Wild vs Hurricanes: Game Preview, Line Combinations
The Minnesota Wild (5-6-3) meet the Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-0) tonight on the road, starting a back-to-back series. The lineup features one notable change as defenseman Daemon Hunt makes his season debut, pairing with Zeev Buium on the third defensive line.
Since the Wild will not have the last line change, it will be intriguing to see how the coaching staff manages this pair, especially with Hunt playing on his offside. To make room, David Jiricek is removed from the lineup after going pointless in ten games with a minus-three rating. Hunt, 23, last played in an NHL game in October.
Fourth Line Consistency and Healthy Scratch Decisions
Minnesota keeps its fourth line intact for the matchup. As a result, Danila Yurov remains a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game. The trio of Ben Jones, Yakov Trenin, and Tyler Pitlick will again take the ice together, having gone 3-0-0 in the past three games as a unit.
“Yurov played one of those two prior games, centering the third line in New York and scoring his first NHL goal.”
Despite that milestone, Yurov has sat out the last two contests, both victories for the Wild. His continued absence raises questions about his short-term role and development path within the team structure.
Notable Updates
- Mats Zuccarello is probable to return for Saturday’s game.
- Kirill Kaprizov, Marco Rossi, and Marcus Johansson form the top line.
- The second unit pairs Vladimir Tarasenko, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Matt Boldy.
- Marcus Foligno, Ryan Hartman, and Vinnie Hinostroza round out the third line.
Author’s Summary
Daemon Hunt debuts as the Wild shuffle their defense, while Danila Yurov’s ongoing scratch highlights lineup choices shaping Minnesota’s early-season rhythm.