Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota Wild: Preview, Lineups, and Viewing Info

The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in their 12th NHL matchup of the 2025-26 season. This game marks the second in a four-game road trip for the Penguins, which also includes visits to Winnipeg and Toronto.

Penguins’ Recent Performance

The Penguins recently suffered an overtime loss against the Philadelphia Flyers, bringing their current record to 7-2-2. This strong start has placed them at the top of the Metropolitan Division, tied for first place with the New Jersey Devils, as they have accumulated 16 points thus far.

Wild Struggling with a Losing Streak

In contrast, the Minnesota Wild enter this game on a four-game losing streak. Their record stands at 3-5-3 this season, a disappointing start for a team that reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year but was eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Key Players and Lineups

Head coach Dan Muse announced that forward Ben Kindel will appear in his 10th NHL game, officially activating his entry-level contract. Kindel has shown significant potential this season, emerging as one of the Penguins’ standout forwards.

Tristan Jarry will be in goal for the Penguins, taking over from Arturs Silovs, who played against Philadelphia. The team’s strategic goalie rotation has received praise from Muse.

Morning Skate Line Combinations

• Forwards:
  • Hallander-Crosby-Rust
  • Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau
  • Novak-Kindel-Koivunen
  • Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
• Defensive Pairings:
  • Wotherspoon-Karlsson
  • Shea-Letang
  • Pickering-Dumba

Top prospect Harrison Brunicke may be a healthy scratch, potentially signaling a return to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers.

Viewing Information

The game will begin at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action on SportsNet Pittsburgh or tune in on 105.9 ‘The X’ for live radio coverage.

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