Alex Bader
The Minnesota Wild dropped their second game in a row for the second time this season when they fell to the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 6-4. The loss drops their record to 19-8-1. They sit in first place in the Central Division with a four-point barrier and sit in first place in the Western Conference.
The Minnesota Wild battled hard the whole game but couldn't find the magic. It wasn't their best game, and it came down to Vegas having more energy than the Wild.
The Wild split the road trip and come home for a three-game home-stand this week.
BADER'S TAKE
Hopefully, Brodin will be back soon.
It was very clear tonight just how much Brodin means to the Wild. He is great at getting the puck out of the zone with his skating ability and his awareness allows him to constantly recover to be in the right defensive spot.
He is a huge payer for this team that often gets overshadowed, but his absence tonight was noticed.
Tonight was full of turnovers and poor decisions from the Wild.
They couldn't capitalize on their power-play including a lengthy 5-on-3, they went 1 for 6.
Kaprizov couldn't keep the puck on his stick; he was losing the puck and made terrible blind passes over and over again.
Talbot was sensational. He kept the Wild in the game all night long and was the reason this game wasn't over after the first period. Unfortunately, his six-game winning streak came to an end.
The Wild had four one-goal deficits in the game, they even had a one-goal lead for a time, but couldn't find the way - or luck - to win this one.
The Wild need to regroup and find a way to win on home ice when they face the Hurricanes on Tuesday. In 96 games with Dean Evason as head coach, the Wild have never lost three in a row.
It will not be easy. The Hurricanes are a good team. They sit fourth in the league and have been led by Aho who leads the team in points (32), assists(17), and goals(15).
Game Recap:
The Wild needed to get off to a strong start after a poor game the night prior.
However, the Knights got on the board first with a goal from Whitecloud.
The Wild couldn't catch passes, turned the pucks over, soft play on the boards, and they made poor decisions with the puck.
Goligoski tied the game at 1-1 for the Wild on a delayed power-play.
Dumba took a delay of game penalty - he also had one last night. The Knights made the Wild pay with a power-play goal from Dadonov, 2-1 Knights.
The Wild got a power-play with 38.6 seconds to play in the first period.
Zuccarello got as close to a buzzer-beater goal as one can get in hockey, he scored with 0.7 seconds left in the period to tie the game at 2-2.
The Wild got out of the first period lucky to be tied.
The Wild knew they had to be better.
Bjugstad, scored nine seconds into the second period, 3-2 Wild. It was the fastest goal to start a period on the road in Wild history.
Shortly after, Whitecloud got his second goal of the night to tie the game at 3-3 with 14:14 to play in the second period. He got a wide-open pass in the slot and sniped it over Talbot's blocker.
After a blind pass from Kaprizov was intercepted, Stephenson found Pacioretty in behind the Wild defensemen who sniped it past Talbot, 4-3 Vegas.
Hartman and Hague got tangled behind the play. After the Vegas goal, Hague tried to pick a fight and the Wild got a power-play.
With 5:25 left to play in the second period, the Wild got a 1:18 5-on-3 man-advantage opportunity. Pietrangelo slashed Eriksson Ek right in between the legs.
The Wild could not capitalize.
Eriksson Ek drew another power-play, he leads the league in penalties drawn. The Wild had a great chance to tie the game going into the third period.
The Wild couldn't capitalize on their third power-play in a row.
They went into the third period down by one, 4-3 Knights.
Foligno got his 13th goal of the season on a gimme from Lehner, 4-4.
Benn took a bad penalty that put the Knights on the power-play. Stone capitalized on the opportunity to put the Knights back in the lead, 5-4 Vegas.
Goligoski was called for a tripping penalty on what was a blatant legal hip check, luckily the Wild killed the power-play.
The Wild continued to press in hopes of finding the tying goal.
The Wild pulled the goalie with 2:17 left to play in the game.
Fiala hit the post and it bounced out. Pietrangelo hit the post and it bounced in for the empty-net goal, 6-4 Vegas.
The Wild dropped their second game in a row.
The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Wild, they face the Hurricanes at home on Tuesday. The Canes are just as hot as the Wild and have had an incredibly strong season so far.
The Wild have yet to lose three games in a row under Dean Evason.
What's Next:
Minnesota Wild (19-8-1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (19-6-1)
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Puck drop at 7:00 p. m. central time
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