The Minnesota Wild secured a hard-fought 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators, overcoming significant adversity with key players sidelined due to injuries. The game, played at Xcel Energy Center, was marked by a crucial power-play performance that ended a frustrating scoring drought for the Wild, who had not converted on their last 15 attempts. The win was bittersweet, however, as captain Jared Spurgeon suffered a severe injury after a collision with Nashville's rookie, Zachary L’Heureux, which left him unable to return to the ice.
Despite trailing 2-1 early in the second period, the Wild rallied thanks to a series of power-play goals. After L’Heureux was penalized for a slew-foot against Spurgeon, Minnesota capitalized on the man advantage. Joel Eriksson Ek assisted Mats Zuccarello for the equalizer, marking the first power-play goal for the team in over three games. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson played a pivotal role, not only making a season-high 43 saves but also contributing an assist on the goal.
Jonas Brodin and Declan Chisholm also scored during power plays, while Marco Rossi netted two goals, showcasing his growing importance to the team with 14 goals this season. The Wild's penalty kill was effective, limiting Nashville's chances, and the team managed to bounce back from previous mistakes, including turnovers that led to goals for the Predators. This victory marks the Wild's third win in their last four games as they prepare for an upcoming road trip.
