SEATTLE — In an intense matchup on Tuesday night, the Minnesota Wild narrowly edged out the Seattle Kraken with a 4-3 victory. The game’s highlight occurred at 8:22 into the second period when Mats Zuccarello’s snap shot, set up by assists from Frederick Gaudreau and Marcus Johansson, secured the lead for the Wild.
Joining Zuccarello in contributing to the scoreboard, both Gaudreau and Jared Spurgeon recorded a goal and an assist each for the Wild. A solid performance in the net saw Filip Gustavsson make 33 impressive saves throughout the match, with Vinnie Hinostroza adding to Minnesota’s tally with a power-play goal.
The Seattle Kraken, determined not to be left behind, responded strongly with late second-period goals from Brandon Montour and Shane Wright during a power play, closing the gap to 4-3. Adam Larsson also found the net for Seattle, while goaltender Joey Daccord stopped 16 shots on goal.
Breaking down the night’s key moments, Filip Gustavsson was crucial in thwarting a potential comeback by Seattle, particularly when he blocked Eeli Tolvanen’s penalty shot just 4:21 into the second period. Notably, this marks the fourth time in his career that Gustavsson has successfully defended against a penalty shot.
Minnesota’s recent form stands at 5-5-0 over the last ten matches, holding onto fourth place in the competitive Western Conference. The Wild welcomed back key player Ryan Hartman, fresh off an eight-game suspension, who contributed by assisting on Spurgeon’s early goal in the first period.
Meanwhile, the Kraken’s recent record of 4-5-1 reveals their ongoing struggles, despite Montour’s late-period goal infusing temporary momentum late in the second period. Unfortunately for Seattle, they were unable to capitalize further as the game progressed.
In terms of personal achievements, Zuccarello’s performance marked his 79th occasion recording multiple points in a game for the Wild, tying him with Zach Parise for the fourth-highest in the team’s history.
Looking ahead, the Wild will be traveling to face the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night, while the Kraken will be on the road to Nashville to challenge the Predators on Thursday evening.
