild at Boston

Victor Rask has cleared waivers; Nick Bjugstad is sidelined

January 6, 2022 at 12:42AM
Wild center Victor Rask was checked by Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock on Nov. 7 at Xcel Energy Center. (Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

6 p.m. Thursday at Boston Bruins • TD Garden • ESPN, 100.3-FM

Wild update: The Wild placed C Victor Rask and G Zane McIntyre on waivers Tuesday, and both players cleared Wednesday. McIntyre was assigned to Iowa in the American Hockey League after signing a two-way contract for the rest of the season, while the plan for Rask is to eventually assign him to the taxi squad. The Wild also recalled G Hunter Jones from Iowa to the taxi squad and promoted G Andrew Hammond from the taxi squad under emergency conditions. RW Nick Bjugstad won't make the trip to Boston after leaving practice hurt on Tuesday. He's out, along with C Joel Eriksson Ek (upper-body injury), LW Jordan Greenway (COVID protocols), D Jared Spurgeon (lower-body injury) and G Cam Talbot (lower-body injury). Fs Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi are expected to make their NHL debuts vs. the Bruins after being called up from the minors on Tuesday.

Bruins update: Boston is coming off a 5-3 win over New Jersey at home on Tuesday, the Bruins' third straight victory. RW David Pastrnak scored the game-winner, his first goal in 10 games. The Bruins have three forwards — Tomas Nosek, Karson Kuhlman and Jake DeBrusk — in COVID protocols. G Jeremy Swayman is scheduled to start vs. the Wild. He's 8-5-2 with a 2.20 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

about the writer

about the writer

Sarah McLellan

Minnesota Wild and NHL

Sarah McLellan covers the Wild and NHL. Before joining the Star Tribune in November 2017, she spent five years covering the Coyotes for The Arizona Republic.

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