Episode 76

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 1 – Ottawa Senators 3

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

Despite Freddy Gaudreau’s opening goal and Filip Gustavsson’s strong effort in net, the Wild couldn’t capitalize on their chances, falling 3-1 to Ottawa as power-play struggles and costly third-period penalties proved decisive.

📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Goal Scorer: Freddy Gaudreau (1st period, tip-in)

• Turning Point: Josh Norris’ power-play goal in the third period gave Ottawa a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

• Standout Stat: The Wild went 0-for-2 on the power play and hit the post/crossbar four times.

• Goaltending Anchor: Filip Gustavsson made 33 saves, keeping Minnesota in the game.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Power Play Woes: The Wild went 0-for-2 with the man advantage, extending their power play drought to 0-for-13 over the last five games.

2️⃣ Costly Penalties: Two third-period penalties shifted momentum, with Josh Norris capitalizing on a power-play one-timer.

3️⃣ Boldy-Zuccarello-Rossi Struggles: The top line was held scoreless, outplayed, and out-chanced, struggling to create sustained offensive pressure.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ L. Merilainen (OTT • Goalie): 30 saves, .968 SV%

2. ⭐ F. Gustavsson (MIN • Goalie): 33 saves, .944 SV%

3. ⭐ B. Tkachuk (OTT • Left Wing): 1 assist, physical presence

📊 By The Numbers:

• Shots on Goal: Wild 31 – Senators 37
• Power Play: Wild 0% (0/2) – Senators 50% (1/2)
• Faceoffs: Wild 50.8% – Senators 49.2%
• Hits: Wild 26 – Senators 18
• Blocked Shots: Wild 13 – Senators 13
• Giveaways: Wild 16 – Senators 9
• Takeaways: Wild 6 – Senators 5

📰 Around the Team:

• Kaprizov Update: Kirill Kaprizov missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury. He remains day-to-day.

• Eriksson Ek Returns: Joel Eriksson Ek played his first game after missing 11 with a lower-body injury.

• Power Play Woes: The Wild’s power play remains ice-cold, with zero goals in the last five games.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Hartman’s Drought: Ryan Hartman now has 49 shots without a goal since Nov. 19 — the most in the NHL during that span.

• Defensive Effort: The Wild’s defense contributed to their lone goal, with Declan Chisholm picking up an assist.

• Tough Night for Top Line: The Boldy-Zuccarello-Rossi line was outshot, outplayed, and couldn’t generate offense.

🗓️ Next Up:
• Opponent: Nashville Predators
• Date: December 31, 2024
• Time: 7:00 PM CST
• Where to Watch: FanDuel

📬 Final Whistle:

The Wild couldn’t shake off their sluggish start, and missed opportunities on special teams proved costly. With Kirill Kaprizov still sidelined, they’ll need a sharp effort against Nashville to close out the calendar year strong. Stay tuned for more updates in the Wild Hockey Insider! 🏒📬