Brandon Duhaime will be elevated in the Wild's lineup, making him the player to watch for against the Lightning.
ST. PAUL - The Wild have a lot of players out tonight, seven to be exact. Four of their NHL regular forwards are out of the lineup tonight which opens the door for some Wild players to step up and get an opportunity for more ice time.
"I think it's awesome. I mean, it's a great challenge," Hynes said on all the injuries. "I think, not I think I know in talking with the players it's a great opportunity. Every player wants more. Can I play higher in the lineup, can I get on a special team, can I play in this situation? And now you have the opportunity to do it. So from that standpoint I think that gives energy to your team and to the group."
Brandon Duhaime, 26, will get a good opportunity tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Duhaime has spent most of the season and his career on the Wild's fourth line but with no Marcus Foligno again, Duhaime will get to play on the third line with Pat Maroon and Freddy Gaudreau.
Duhaime has played three games in his career against the Lightning and has one goal. He also has only played on average nine minutes and 16 seconds in those three games. But tonight he will get a chance to raise his ice time a bit.