Post by : Maya Rahman

The Minnesota Wild secured a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against the Vegas Golden Knights this Sunday. With only 10 seconds remaining in the extra period, Kirill Kaprizov netted the decisive goal, but it was a critical defensive maneuver by Matt Boldy just two minutes earlier that set the stage for the comeback.

Late in overtime, Marcus Johansson mishandled the puck, giving Vegas a chance to capitalize. Mitch Marner zoomed toward the Wild’s net on a breakaway. Instead of taking the shot himself, Marner passed to Shea Theodore, who appeared poised to score as Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson shifted to cover Marner. At the moment Theodore aimed to shoot, Boldy dashed in and lifted Theodore’s stick, thwarting what seemed to be a certain game-winner for Vegas.

Shortly thereafter, Boldy returned to action and earned a penalty from Theodore with just 29 seconds left in overtime. During the subsequent power play, Boldy assisted on the game-winning goal. Mats Zuccarello quickly fed the puck to Kaprizov, who unleashed a powerful one-timer into the net. This marked Kaprizov’s 11th overtime goal, sealing a dramatic victory for the Wild.

Wild coach John Hynes lauded Boldy’s tenacity and teamwork, emphasizing the commitment of every player to the team's success, regardless of their role. He pointed to Boldy’s stick lift as a clear illustration of this dedication.

Meanwhile, Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy expressed frustration post-game, believing that the officials should have penalized Boldy for the stick lift and that Theodore’s later penalty call was unjust. His irritation was evident throughout the game.

This victory marks a significant turnaround for Minnesota, which initially struggled at the beginning of the season, winning just three of its first twelve games. Following a players-only meeting on October 31, the Wild have turned around their fortunes, boasting a record of 6-1-1 since November 1, allowing only 14 goals during this span. In their last five encounters, they’ve conceded just six goals, maintaining a 268-minute stretch without surrendering any five-on-five goals.

Kaprizov remarked that the team had been “too soft” earlier in the season, but now everyone is more aligned and working cohesively. Marcus Foligno echoed this sentiment, noting that they were previously too lax in the neutral zone, enabling opponents too much space. A reinforced defense and more organized approach have revitalized the Wild’s identity.

In the clash against Vegas, Minnesota also saw contributions from Joel Eriksson Ek and Yakov Trenin, with Zuccarello notching two assists. Goalie Gustavsson made 23 saves, though the team did lose Ryan Hartman to a lower-body injury during the third period, raising concerns ahead of Wednesday’s face-off against Carolina. Marco Rossi also remains sidelined, leaving the squad short on centers.

This win ended a challenging stretch for Minnesota, as Vegas had triumphed in five consecutive regular-season encounters and eight of the last nine overall meetings.

Trenin’s goal, resulting from a significant hit by Foligno, initially put Minnesota ahead before Vegas equalized, leading to overtime. Trenin celebrated with a jump into the glass, a gesture Foligno humorously claimed was “stealing” his signature move.

Foligno maintained his robust style throughout the evening, delivering seven notable hits, including solid ones against Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin. He stated that the Wild were fueled by last season’s playoff elimination by Vegas, motivated to showcase their growth.

Coach Hynes praised the strong forechecking and physical play exhibited by the Foligno-Yurov-Trenin line, explaining how their cooperative efforts, pressure, and savvy positioning extended offensive zone presence and put Vegas on the defensive.

On the other hand, goalie Filip Gustavsson faced inquiries regarding the competition with Jesper Wallstedt, who recently recorded two shutouts. Gustavsson noted that their strong performances encourage one another to elevate their game.

The Wild’s triumph underscores their progress. With robust defense, physical play, discipline, and both star and role player contributions, they achieved a hard-fought win. The team is optimistic about continuing their improvement, viewing this game as a significant stride in reclaiming the style that brings them success.

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