ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Wild is getting closer to full strength, with four more regulars joining the lineup Thursday when the team starts a two-game series against the Ducks at Honda Center.
Captain Jared Spurgeon and Ian Cole are back on the blue line, and Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm will fill out a new-look fourth line alongside Ryan Hartman.
Actually, all of the lines have been juggled after the Wild was blanked 4-0 by the Kings Tuesday in Los Angeles – the team's first game in two weeks after a COVID-19 outbreak stalled the season.
Jordan Greenway and Marcus Johansson will work with Marcus Foligno, Nick Bjugstad is centering Zach Parise and Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello has been moved up to skate with Joel Eriksson Ek and Kevin Fiala.
In his return Tuesday after undergoing offseason arm surgery, Zuccarello played on the Wild's fourth line.
"He's a guy that plays the game with a high skill set," coach Dean Evason said. "So, we've tried different line combinations. [That was] Zuccy's first game in a long time last game. We thought he played good. We're trying to score goals. We're not forgetting that we have to defend, and we're not forgetting that we have to be strong in the neutral zone either.
"But we have to find a way to score some goals, and he has that ability. He's going to get an opportunity."
Rookie Calen Addison will stick in the lineup after making his NHL debut last game. He'll stay next to Ryan Suter, with Spurgeon and Cole teaming up. Dakota Mermis and Matt Dumba are the other unit.
