BUFFALO, N.Y. — On Wednesday night, the Minnesota Wild secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, with Filip Gustavsson standing out by making an impressive 39 saves during the match.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen contributed significantly to Buffalo’s efforts by stopping 28 shots, but the team was unable to achieve its goal of winning four consecutive games for the third time this season.
This shutout marked Gustavsson’s second of the year, as the Wild continue to impress with an incredible record of 10-1-3 on the road, the best in the league.
The game was highlighted by Kirill Kaprizov’s 14th goal of the season, which came just 6:55 into the first period during a fast-paced 4-on-1 break. Kaprizov finished a slick play initiated by Joel Eriksson Ek, expertly finding the back of the net past Luukkonen.
A notable takeaway for the Sabres was the return of Tage Thompson, who had been sidelined for five games due to a lower-body injury. In his return, Thompson showed promise by registering six shots on goal.
For the Wild, the absence of defenseman Jonas Brodin was felt as he was scratched from the lineup shortly before the game due to an upper-body injury. Brodin has been a valuable asset with two goals and six assists across his 19 games this season.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Wild defenseman Brock Faber intercepted a centering pass from Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, leading to the critical 4-on-1 break that resulted in the only goal of the night.
In terms of personal achievements, Kaprizov’s goal allowed him to extend his streak of points in road games to 12. Over that span, he has accumulated nine goals and 16 assists.
Looking ahead, the Sabres will face off against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday afternoon, while the Wild are set to host the Chicago Blackhawks, kicking off a three-game homestand.
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