Wild vs Hurricanes: Game Preview and Line Combinations
The Minnesota Wild (5-6-3) will face the Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-0) tonight on the road, marking the first game of a back-to-back series. The Wild make only one change to their lineup: defenseman Daemon Hunt will debut this season, paired on the third defensive pair with Zeev Buium.
Daemon Hunt, 23, hasn’t played in an NHL game since October. Given the away setting and the Wild having the last line change, his role on the offside defense will be closely observed. David Jiricek, who has no points in ten games and a -3 rating, is the healthy scratch.
Lineup Notes and Healthy Scratch
The Wild’s fourth line remains unchanged with Ben Jones, Yakov Trenin, and Tyler Pitlick, who have played three games together, all wins for the team. Meanwhile, promising forward Danila Yurov is a healthy scratch for the third straight game, raising concerns about his future role.
Yurov "played in one of the two games, serving as the third line center in New York and scored his first NHL goal. Since then, he’s been scratched in two games which the Wild won."
Yurov's continued absence will be a storyline to watch as the team moves forward.
Projected Forward Lines
- Kirill Kaprizov - Marco Rossi - Marcus Johansson
- Vladimir Tarasenko - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy
- Marcus Foligno - Ryan Hartman - Vinnie Hinostroza
Additional Update
Mats Zuccarello is probable to return for the Saturday game.
Summary: The Wild’s lineup adjustment highlights Hunt’s NHL return and Yurov’s uncertain status, which could impact the team’s dynamics moving forward.
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