The Wild won't be getting any of its injured players back against the Coyotes on Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center, but the team is still changing up its lineup.
Kaapo Kahkonen will start in net, his first appearance since Nov.21 at Tampa Bay — a 5-4 shootout loss. Cam Talbot played the next three games, going 3-0.
"We've got some games obviously here at home every second night," coach Dean Evason said. "It's just a good opportunity to get him in and get Cam some rest, too."
Captain Jared Spurgeon (lower-body injury) and winger Mats Zuccarello (hand) were on the ice Tuesday morning, but neither player will suit up vs. Arizona. This will be the fifth game Spurgeon has missed; Zuccarello will sit out his second straight.
"They both skated," Evason said. "They're both progressing. As far as a timeline, we don't have one."
Kahkonen was also between the pipes the last time the Wild faced off against the Coyotes, a 5-2 victory at Arizona on Nov.10. That was Kahkonen's second win of the season.
The Coyotes were in action on Monday, blanking the Jets 1-0 in Winnipeg despite getting outshot 46-15 to sit 5-15-2. They still rank second-to-last in the NHL with 12 points.
"Their record might not be the same as other hockey clubs," Evason said, "but their willingness to compete and try to have success is as great as ours. Our group has done a good job, a really good job, of respecting our opponent, not looking past anybody, and again respecting whoever we play."
