Missed Opportunity for Wild as Hurricanes Storm Back
Chasing a third straight win, the Minnesota Wild twice led by a goal and rallied to tie 3-3, but the Carolina Hurricanes responded to every challenge, ultimately winning 4-3.
Key Moments and Performance
After a strong start despite a hostile environment, the Hurricanes found solutions for Minnesota's attacks. Matt Boldy scored twice, breaking his scoring drought, while Brock Faber notched his second goal of the season for the Wild. Minnesota's special teams showed strength but couldn’t hold off the Hurricanes’ comeback.
“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 and Game Dynamics
Filip Gustavsson, in his 12th start for Minnesota, had a shaky beginning as Carolina scored four times on their first eight shots. He then 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 commented, noting he didn’t do anything specific to regain his form later in the game.
Current Standings and Stats
- Minnesota’s record fell to 5-7-3 after the loss.
- The Wild are now 0-6-1 when trailing after the first period.
- Despite earning the game’s first power play, Minnesota failed to get a shot on goal during that opportunity.
Author’s summary: The Wild showed resilience with multiple leads and a tie, but the Hurricanes’ relentless comeback secured them a 4-3 victory in a tightly contested game.