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 team is making just one change in their lineup.
Defense Update
Daemon Hunt is set to make his season debut, joining the third defensive pairing alongside Zeev Buium. Hunt, 23, has not played an NHL game since October. Given that the Wild will have the last line change advantage on the road, it will be interesting to see how this pairing is utilized, especially since Hunt is playing on his offside. David Jiricek, who has no points and a minus-3 rating in ten games, will sit out.
Fourth Line and Scratch Decisions
The Wild will keep their fourth line intact again, which means Danila Yurov will be a healthy scratch for the third straight game. The fourth line of Ben Jones, Yakov Trenin, and Tyler Pitlick has played three games together, all resulting in wins for Minnesota.
Yurov "played in one of the two games as the third line center in New York and scored his first NHL goal in that game. He has been scratched in the last two games and the Wild won both."
Yurov sitting out three games in a row raises questions about his future role on the team.
Probable Returns and Forward Lines
Mats Zuccarello is likely to return for Saturday's game.
- Kirill Kaprizov – Marco Rossi – Marcus Johansson
- Vladimir Tarasenko – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
- Marcus Foligno – Ryan Hartman – Vinnie Hinostroza
The Wild look to continue their momentum against the Hurricanes with strategic line adjustments and player utilization tonight.
"It will be interesting to see how the Wild use that pair considering it is on the road, so last line change, and Hunt is playing on his offside."
Author's summary: Minnesota Wild debut defenseman Hunt tonight while Yurov's extended scratch raises questions, as the team aims to maintain momentum against the Hurricanes.
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