Coach John Hynes juggles lines ahead of Wild’s first Vegas visit

If in scouting the Wild for their Monday night game, the Vegas Golden Knights watched video of Minnesota’s overtime win in Winnipeg from Saturday, the effort might not have provided a true preview.

Heading into their first matchup in Nevada since an overtime loss in Game 5 during last spring’s playoffs, Wild coach John Hynes remade the Minnesota lines in search of some new results from new partners.

“I just think that a little bit of a switch-up. I think the last few games some lines have gone dry a little bit,” Hynes said. “We’ve played a lot of hockey.”

Notably, rookie Danila Yurov was elevated to center the team’s top line between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, and Ryan Hartman was sent to center the third line between Vinnie Hinostroza and Vladimir Tarasenko.

“I think Yurov back with Kaprizov and Zuccarello was a good combo,” Hynes told reporters after the team’s morning skate at T-Mobile Arena. “Before we had injuries, we thought that Vinnie bringing the speed that he has with Hartzy and Vladdy was a good line.”

Hynes envisioned his fourth line of Nico Sturm at center between Marcus Foligno and Yakov Trenin bringing some physical play when needed, with Trenin continuing to lead the NHL in hits.

Having survived their longest travel day of the season on Saturday, getting an unlikely win in Winnipeg when they trailed with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, the Wild were still feeling good about their cohesiveness leading to success.

“I think it just shows how great this group is,” Hinostroza said. “Ever since I got here in the middle of last year, you could see how much of a tight-knit group this is. It’s amazing to be a part of, and when you love each other like that and you play for each other, you usually get a good outcome.”

Hunt on the mend

Defenseman Daemon Hunt missed a sixth straight game in Vegas, still working his way back from a lower body injury suffered in the Wild’s shutout win over the Capitals on Dec. 16 in St. Paul.

While he is currently not traveling with the team, Hynes said if he is able, Hunt could join the Wild on the West Coast later in this two-week road trip.

“He’s progressing. I would assume that he’s going to meet us on the trip, I just don’t have an exact time yet,” Hynes said, adding that Hunt is working with team skating coach Andy Ness. “We’d like to make sure he gets some good skates with Andy and when he does come, he’s ready to be a game player.”

Hunt has played in a dozen games with two assists so far this season.

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