Episode 80

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 4 – Washington Capitals 3 (SO)

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

Marc-André Fleury stares down Ovechkin in a shootout showdown, while Marco Rossi’s late heroics force OT in a gritty Wild win over the Capitals.

📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Winner: Matt Boldy (Shootout Winner)

• Turning Point: Marco Rossi ties the game with under 10 minutes remaining, his third clutch goal in late-game situations this season.

• Standout Stat: Wild’s 14th road win of the season, leading the NHL.

• Goaltending Anchor: Marc-André Fleury stops 28 shots and seals the shootout win with a vintage glove save on Alex Ovechkin.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Fleury vs. Ovechkin – The Final Chapter?

Fleury denies Ovechkin in a critical shootout moment, adding another iconic moment to their long rivalry.

2️⃣ Rossi’s Clutch Gene:

Marco Rossi ties the game late in the third, marking his third game-tying goal in the final 10 minutes this season.

3️⃣ Shorthanded Spark:

Yakov Trenin scores a highlight-reel shorthanded goal, stripping Capitals’ goalie Charlie Lindgren behind the net and converting with poise.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ T. Wilson (WSH • Right Wing): 1 goal, physical presence throughout.

2. ⭐ A. Ovechkin (WSH • Left Wing): 1 goal, continues pursuit of Gretzky’s record.

3. ⭐ R. Hartman (MIN • Right Wing): 1 goal, 1 assist, snapped a lengthy scoring drought.

📊 By The Numbers:

• Penalty Minutes: Wild 16 – Predators 25
• Shots on Goal: Wild 33 – Capitals 31
• Power Play: Wild 0% (0/2) – Capitals 33.3% (1/3)|
• Faceoffs: Wild 36.4% – Capitals 63.6%
• Hits: Wild 10 – Capitals 16
• Penalty Minutes: Wild 6 – Capitals 4
• Blocked Shots: Wild 14 – Capitals 16
• Giveaways: Wild 18 – Capitals 13
• Takeaways: Wild 10 – Capitals 1

📰 Around the Team:

• Kaprizov Update: Kirill Kaprizov remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury and has yet to resume skating.

• Spurgeon Timeline: Captain Jared Spurgeon is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a right leg injury.

• Defensive Shuffle: Carson Lambos was recalled but did not debut. Travis Dermott stepped in and played key minutes.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Shootout Maestro: Marc-André Fleury secured his NHL-record 66th shootout win.

• Clutch Rossi: Rossi leads the NHL with three tying goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation this season.

• Road Warriors: The Wild improved to a league-leading 14-3-3 on the road this season.

🗓️ Next Up:
• Opponent: Carolina Hurricanes
• Date: January 4, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM CST
• Where to Watch: FanDuel

📬 Final Whistle:

Fleury and Rossi steal the spotlight in a thrilling showdown against Washington. The Wild continue to find ways to win despite key injuries. Stay tuned for more action in the Wild Hockey Insider! 🏒📣