Wild vs. Blackhawks: Game Preview and Line Combinations

The Minnesota Wild will face off against the Chicago Blackhawks in an exciting matchup tonight. The game takes place on the road, marking a return to national television for the Wild. As the team gears up for this contest, they will look to build on their positive record against the Blackhawks from the previous season.

Team Records and Stats

The Wild currently hold a record of 12 wins, 7 losses, and 4 overtime losses (12-7-4). Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are slightly behind with 10 wins, 8 losses, and 4 overtime losses (10-8-4). Last season, Minnesota had a strong showing against Chicago, going 3-0-1 in their four meetings.

Player Lineups and Injuries

Starting for Minnesota will be goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who played in three of their previous matchups against Chicago last season. The Wild will be without several key players due to injuries, including:

• Marco Rossi (lower body injury)
• Ryan Hartman (lower body injury)
• Vladimir Tarasenko (lower body injury)
• Vinnie Hinostroza (out for a month)

The projected offensive lines for the Wild are as follows:

• Kaprizov – Yurov – Zuccarello
• Johansson – Eriksson Ek – Boldy
• Foligno – Sturm – Trenin
• Ohgren – Jones – Pitlick

The defensive pairings include:

• Middleton – Spurgeon
• Brodin – Faber
• Buium – Bogosian

For the Blackhawks, Spencer Knight will be making his start against the Wild, marking his first matchup against them. Chicago’s injured players include:

• Andre Burakovsky (undisclosed injury)
• Nick Foligno (left hand injury)
• Laurent Brossoit (hip injury)

The projected lines for the Blackhawks feature:

• Greene – Bedard – Bertuzzi
• Teravainen – Nazar – Moore
• Donato – Dickinson – Mikheyev
• Dach – Lafferty – Rinzel

Broadcast Information

Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+/HULU. John Buccigross will provide play-by-play commentary, with Cassie Campbell-Pascall serving as the color analyst. For radio listeners, coverage will be available on KFAN FM 100.3, featuring Joe O’Donnell, Tom Reid, and Kevin Falness.

Looking Ahead

This matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams compete for crucial points in the standings. With injuries impacting both rosters, strategies will play a key role in determining the game’s outcome. Stay tuned for what should be an exciting night of hockey!