Mn Wild: mn wild wins 5-2 as Boldy has 4 points in Denver
The mn wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver as Matt Boldy had two goals and two assists and Filip Gustavsson made 44 saves. The win extended Minnesota’s streak to six straight games.
Mn Wild special teams edge
Joel Eriksson Ek scored two power-play goals, the first coming at 7: 48 of the second period when he snapped home the rebound of Boldy’s initial shot off the right pad of Mackenzie Blackwood to make it 1-0. Eriksson Ek’s second power-play tally completed a sequence that followed an extended 5-on-3 for Minnesota late in the second period. Brent Burns drew a delay of game four seconds into that sequence, turning what was initially 1: 12 of a 5-on-3 into 1: 54 of a two-man advantage; the Wild converted and took a 2-1 lead.
Gustavsson’s late illness, big saves
Filip Gustavsson made 44 saves and battled an illness late in the game, leaving with about one minute remaining after throwing up in his crease. He was replaced at 18: 56 of the third period by Jesper Wallstedt, who allowed one goal on two shots in 1: 04 of relief. Coach John Hynes called Gustavsson’s performance a “gutsy” effort and said the illness came on late, “maybe mid-to-late in the third period. ”
Boldy, Zuccarello and Kaprizov contribute
Matt Boldy had two goals and two assists, including two empty-netters, one of which was scored shorthanded. Mats Zuccarello also scored for Minnesota, and Kirill Kaprizov recorded two assists. Boldy said the result “speaks to our team and what we're all about, ” praising the pace, offensive ability, shot blocking and getting pucks out, and stressing that “everyone was doing it. ” Boldy also framed the win as part of growth and staying together as a team.
Scoring sequence and goalie matchups
Martin Necas scored twice for Colorado, and Nathan MacKinnon had two assists. Necas tied the game 1-1 at 13: 30 of the second period with a wrist shot from the right dot that went top shelf short side off MacKinnon’s drop pass inside the blue line. Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves for the Avalanche. Minnesota’s 5-2 victory followed Colorado’s recent 4-2 win at the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday.
Avalanche penalties and coach reactions
Colorado took six of the first seven penalties, giving Minnesota the power-play edge that proved decisive. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said, “We took six. Six is too many, especially against a power play like theirs, ” and criticized the team’s discipline while acknowledging some positives. Quinn Hughes described Gustavsson as “a beast” and “unbelievable, ” and Eriksson Ek credited Gustavsson’s saves, saying, “He made some saves that kept us calm and we could start building. ” Hynes said the focus coming out of the Olympic break was getting the group back together and establishing a strong game.
Records, streaks and context
The Wild improved a number of recent marks in the game. Minnesota’s record was listed as 35-14-10 and the team is 7-0-1 in its past eight games; other coverage noted the Wild are 9-1-1 in their last 11 and 9-1-1 in a stretch that includes games before the Olympic break. Boldy extended his points streak to seven games. Quinn Hughes extended his point and assist streaks to 11 games and also had the team-leading 53rd assist of the season. Gustavsson’s recent run was noted as 17-2-4 in his past 23 games. Joel Eriksson Ek has six goals in Minnesota’s past seven games and 26 points over his past 24.
The Avalanche were listed at 38-10-9 and were described as NHL-leading earlier in the season; another note recorded Colorado as starting the season 33-4-7 and going 5-6-2 in their past 13. The teams are scheduled to play again in Denver next weekend, and the Avalanche have two games in hand in the Central Division, leaving Minnesota five points back of Colorado for first place in the division. Colorado was scheduled to host Chicago on Saturday night.
Wallstedt’s brief relief, Gustavsson’s 44-save night and illness, Eriksson Ek’s two power-play goals, Boldy’s four-point night and the Avalanche’s two goals from Necas complete the box-score highlights of a 5-2 game that extended Minnesota’s winning streak to six.
