Episode 120

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 1 – Utah Hockey Club 6

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

The Wild couldn’t find an answer for Clayton Keller and Utah’s power play, leading to a 6-1 rout in Salt Lake City.

📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Winner: Clayton Keller (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points)

• Turning Point: Two Utah power-play goals in the first period, including a 5-on-3 strike late.

• Standout Stat: Utah’s power play went 2-for-4, while the Wild went 0-for-2.

• Goaltending Anchor: Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves but faced relentless pressure from Utah’s attack.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Keller’s Career Night: The Utah captain notched a career-high five points (1G, 4A), completely dismantling the Wild’s defense.

2️⃣ Special Teams Disaster: The Wild gave up two power-play goals in the first period, setting the tone for a rough night.

3️⃣ Offense Stalls: Minnesota managed just 16 shots on goal, tying their season-low and struggling to generate sustained pressure.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ C. Keller (UTA • RW): 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points

2. ⭐ N. Schmaltz (UTA • C): 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points

3. ⭐ L. Cooley (UTA • C): 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points

📊 By The Numbers:

• Shots on Goal: Wild 16 – Utah 31
• Faceoffs: Wild 50.9% – Utah 49.1%
• Power Play: Wild 0% (0/2) – Utah 50% (2/4)
• Penalty Minutes: Wild 13 – Utah 9
• Hits: Wild 31 – Utah 21
• Blocked Shots: Wild 21 – Utah 11
• Giveaways: Wild 14 – Utah 10
• Takeaways: Wild 4 – Utah 6

📰 Around the Team:

• Kaprizov Update: Kirill Kaprizov remains out as he recovers from surgery, with no set return date.

• Eriksson Ek’s Absence Felt: The Wild struggled without their top center, losing key defensive matchups.

• Travel Fatigue? The Wild faced a quick turnaround heading to Utah, which may have contributed to a lackluster performance.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Keller Joins Elite Company: His 5-point night ties him for the 8th most assists in an inaugural franchise season.

• Wild’s Power Play Woes: 0-for-2 on the night, continuing their season-long struggles with the man advantage.

• Fleury’s Historic Start: Ties Roberto Luongo for second-most career NHL starts (1,014).

🗓️ Next Up:
• Opponent: Colorado Avalanche
• Date: February 28, 2025
• Time: 8:00 PM CST
• Where to Watch: FanDuel

📬 Final Whistle:

A tough night in Utah as the Wild were outplayed in every facet of the game. With Colorado up next, Minnesota must regroup quickly to avoid a three-game skid. Stay locked in for more updates with Wild Hockey Insider!