Minnesota debuts an all-Russian second line and starts Jesper Wallstedt in goal as NHL regulars face a veteran-heavy Dallas squad for final regular-season roster tune-ups.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild will get one final dress rehearsal Friday night before the games begin to count.
Minnesota hosts the Dallas Stars at 7 p.m. at Grand Casino Arena in the Wild's fourth and final preseason game.
With the roster trimmed down and all of the NHL regulars in the lineup, Friday's matchup provides one last opportunity to get game-ready before opening night.
The Wild will begin the regular season Oct. 1 on the road against the Nashville Predators before returning to St. Paul for their home opener Oct. 3 against the Boston Bruins.
Friday’s lineup closely resembles what Minnesota could roll out to begin the season, with one particularly interesting look in the top six.
Danila Yurov will center Kirill Kaprizov and Maxim Shabanov, giving the Wild an all-Russian second line. Blake Coleman, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy make up the other top-six unit.
Minnesota’s Projected Lines:
Blake Coleman - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy
Kirill Kaprizov - Danila Yurov - Maxim Shabanov
Yakov Trenin - Ryan Hartman - Bobby Brink
Marcus Folignio - Michael McCarron - Nick Foligno
Defense:
Quinn Hughes - Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin - Jared Spurgeon
Olli Maatta - Zach Bogosian
Starter: Jesper Wallstedt
Scratched: Daemon Hunt, Charlie Stramel, Nico Sturm, David Spacek.
With Filip Gustavsson unavailable, Wallstedt has an opportunity to continue preparing for a significant role early in the regular season.
Dallas, meanwhile, is bringing plenty of NHL talent to St. Paul.
Stars Projected Lines:
Jason Robertson - Roope Hintz - Tyler Seguin
Justin Hryckowian - Wyatt Johnston - Mikko Rantanen
Sam Steel - Arttu Hyry - Jamie Benn
Oskar Back - Radek Faksa - Colin Blackwell
Defense:
Thomas Harley - Miro Heiskanen
Esa Lindell - Nils Lundkvist
Lian Bichsel - Tyler Myers
Starter: Casey DeSmith
Scratched: Joel Kiviranta
Minnesota enters the preseason finale with a 1-1-1 record. Once Friday’s game is over, attention will turn completely toward final roster decisions and the Oct. 1 opener in Nashville.
For several Wild regulars, this is simply the last chance to get their timing and conditioning ready for the regular season. For players such as Stramel, Hunt and Spacek, it represents one more night on an NHL game roster before Minnesota makes its final decisions.
Although the final two spots will most likely be given to Sturm and Hunt.
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