
TORONTO — In an exciting matchup on Wednesday night, the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Toronto Maple Leafs with a score of 3-1. The game started strong for the Wild as both Jared Spurgeon and Marat Khusnutdinov found the back of the net in the first period. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson was impressive, making 31 saves throughout the contest to secure the victory for Minnesota.
Marcus Foligno added an insurance goal with an empty-net tally in the final minute, bringing the Wild to a two-game winning streak and improving their record to 3-5-0 over their last eight outings. Despite the loss, William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs, who are now on a three-game regulation losing streak. Goaltender Joseph Woll registered 22 saves during the game.
Notably, the Wild played without their top scorer, Kirill Kaprizov, who is sidelined due to a lower-body injury. He is scheduled for surgery and is anticipated to be out for at least four weeks. The first goal came from Khusnutdinov at 7:07 of the first period. Spurgeon extended the lead to 2-0 with 4:25 remaining in the opening frame.
As the game progressed, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews nearly scored by hitting the post later in the first. In the second period, Nylander had a breakaway chance but could only find Gustavsson’s crossbar. However, Nylander did manage to score at 8:06 of the third period, marking his 29th goal of the season and subtly reducing the deficit for Toronto. Just when it seemed the Maple Leafs might make a comeback with Woll pulled for an extra attacker, Foligno sealed the game with a goal into the empty net.
**Key Highlights:**
The Wild’s veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is set to make one last appearance in his home province of Quebec as Minnesota prepares to face the Montreal Canadiens the following night. The 40-year-old is enjoying his final NHL season with a record of 10-5-1, boasting a .904 save percentage alongside a 2.61 goals-against average. On the Maple Leafs side, Max Pacioretty returned after missing three games due to an upper-body injury.
**Significant Moments:**
Spurgeon’s goal on a power play, tipped in by Matthews, marked his sixth goal of the season and was pivotal for the Wild.
**Important Statistics:**
Kaprizov, who missed this game due to his injury, has accumulated 52 points (23 goals and 29 assists) in the 2024-25 season before this matchup. This impressive statistic includes an average of 1.41 points per game, placing him fifth in the NHL standings.
**Looking Ahead:**
The Minnesota Wild are set to take on the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, while the Toronto Maple Leafs will embark on a four-game road trip, starting with a visit to Edmonton on Saturday.