The Wild have played only two games, but after a brutal, 7-4 loss to Columbus on their home opener Saturday, coach John Hynes wasted little time in shaking things up.
For Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings at Grand Casino Arena, the first game of a back-to-back that continues Tuesday in Dallas, tweaked the second and third lines, and opened the door for center Danila Yurov to make his NHL debut.
Yurov was set to replace fellow rookie Hunter Haight, scoreless and a minus-2, as the fourth-line center with wings Liam Ohgren and Vinnie Hinostroza. Only 21, Yurov has been playing in the KHL, Russia’s top league, since 2022.
In 2023-2024, he broke new teammate Vladimir Tarasanko’s KHL season scoring record with 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists). With fellow Russian Kirill Kaprizov translating, Yurov said he “plays so many games in KHL already, it should be easy for him to play his game.”
“Just a little nervous,” Kaprizov added, “but (he’s) excited and happy to jump in.”
Marcus Johansson will join the second line as the left winger, swapping spots with Marcus Foligno. In two games, the line of Foligno Joel Eriksson Ek and Tarasenko had no even-strength goals.
Foligno will play with center Ryan Hartman (two goals) and right wing Yakov Trenin.
Gustavsson opened the season with a shutout at St. Louis before being scorched for seven goals on Saturday with two sets of back-to-backs — the Wild are at Washington and Philadelphia on Friday and Saturday — Wallstedt was going to play this week.
Wallstedt, 22, was 0-2 with a 4.09 goals-against average and .843 save percentage in two NHL starts last season, and had a rough season with the AHL team in Iowa (9-14-4), as well.
“I think Wally’s had a good summer physically, and I think mentally prepared for the season,” Hynes said. “I think he’s come back, and he’s had a good camp. I’ve seen the maturity in his game and the way that he practices, the intensity level, the details that he practices with. …
“He’s ready. He’s put the hard work in. He’s always the guy that we expect to play well. So, I’m excited to see him play tonight and he’s certainly prepared to have a good outing.”
Briefly
Tonight’s game will be Hynes’ 750th as an NHL head coach, making him the 50th coach in NHL history to reach the milestone. For reaching this NHL milestone, he will receive a Tiffany crystal from the NHL.
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