Alex Stalock was idle during the Wild's last two games, a rare break for the netminder since he's handled the bulk of the goaltending duties while Devan Dubnyk has been away from the team due to a medical situation with his wife.
But Stalock will be back between the pipes Saturday when the Wild closes out a three-game homestand against the Flyers at Xcel Energy Center.
"I'm looking forward to getting back in there," Stalock said.
The Wild is 1-0-1 so far at home this week, results that extended the team's point streak on home ice to 11 games (8-0-3). And continuing this run vs. the Flyers should be a challenge; not only are the Flyers rested, not having played since Wednesday, but Philadelphia has lost only twice in its last eight games.
"They can really skate now," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "They're not the Broad Street Bullies of old. They're a fast, fast team, and [coach Alain Vigneault's] got them playing really well."
Before taking on the Flyers, the Wild recalled forward Gerald Mayhew from the American Hockey League after returning him to Iowa on Friday – a move that gives the Wild an extra forward for its upcoming road trip.
After this homestand wraps up, the Wild will take off for Chicago where it'll open a three-game road trip Sunday against the Blackhawks before moving on to Vegas (Tuesday) and Arizona (Thursday).
The Wild is expected to have its entire team on the trip minus defenseman Greg Pateryn, who's dealing with a lower-body injury.
