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Wild reinforce lineup vs. Penguins as two key players return from injuries
The Wild are set to welcome back Zach Bogosian and Nico Sturm for tonight's game vs. the Penguins, after the team has been without both players for some time.
There is some good news for the Minnesota Wild, who prepare to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road tonight.
The number of games that Zach Bogosian missed
The team activated veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian from injured reserve after he missed 16 games with a lower-body injury.
The 35-year-old appeared in the first five games of the season before getting hurt and is expected to return to the lineup immediately.
Forward Nico Sturm has also been activated. The 30-year-old inked a two-year deal with Minnesota in the offseason but suffered a back injury early in training camp and has not appeared in any of the club's first 21 games.
While Bogosian will play tonight, Sturm will not make his return until at least Sunday, depending on how he responds to Saturday's practice.
It's an important return for the Wild, who are already shorthanded down the middle with Ryan Hartman and Marco Rossi out.
Danila Yurov has been bumped up to the top line at center, and Yakov Trenin was forced into the position last game. To make room for him, blue liner David Jiricek has been sent down.
Wild projected lineup
Kirill Kaprizov -- Danila Yurov -- Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Matt Boldy
Marcus Foligno -- Yakov Trenin -- Vinnie Hinostroza
Liam Ohgren -- Ben Jones -- Tyler Pitlick
Jonas Brodin -- Brock Faber
Jake Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Zeev Buium -- Zach Bogosian
Filip Gustavsson
Jesper Wallstedt
Kirill Kaprizov -- Danila Yurov -- Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Matt Boldy
Marcus Foligno -- Yakov Trenin -- Vinnie Hinostroza
Liam Ohgren -- Ben Jones -- Tyler Pitlick
Jonas Brodin -- Brock Faber
Jake Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Zeev Buium -- Zach Bogosian
Filip Gustavsson
Jesper Wallstedt
The Penguins return to action for the first time in four days after a 4-0 shutout win over the Nashville Predators in the Global Series. Minnesota comes into this one after a 4-3 shootout win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
Why the Penguins are going with Arturs Silovs tonight
The Penguins will go with Arturs Silovs in net, who was the first goaltender off the ice this morning. He was brilliant his last time out and has been one of the league's better netminders early on, ranking 10th in goals saved above expected at 8.4.
Penguins projected lineup
Connor Dewar -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Kevin Hayes -- Evgeni Malkin - Anthony Mantha
Tommy Novak -- Ben Kindel -- Sam Poulin
Joona Koppanen -- Blake Lizotte -- Danton Heinen
Parker Wotherspoon -- Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea -- Kris Letang
Ryan Graves -- Connor Clifton
Arturs Silovs
Sergei Murashov
Connor Dewar -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
Kevin Hayes -- Evgeni Malkin - Anthony Mantha
Tommy Novak -- Ben Kindel -- Sam Poulin
Joona Koppanen -- Blake Lizotte -- Danton Heinen
Parker Wotherspoon -- Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea -- Kris Letang
Ryan Graves -- Connor Clifton
Arturs Silovs
Sergei Murashov
Lineup reinforcements arrive just in time for Minnesota's visit to Pittsburgh, in what could be a momentum-shifting game for both clubs.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 21 | 22 ANSWERS Wild reinforce lineup vs. Penguins as two key players return from injuries Will the return of these 2 Wild players lead them to win? | ||
| Yes | 16 | 72.7 % |
| No | 6 | 27.3 % |
| List of polls | ||