ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a tightly contested game, Frederick Gaudreau was the only player to find the back of the net, securing a 1-0 victory for the Minnesota Wild over the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Filip Gustavsson was instrumental in this win, stopping all 28 of Boston’s attempts on goal, marking his fourth shutout of the season and the first since a January matchup against Carolina. The victory ended the Wild’s three-game losing streak.
The Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman was also formidable in goal, making 21 saves, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Boston’s sixth loss in their last seven outings. Gaudreau’s pivotal goal came early in the second period. At 5:01, he skillfully redirected a shot fired by Marcus Johansson from the high slot, slipping it past Swayman to put Minnesota ahead.
Boston was missing a key player, captain and second-leading scorer Brad Marchand, who sustained an upper-body injury in their previous game against Pittsburgh. While the team has not provided a clear timeline for his return, his absence is keenly felt as the Bruins continue their push for a playoff spot.
Despite their win, Minnesota is also grappling with injuries, particularly the loss of star player Kirill Kaprizov. However, their defense and special teams proved vital, with the penalty kill unit successfully fending off both of Boston’s power-play opportunities, limiting the Bruins’ scoring chances.
A crucial moment came towards the game’s end when Boston pulled Swayman from the net with 1:44 left on the clock. Nevertheless, the Wild maintained their composure, preventing the Bruins from equalizing and protecting their slim lead.
Notably, Boston’s David Pastrnak had his impressive 17-game point streak snapped as a result of the shutout.
Looking ahead, both teams will play again on Tuesday. The Bruins will host the Nashville Predators, while the Minnesota Wild will be on the road facing the Seattle Kraken.
