DALLAS – The Wild is undefeated so far this week, winning a pair of games at home with backup Alex Stalock in net for both.
But when the team vies for a third straight victory Friday in Dallas, normal starter Devan Dubnyk is scheduled to be in the crease.
This will be Dubnyk's first start in almost a week. He last played this past Saturday at home vs. Boston, making 28 saves in the 6-1 loss.
It's likely that's the only lineup change coach Bruce Boudreau makes.
Defenseman Carson Soucy didn't make the trip to Texas, as he's out with illness. But the Wild could roll out the same defense even though it has another option in Matt Bartkowski after recalling him from the minors on Thursday.
The forward lines also were effective Thursday in the 4-2 win over the Canucks, especially after Boudreau made an in-game adjustment – promoting winger Ryan Donato to the second line while winger Jason Zucker served a rare fighting major and keeping Donato there even after Zucker returned.
"There was no message," Boudreau said of switching Zucker. "Put him out there and get something going. If you look at the ice times other than special teams, they're pretty balanced. Zucker playing with [captain Mikko] Koivu in the past has worked out great, and Mikko got a point which was great. So, it gives us good depth."
Against the Canucks, only one forward (center Joel Eriksson Ek) played more than 18 minutes; everyone else was between 10 and 18, and that balance could pay dividends Friday when the Wild plays its second game in as many nights.
