In an electrifying match in St. Paul, the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Nashville Predators with a score of 5-3, marking their third victory in four games. Marco Rossi led the charge with an impressive performance, netting two goals and providing an assist, while Mats Zuccarello, Jonas Brodin, and Declan Chisholm also contributed to the scoreboard. The Wild showcased their power-play prowess, scoring three goals from six opportunities, a significant turnaround after struggling with the man advantage in previous games.
Filip Gustavsson was a standout in goal, making a season-high 43 saves and assisting on a goal. The Predators, despite the loss, demonstrated offensive pressure with a season-high 46 shots on goal, with Colton Sissons, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ryan O’Reilly finding the back of the net. However, Nashville's struggles continued on the road, having lost seven of their last eight games away from home.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Wild captain Jared Spurgeon was injured after being slew-footed by Zachary L’Heureux, leading to a five-minute major penalty for L’Heureux. This injury adds to Minnesota's woes as they are already missing top scorer Kirill Kaprizov. Despite these challenges, Minnesota's ability to score first has been a key factor in their success this season, tying for second-most wins in the NHL when leading at the outset.
