Wild's Olli Maatta A Late Scratch With A Lower-Body Injury; David Spacek Takes His Place

The injury bug continues to plague the Minnesota Wild, with Olli Maatta joining Filip Gustavsson, Brock Faber, and Nick Foligno on the injured list.

The Wild PR revealed that Maatta would miss tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a lower-body injury, just half an hour before puck drop.

In three games this season, Maatta has recorded one assist and is averaging the team's third-most ice time at 21:22.

David Spacek is entering the lineup for the Wild in place of the injured Maatta. The 23-year-old defenseman is making his season debut tonight and is dressing in just his third career NHL game.

Spacek played both of his NHL games in January 2026. In those games, Spacek failed to record any points and averaged 10:45 of ice time. 

Spacek has spent the last three seasons with the Iowa Wild in the AHL. Last season, Spacek scored seven goals and tallied 36 points in 59 games. In the pre-season, Spacek beat out Carson Lambos for a roster spot.

At six feet, 174 pounds, Spacek is a confident defender who excels with the puck on his stick. Drafted by the Wild in the fifth round (153rd overall) in 2022, Spacek has been a great developmental story and now has the chance to make his mark in the NHL. 

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