After sitting as a healthy scratch for the past six games, defenseman Nick Seeler will draw into the Wild lineup Saturday against the Blues at Xcel Energy Center – just his third appearance of the season.
"He hasn't played a home game yet," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He's been a tremendous solider and just practicing hard and not saying a word. I think it's his turn."
Subbing Seeler in for Carson Soucy won't be the only lineup change the Wild will make.
Winger Ryan Donato will return after he was scratched Wednesday. Center Victor Rask will be the odd forward out, a decision that moves Luke Kunin to center from right wing.
Although the team made some tweaks to its look, its effort in St. Louis Wednesday was solid even though it resulted in a 2-1 loss.
Perhaps playing at home, where the Wild is 3-1, will help. So could the fact the Blues are finishing a back-to-back.
"It was a good game," said goalie Devan Dubnyk, who made 24 saves Wednesday. "Guys were working. Obviously, it was disappointing from the night before [a 6-3 loss in Dallas] but we didn't let that linger. We came out right way. I said it before I feel like that's been the way we've bene playing for a good stretch now. It's going to be important to do that against this team.
"It's going to be a similar type game. We're going to have to work and move the puck and be focused the whole game because it's probably going to be another tight one and that's fine. If we keep doing what we're doing, then the results are going to come."
