RALEIGH, N.C. — In a commanding performance, Filip Gustavsson recorded his third shutout of the season, making 20 saves as the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Carolina Hurricanes with a score of 4-0 on Saturday evening.
The Wild improved their record to 16-5-2 when they score first, thanks to Mats Zuccarello, who netted the game’s opening goal with a powerful slap shot against goalie Pyotr Kochetkov with just 6:57 remaining in the first period.
In a strong showing, Zuccarello also contributed an assist on Joel Eriksson Ek’s power play tip-in in the second period and capped off the scoring with an empty-net goal with 3:46 left on the clock. Matt Boldy joined the scoring party with a goal in the third period.
This victory marked the Wild’s third consecutive win, despite the absence of key players like Kirill Kaprizov, who has been sidelined for five games due to a lower-body injury, and captain Jared Spurgeon, who is out for at least two weeks with a right leg injury.
Despite these challenges, Minnesota has showcased their resilience, boasting a record of 25-11-4 and celebrating their fourth win in five games. With a total of 52 points, the team is enjoying one of the best starts in its history after 40 games.
On the other hand, the Hurricanes started the game slowly, managing to register only one shot during the first 12 minutes, which included a lengthy four-minute power play opportunity.
A pivotal moment of the game came when the Hurricanes appeared to score with 5:01 left in the second period. Jalen Chatfield’s shot deflected off Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin and into the net, but the goal was overturned following a challenge by Wild coach John Hynes, who argued that Carolina was offside.
A noteworthy statistic from the game is that Minnesota now holds an impressive record of 16-0-0 when they lead at the end of two periods, further underscoring their defensive strength.
Looking ahead, the Wild will return to their home ice to face off against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday evening, marking the seventh of 14 back-to-back sets they will navigate this season.
