Wild vs Hurricanes: Game Preview and Line Updates
The Minnesota Wild (5-6-3) face the Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-0) tonight on the road, marking the first half of a back-to-back series. The team introduces defenseman Daemon Hunt, who will play his first game of the season alongside Zeev Buium.
Defense and Lineup Adjustments
Hunt, 23, returns to NHL action after a long absence, pairing on the third defense line and playing on his offside. David Jiricek will be removed from the lineup after recording no points and a minus-3 rating in ten games. The pairing of Hunt and Buium will be closely watched, especially given the away-game matchup challenges.
Fourth Line Stays Intact
Minnesota keeps its fourth line unchanged, featuring Ben Jones, Yakov Trenin, and Tyler Pitlick. This line has gone 3-0-0 in the past three games together, displaying strong chemistry and contribution.
Danila Yurov's Situation
Danila Yurov will sit for his third straight game as a healthy scratch, raising questions about the young forward’s current role and development. Interestingly, the Wild have won all games he missed. Yurov previously scored his first NHL goal as the third-line center in New York before being sidelined.
Injury and Return Updates
Mats Zuccarello is expected to return for Saturday’s matchup, bolstering the forward lineup led by key players Kirill Kaprizov, Marco Rossi, and Marcus Johansson.
Projected Forward Lines
- Kirill Kaprizov – Marco Rossi – Marcus Johansson
- Vladimir Tarasenko – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
- Marcus Foligno – Ryan Hartman – Vinnie Hinostroza
- Ben Jones – Yakov Trenin – Tyler Pitlick
“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 debuts Daemon Hunt against Carolina, while Danila Yurov’s third scratch raises lineup questions amid the Wild’s winning momentum.