The Minnesota Wild have made a lineup tweak after falling 7-3 to the Los Angeles Kings at home Thursday night, which moved the Wild to 2-2 this season.
Pat Maroon has been elevated to the second line alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson.
Maroon, acquired via trade from Tampa this summer, has one assist and five shots in his first four games with the Wild. Maroon, who fought Jamie Benn in the preseason, has played an average of 11:38 a game so far this season.
“We just think he’s played extremely well, (and) he’s created offensively," head coach Dean Evason told the media after practice Friday.
Sammy Walker, who played on the second line Thursday night, didn't get on the scoresheet or noticeably stick out. But the Wild finished with 58.48 percent of the expected goal share at five-on-five with Eriksson Ek, Johansson and Walker on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick, which was the best mark among the Wild's four lines.
Walker will take Maroon's spot on the fourth line with Connor Dewar and Brandon Duhaime. The Wild recalled Walker Wednesday after placing Alex Goligoski on long-term injured reserve, which gave the Wild additional cap space and flexibility.
Minnesota went from $51,000 to $1.95 million in cap space after putting Goligoski on LTIR. Goligoski will miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days, a requirement to be put on LTIR.
On Saturday, the trio of Walker, Dewar and Duhaime will be a line to watch as it will feature a lot of speed. Walker has a goal and assist in 10 NHL games.
Both Jared Spurgeon and Matt Boldy, who are skating, still remain out of the lineup and their status of week-to-week hasn't changed, according to Evason.
“It’s good obviously that they’re on the ice," Evason said. "They’re progressing.”
Minnesota wraps up its three-game homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday and the Edmonton Oilers next Tuesday.
Here's a video analysis of the loss Thursday night from Dylan Loucks: