Alex Bader
The Minnesota Wild bounced back from Sunday's loss to Nashville and beat the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 3-2 during Vancouver's home opener. The Wild improved to 5-1 ( 3-0 on the road ) on the season. Cam Talbot secured his first-ever 5-0 start in his career.
The Minnesota Wild started hot for the first time this season, getting the first goal for the first time this year. They were forechecking hard and getting pucks to the net.
Eriksson Ek had a beautiful saucer pass to a screaming Zuccarello behind the Vancouver defense and scored a breakaway goal. Kulikov had the second helper.
Ek's asssit was his 100th point in the NHL.
According to Wild reporter, Michael Russo, seven of Zuccarello's 11 goals last year were the first of the game.
The Wild continued to forecheck and play hard. They got rewarded with their second power play of the first period. Garland interfered with Kaprizov to earn two minutes in the box.
Minnesota - who have struggled on the power play all six games so far - were unable to get anything going with their second attempt.
Talbot was excellent during the first period, stopping all seven shots including a diving blocker save.
With under 3 minutes left in the first period, Dumba was sent to the penalty box for tripping.
The Wild killed the two-minute penalty and went to the first intermission with a 1-0 lead over the Canucks.
The strong forechecking play from Minnesota continued in the early going of the second period.
Jonas Brodin capitalized off of a Vancouver turnover to make it 2-0, in favor of Minnesota. He followed up on his first shot to get his first of the season on the rebound.
Minnesota continued the pressure.
At the 12 minute mark of the second period, Fiala generated a great opportunity for Gaudreau in the slot, but Demko made a fantastic glove save. It kept the deficit at only two for Vancouver.
Big saves can provide big goals. In this case, that was true for Vancouver.
Shortly after the Demko save, Bjugstad went to the penalty box.
The Wild penalty kill was strong. However, Minnesota couldn't get the puck out of the zone and Vancouver made the tired Wild skaters pay. Chiasson scored a tap-in power-play goal while sitting in front of the net, Minnesota 2-1.
Foligno was all over the place, stuck without his stick because Goligoski who broke his own had Foligno's, but he was doing everything to put his body in front of the puck. It just wasn't enough.
Minnesota's penalty kill struggles continue as they fell to 17 for 25 on the season (68%).
Right off of the ensuing face-off, Talbot had to make a point-blank save to keep the Wild in the lead by one.
Vancouver had the home crowd momentum.
Demko made a great save on Fiala. Right after that, Pitlick making his Wild debut, took a hooking penalty with six minutes left in the second.
"There's nothing wrong with our penalty kill except that we're taking too many," Coach Dean Evason said per Michael Russo. "Analytics guru Mat Sells told us per minute were taking the most penalties in the NHL. It can't happen. Our sticks have got to get off people, simple as that."
Minnesota killed the penalty, and Pitlick got a breakaway out of the penalty box and made a great move on Demko but he hit the post.
The second period was even between both teams. It was fast-paced as both teams had great chances, but the goalies stood tall.
Minnesota went into the second intermission the same way it did the first, with a one-goal lead, 2-1.
Big saves lead to big goals. This time, Talbot made a blocker save and the Wild went down to score and double the lead.
16 minutes into the third period Dumba scored off a beautiful pass from Pitlick. Pitlick got his first point with the Wild and Dumba got his first goal of the season. The rookie Duhaime picked up his second point with the second helper.
"It was a pretty saucy pass (by Pitlick)," said Dumba on his game-winning goal. "It was easy to cash."
Minnesota had the 3-1 lead, and looked comfortably on their way to a win. The Wild continued the pressure for most of the period.
Late in the game, Vancouver fans felt the team needed some energy and they started the wave.
Well, the players felt it. With just over four minutes left in the third period, Bo Horvat scored and got them within one, Minnesota 3-2. Fiala glided on the forecheck leaving an open break for Vancouver.
The fourth line - which was great all night - got an amazing opportunity to score with three minutes left, but Demko stood tall to keep Vancouver within one.
Evason went back to Sturm, Bjugstad, and Geadreau with a minute left to make sure the Wild got the win in regulation. No surprise as this was the best line all evening.
Minnesota hung on by the late push from Vancouver and won by a score of 3-2.
Talbot finished with 22 saves and a .917% save percentage. Kaprizov and Brodin finished with 4 shots on goal each, Kirill was kept off the score sheet.
Bo Horvat finished with five shots on goal and scored once for Vancouver. Thatcher Demko finished with 27 saves and a .900% save percentage for Vancouver.
BADER'S TAKE
Talbot looked great.
Cam Talbot made several grade-A saves in key moments of the game. He made a great diving save early in the first to keep it tied at zero. He would make several saves to keep the Wild lead intact.
He is a steady goalie and has been playing on top of his game to start this year. This game was his best so far on the season.
Kaprizov's struggles continue. I am not worried and will not start sounding the alarm bells just yet.
However, this was his third game in a row where he just looked sluggish and not his usual 'Dolla Dolla Bill Kirill' that fans witnessed last year.
I think they need to try him with a line not with EK. It just seems like he doesn't know what to do and it has messed with his playing. Maybe go back to the line that had so much success last season to get him going.
The longer the time that goes by where he doesn't score a goal, I fear it will just get worse and become a mental battle at that point.
I hope he can find the back of the net soon and let's hope he starts moving his feet because tonight was not his best.
Sturm looked great. I loved his energy, he was all over the ice creating plays and disrupting plays.
Minnesota will get their first look at the Kraken on Thursday. If history tells us anything, it's that the Wild are pretty good against expansion teams. Just look at Vegas, Wild has an all-time record of 11-2-3.
What's Next:
Minnesota Wild (5-1 10 points) at Seattle Kraken (2-4-1 5 points) puck drop at 9 p.m. central.
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