The Wild's goalie rotation has ended.
For the first time since Marc-Andre Fleury debuted, the Wild will start the same goalie for a second consecutive game. Cam Talbot will be back in net on Thursday against the Canucks at Xcel Energy Center after posting a 26-save shutout on Tuesday in the 2-0 win at Montreal.
"Cam played extremely well, had a shutout," coach Dean Evason said. "So, it just made sense, and we have a back-to-back. So, they're both going to play one. So, we just felt that he would roll right into this game."
- Season stats: Cam Talbot | Marc-Andre Fleury
Talbot is 11-0-3 over his last 14 starts. Overall, he's at 30 wins for the third time in his NHL career.
The Wild will get defenseman Jon Merrill back after he missed the previous 10 games with an upper-body injury. Jordie Benn will sit.
Matt Dumba, Jordan Greenway and Tyson Jost did skate Thursday morning, but none of them will face Vancouver. Jost (lower-body injury) is projected to return on Friday when the Wild finishes off a back-to-back at home vs. the Kraken. Dumba and Greenway (upper-body injuries) have been ruled out for both games. Whether they'll be available Sunday when the Wild plays at Nashville is unclear.
Before then, the Wild has a chance to continue its impressive run at home. The team is 10-0-1 during its last 11 games at Xcel Energy Center.
Projected lineup:
