Hurricanes Overcome Wild in Close Contest
In a game where Minnesota Wild sought a third straight victory, they twice led by one goal and even tied the match 3-3. However, the Carolina Hurricanes consistently countered every effort by the Wild, eventually winning 4-3.
Key Performances and Game Flow
Matt Boldy broke a scoring drought with two goals for Minnesota. Brock Faber also contributed his second goal of the season. Despite solid efforts, including strong special teams play by the Wild, Carolina responded with timely goals to secure their win.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t find a way to win the hockey game, but it was a hard-fought battle by both teams,” said Wild coach John Hynes. “They had pushes and surges, and we had pushes and surges. But, unfortunately, we weren’t the team to win it tonight.”
Goalie Performance and Challenges
Filip Gustavsson, in his 12th start for the Wild, had a difficult start as Carolina scored four goals on their first eight shots. He later settled, finishing with 23 saves. Gustavsson noted, “This is a really good team we’re playing against, and we’re matching up against them pretty good today,” but admitted he didn’t make a specific adjustment to regain his rhythm during the game.
Team Standing and Statistics
- Minnesota fell to a 5-7-3 record after this loss.
- The Wild remain winless (0-6-1) when trailing after the first period.
- Despite earning the first power play of the game, Minnesota failed to register a shot on goal during that opportunity.
Despite strong moments by Minnesota, the Hurricanes’ resilience and timely plays secured their comeback victory, highlighting Minnesota’s need to convert opportunities.