Wild Dominate Panthers with Power-Play Goals
The Minnesota Wild defeat the Florida Panthers with a strong power-play performance, despite a couple of injuries and an impressive goal streak ending.
Wild's Power-Play Success
The Minnesota Wild showcased their power-play prowess in a 6-4 victory against the Florida Panthers. The Wild scored an impressive five goals with the man-advantage, bolstering their performance after a recent slump. Kirill Kaprizov led the team with two goals and an assist, while Brock Faber contributed a goal and two assists. Ryan Hartman also scored twice for the Wild, helping them secure the win.
Minnesota's power-play success was a welcome improvement after losing five out of six games prior to this match. The team converted on five out of six power-play opportunities, displaying their offensive capabilities. Head Coach John Hynes praised the team's competitive level and highlighted their resiliency in facing adversity throughout the game. The Wild's intense play and focus were key factors in their victory.
Injury Update and Streak End
The game saw a couple of notable developments. Marc-Andre Fleury, the starting goaltender for the Panthers, left the game in the second period due to an upper-body injury. The extent of his injury is unknown, but Fleury reportedly felt well after the collision that led to his departure. Filip Gustavsson replaced Fleury and made 21 saves in relief.
In addition to the injury, Sam Reinhart's impressive goal streak came to an end. Reinhart had scored a goal in each of the previous eight games but was unable to find the back of the net in this matchup. However, Aaron Ekblad stood out for the Panthers with a goal and three assists, contributing to the team's offensive efforts.
Late Surge and Final Outcome
The Panthers made a late surge in the game, attempting to mount a comeback. Eetu Luostarinen and Gustav Forsling scored to bring the Panthers within one goal of the Wild. However, the Wild's Ryan Hartman sealed the game with an empty-net goal in the final seconds, securing a 6-4 victory for Minnesota.
Florida's Head Coach Paul Maurice highlighted the team's shortcomings in face-offs and clears, which contributed to their defeat. The Panthers have recently struggled, losing four consecutive games after a nine-game winning streak. Despite the loss, Ekblad and Forsling performed well, each finishing the game with a plus-4 rating.
