Wild's projected lineup vs. Winnipeg includes most regulars

The Wild will dress a lineup tonight that is starting to resemble the one we should see at Colorado in the Oct. 8 opener.

By mikerusso

September 27, 2015 at 2:20PM
Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter, top left, and left wing Zach Parise, bottom right, take part in a scrimmage during NHL hockey training camp in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter, top left, and left wing Zach Parise, bottom right, take part in a scrimmage during NHL hockey training camp in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Wild plays its fifth of six preseason games today at 5 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center. The game can be seen on NHL Network.

The only regulars not in the game are injured Justin Fontaine, as well as Jason Zucker, Marco Scandella and Christian Folin. We'll have to check to see if Zucker is OK or if he's dealing with something. He last played in Columbus and had a goal and two assists, so perhaps he just has the night off like Scandella.

The Wild will execute a bunch of cuts today, so I'll be back with those later. The Wild also leaves for Duluth after the game. It'll be there until Wednesday afternoon.

Tonight's lineup:

Parise-Granlund-Pominville

XXXXX-Koivu-Niederreiter

Vanek-Coyle-XXXXXXXX

Carter-Haula-Schroeder

Tyler Graovac and Brett Bulmer will also slide into slots, so we'll see how coach Mike Yeo shuffles his lines. Maybe he moves Niederreiter to left wing. Maybe he plays Graovac at left wing and puts Bulmer at right wing on that third line to change things as little as possible. Maybe he moves Vanek up and shuffles the third and fourth lines. Maybe Coyle moves to right wing. We will see later...Yeo is available at 3 p.m.

Defense pairs likely

Suter-Spurgeon

Brodin-Dumba

Reilly-Prosser

Strachan

Dubnyk in goal with Backstrom backing up.

I'll be back later.

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mikerusso