Episode 74

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 3 – Stars 2 (OT)

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

No Kaprizov? No problem. Brock Faber’s highlight-reel OT winner lifts the Wild to a gutsy comeback victory over the Stars.

📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Winner: Brock Faber (OT wraparound, 35 seconds in)

• Turning Point: Back-to-back goals by Jonas Brodin (10:36) and Marcus Foligno (11:33) in the third period.

• Standout Stat: Wild penalty kill went 3-for-3, including a crucial third-period stop.

• Goaltending Anchor: Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves, keeping the Wild within striking distance.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Faber’s Hero Moment: The rookie defenseman capped off a thrilling comeback with a slick wraparound goal in OT, showing poise beyond his years.

2️⃣ Third-Period Surge: Down 2-0 entering the third, Brodin and Foligno turned the tide with goals less than a minute apart.

3️⃣ Stellar Gustavsson: The Wild goalie was sharp all night, making clutch saves to keep Dallas at bay.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ B. Faber (MIN • Defenseman): 1 goal, OT game-winner

2. ⭐ F. Gustavsson (MIN • Goalie): 27 saves, .931 SV%

3. ⭐ W. Johnston (DAL • Center): 1 goal, 1 assist

📊 By The Numbers:

• Shots on Goal: Wild 18 – Stars 29
• Power Play: Wild 0% (0/1) – Stars 0% (0/3)
• Faceoffs: Wild 51.9% – Stars 48.1%
• Hits: Wild 28 – Stars 18
• Blocked Shots: Wild 19 – Stars 15
• Giveaways: Wild 11 – Stars 14
• Takeaways: Wild 5 – Stars 4

📰 Around the Team:

• Kaprizov Update: Kirill Kaprizov missed the game with a lower-body injury and remains day-to-day.

• Injury Impact: Joel Eriksson Ek, Jakub Lauko, and Jake Middleton continue their recovery.

• Travel Challenge: The Wild flew into Dallas the morning of the game, adding to the adversity they overcame.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Quick OT Finish: Faber’s OT goal was the third-fastest by a Wild defenseman in franchise history.

• Comeback Kings: First third-period, multigoal comeback road win since November 2021.

• Penalty Kill Bounce Back: The Wild PK went 3-for-3 against a usually dangerous Dallas power play.

🗓️ Next Up:
• Opponent: Ottawa Senators
• Date: December 29, 2024
• Time: 7:00 PM CST
• Where to Watch: FanDuel

📬 Final Whistle:

A gutsy comeback and thrilling OT finish—momentum is on the Wild’s side heading into their next matchup. Stay tuned for more updates in the Wild Hockey Insider!