Wild vs Hurricanes: Game Preview and Line Combinations
The Minnesota Wild (5-6-3) face the Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-0) on the road tonight in the first game of a back-to-back series. There is only one lineup change for the Wild.
Defense Pairing Update
Daemon Hunt will make his season debut on the third defensive pairing alongside Zeev Buium. Hunt, 23, has not appeared in an NHL game since October. David Jiricek, who has no points in ten games and a minus-3 rating, will be out of the lineup.
Lineup and Scratch Notes
The Wild will maintain their fourth line, meaning Danila Yurov will be a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game. The line with Ben Jones, Yakov Trenin, and Tyler Pitlick has played three games together, all wins (3-0-0). Interestingly, Yurov played in one of the first two games as the third line center, scoring his first NHL goal in New York. He has been scratched the last two games, both wins for the Wild.
"Yurov being scratched for three consecutive games will be something to keep an eye on."
Upcoming Player Return
Mats Zuccarello is probable to return for Saturday's game.
Projected Forward Lines
- Kirill Kaprizov – Marco Rossi – Marcus Johansson
- Vladimir Tarasenko – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
- Marcus Foligno – Ryan Hartman – Vinnie Hinostroza
The Wild will have the last line change advantage as the game is on the road, and it will be interesting to observe how they deploy Hunt on his offside.
Author's summary: Daemon Hunt returns to the Wild defense while Danila Yurov remains a healthy scratch for a third straight game, with Mats Zuccarello expected to rejoin soon.