Game Summary
In St. Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday night, the Minnesota Wild secured a decisive 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. This win is a testament to the Wild’s excellent form, as they improved their record to 5-1-1 over their last seven games. Filip Gustavsson was a key player for Minnesota, achieving 29 saves during the match.
First Period Highlights
The game began with a strong first period for the Wild, as Danila Yurov and Vinnie Hinostroza both found the back of the net. Yurov scored quickly, just under three minutes in, after receiving a return pass while skating through the left circle, managing a backdoor shot. Hinostroza followed suit with a goal of his own, finding the net for the first time in 25 games, capitalizing on an outlet from Jake Middleton.
Third Period Developments
As the contest progressed into the third period, Morgan Frost claimed Calgary’s sole goal by converting a pass from Jonathan Huberdeau, cutting the deficit to 2-1 just past the five-minute mark. After a near-miss where Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes was stopped on a breakaway, Minnesota regained momentum. Matt Boldy fired in a crucial power-play goal, assisted by Kirill Kaprizov, with just 2:43 remaining. Kaprizov sealed the deal with an empty-netter shortly thereafter.
Record-Setting Performance
Hughes’ involvement was notable as well, as he assisted on Boldy’s goal, marking his seventh consecutive game with an assist—a franchise record for defensemen, tying him with Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter for the most assists in such a streak.
Current Standings
As a result of this win, Minnesota remains in an impressive position, tied for second in the NHL with 72 points, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche, who lead with 79. The Flames, meanwhile, are struggling, having recorded no wins in their last five outings, with a record of 0-3-2. They will aim to turn their fortunes around when they face off against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, while the Wild are set to take on the Edmonton Oilers the same day.
Offensive Prowess
Notably, Minnesota has performed exceptionally well this season, having scored first in 33 games—this marks them as one of the teams with the most first goals this season and demonstrates their offensive prowess, especially when maintaining leads, as they have yet to lose in 25 games (22-0-3) when leading after two periods.
