Missed Opportunity for Wild as Hurricanes Storm Back
Seeking a third consecutive win, the Minnesota Wild twice held one-goal leads and battled back to tie the game 3-3, but the Carolina Hurricanes responded strongly to secure a 4-3 victory.
Game Summary
After a solid start in a challenging environment, the Hurricanes managed to counter every effort from the Wild. Matt Boldy ended a goal drought with two crucial goals, while Brock Faber scored his second of the season. Minnesota's special teams continued performing well, yet the Hurricanes consistently rallied to retake the lead.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t find a way to win the hockey game, but it was a hard-fought battle by both teams,”
Wild coach John Hynes said. “They had pushes and surges, and we had pushes and surges. But, unfortunately, we weren’t the team to win it tonight.”
Goalie Performance
Filip Gustavsson, making his 12th start for the Wild, struggled early as Carolina scored four times on its first eight shots. He later steadied, finishing with 23 saves.
“This is a really good team we’re playing against, and we’re matching up against them pretty good today,” Gustavsson said, noting he “didn’t do anything” specific to regain his rhythm.
Team Stats and Outlook
- Minnesota's record fell to 5-7-3.
- The team is now 0-6-1 when trailing after the first period.
- The Wild had the first power play of the game but failed to register a shot on goal during that opportunity.
Author's summary: Despite twice leading and forcing a tie, the Wild were unable to hold off the Hurricanes’ persistent comeback, highlighting struggles in early-game deficits.