The Minnesota Wild face the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday night, with both teams releasing projected lineups amid injury updates. Seattle rides a nine-game points streak fueled by its fourth line, while Minnesota aims to rebound from recent losses. The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET.
The Minnesota Wild (25-11-8) travel to face the Seattle Kraken (20-14-7) in the finale of Minnesota's two-week road trip. The contest at Climate Pledge Arena begins at 10 p.m. ET, broadcast on FDSNWI, FDSNNOX, KHN/Prime and KONG.
For the Wild, Daemon Hunt returns to the lineup after missing 10 games with a lower-body injury, joining the third defensive pair with Jake Middleton. The projected forward lines are Kirill Kaprizov with Danila Yurov and Mats Zuccarello on the first; Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy on the second; Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan Hartman and Vinnie Hinostroza on the third; and Marcus Foligno, Nico Sturm and Yakov Trenin on the fourth. Defensemen include Quinn Hughes paired with Brock Faber, Jonas Brodin with Jared Spurgeon, and the returning Hunt with Middleton. Goalies are Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson, with Zach Bogosian sidelined by a lower-body injury. Scratches: Tyler Pitlick, David Jiricek and Matt Kierstad.
The Kraken, on an 8-0-1 streak over their last nine games, have averaged 3.7 goals per contest, boosted by a productive fourth line that has contributed at least one goal in four of the last five games and five of seven. Recent example: Ben Meyers scored with an assist from Tye Kartye against Boston. Projected lines feature Jared McCann, Matty Beniers and Kaapo Kakko up top; Eeli Tolvanen, Chandler Stephenson and Frederick Gaudreau; Berkly Catton, Shane Wright and Ryan Winterton; and Tye Kartye, Ben Meyers and Jacob Melanson. Defense pairs: Vince Dunn with Adam Larsson, Ryan Lindgren with Cale Fleury, and Ryker Evans with Jamie Oleksiak. Philipp Grubauer starts in net after a four-game win streak with a 1.00 goals-against average and .972 save percentage; Joey Daccord is the backup.
Jordan Eberle is a game-time decision with an illness, per coach Dave Hakstol, who did not specify further. Injuries include Matt Murray and Jaden Schwartz (lower body), Brandon Montour (upper body). Oscar Fisker Molgaard was recalled from Coachella Valley but is not expected to play; scratches: Josh Mahura.
Minnesota, bolstered by the acquisition of Quinn Hughes from Vancouver, leads the West with strong offense from Kirill Kaprizov (24 goals, 49 points) and Matt Boldy (26 goals, 48 points). The Wild rank third in goals allowed at 2.64 per game. Seattle trails slightly in defensive metrics but matches closely in total goals conceded (120 vs. Minnesota's 119 in three more games). Both teams' power plays rank high (ninth and 11th), though penalty kills lag (27th and 32nd). The Wild are 21-2-4 when scoring three or more goals.
