Alex Bader
St. Paul, MINN -- For the third straight game, the Minnesota Wild allowed the first goal of the game, but fear not, Minnesota overcame their deficits to grab the 2 points in their home opener against the Winnipeg Jets.
After rallying from 1 one-goal deficits in LA and Anaheim, the Wild rally from 3 one-goal deficits and 1 2-goal deficit to force overtime, and ultimately win off of Eriksson Ek's hat trick performance.
Eriksson Ek got his first career hat-trick as he scored the tying goal and the game-winner. Already, he has proved himself worth that new, shiny, long-term contract.
The end of the game was intense and had many turns - Wild being down 6-4 and then after a successful offside challenge being down 5-4 to tying it up at 5-5 and then winning it in OT.
Fans were through the roof after the OT goal.
No hats hit the ice for Eriksson's first career hat-trick. However, the events all happened very fast and many did not even realize it was his third.
Even his teammates on the bench weren't really aware of what had happened.
"It happened so fast," said Marcus Foligno who had the goal to make it 5-4. "Didn't know he even had a hat-trick so we celebrated in the room pretty good with him."
If anyone had doubt about Marcus Foligno wearing the A this year for the Wild, he has silenced all and any remaining doubters.
After the game was tied at 2 apiece, Foligno thought the Wild and fans needed a little more energy. He and Dillon dropped the gloves at the end of the first period, in what was an energetic fight, to say the least.
Foligno came out swinging with a superman punch and at this moment a huge roar from the stadium erupted in approval. There may not have been a clear winner, but the players and fans were energetic afterward.
No surprise to Wild fans as Foligno has been known for his high energy and strong emotions since coming to the Wild.
Zuccarello is starting this season right where he ended. He has 2 goals and 3 assists in the first 3 games. His line partner Kaprizov has 5 assists and Ek has 3 goals.
It is safe to say that the new-look first line is looking dangerous. If the Wild are going to make a run this season they will need that top line to continue to be dangerous, the hot start has given fans optimistic feelings that they can be a top line in the league.
After almost 22 months, fans and players experienced a game with a full stadium, and nothing compares.
"It was electric today from the start," said Mats Zuccarello, who scored 2 goals and 2 helpers and leads the team in points with 5, alongside Kaprizov. "A lot of goals, it was a great game for the fans and for us, probably not for the coaches. But I think that's the way a hockey game should be, especially with the fans back. It was unbelievable tonight."
The fans were truly the 7th man on the ice and made their energy felt.
If it isn't broke, why fix it?
The Wild have shown tremendous character and determination in their first 3 games of the season by coming from behind to win in all 3 contests. As good as a sign as it is that we can come back, it is troubling as well.
You cannot continually fall behind and be able to come back and win for all 82 games in the season, once we hit game 40, fatigue sets in and the energy and hype that comes with the start of the season is gone.
Wild have got to start coming out of the gates better if they want to push for a deep run in the playoffs.
BADER'S TAKE
Get Kaprizov The Puck.
I am watching the last couple minutes of the game and I am yelling,
"Get Kirill the puck! Good things will happen when Kaprizov touches the puck!"
Just as I was saying that the Wild were up a man and had the goalie pulled, it was now or never for the Wild. Getting the puck to Kaprizov was needed if we wanted to have a chance.
The next thing you see is Kaprizov going behind the net to fight for the puck, he gets his stick on the puck and sends it to the middle of the slot, it bounces off of Zuccarello and somehow Ek swats the puck down and into the net.
Get Kaprizov the puck and good things will happen. That was especially true tonight, The Thrill picked up 3 helpers.
Of course, tonight was highlighted by Ek's hatty and by Foligno and Zuccarello's exceptional play tonight. But I would argue these players wouldn't have had the same successful nights if Kaprizov was not in the lineup.
The Wild need to continue to find Kaprizov in moments like these where he will be the difference between 2 points and none.
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