ST. PAUL — Still in search of an offensive spark, the Wild might again be making lineup changes, this time on the back end.
After revamped lines in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Dallas Stars were unable to produce an even-strength goal, the Wild might be adding defenseman Mike Reilly, a dynamic rookie, to the lineup for Game 3 tonight.
The Wild called up Reilly, who practiced with the team Sunday, after a two-week trip to the minors, where he recorded two assists in five games, tasked during that time with getting his game ready for the postseason.
Before his demotion, he had played in 29 NHL games but had been a minus-3 in the three games leading to his visit to the Wild's American Hockey League affiliate in Iowa.
"I got to play five games down there and get my rhythm back so if I do get thrown into a game – maybe tomorrow, I'm not sure – I feel like my rhythm is back and I could play," Reilly said.
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If Reilly, a 22-year-old who played for the Gophers a year ago, draws into the Wild's lineup for Game 3, Nate Prosser would likely sit as a healthy scratch.
Reilly might not be as polished a defenseman as Prosser, but he has plenty of offensive upside and recorded seven points in his 29 games with the Wild.
The Wild have yet to score an even-strength goal in their series against the Stars.
"I definitely think I'm ready," Reilly said. "I think it was good for me to go and play some games down there and get my rhythm back a little bit after maybe two average games before I was sent down. I think it was good for me to get some games, get some good minutes and play in every situation and hopefully prepare me for a game I might be thrown into."
Interim head coach John Torchetti said he didn't know whether Reilly would play Monday night.
"We're going over the lineup today," Torchetti said Sunday, "and making a decision on that tomorrow."
