With the 3-3-2 Wild looking to finish the road trip on a high tonight against the Florida Panthers, coach Mike Yeo has mixed up his first three lines in today's morning skate.
That's what scoring four goals in three games will do -- and more than two goals twice in eight games this season.
"We need to try to find some offense here. We've got to try to get some more balance to our lineup," Yeo said. "It's a good opportunity for us to face a little adversity early and have to battle through it."
Good day from Florida, where it's hot, humid and beautiful. I'll be on Fox Sports North tonight during the pregame show at 5:30 p.m. and first intermission.
Jason Pominville has been reunited on the top line with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu. Yeo said he complements that duo and when they made the switch earlier, it was to provide offense to the second line "and that didn't really help."
There is a brand new second line. Matt Cooke has been moved up and will be centered by Mikael Granlund. Nino Niederreiter will play the right wing. The second line hasn't scored a goal all season for the Wild.
Cooke says he can't change the way he plays the game. Yeo wants two guys that will be hard on the puck and get to the net for Granlund. Yeo wants Granlund also to be more assertive shooting the puck. Yeo is happy with the way Niederreiter's playing, but "I want to see some numbers."
Dany Heatley, off to the worst start in his career with one assist in eight games and the lone mainstay all season on the second line, moves to the third line with Kyle Brodziak and Justin Fontaine. Yeo said Heatley had good chemistry with Fontaine in training camp and Brodziak during parts of the past two seasons.
