Episode 88

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 1 – Colorado Avalanche 6

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

Marc-Andre Fleury turns back the clock with a 36-save gem, lifting the Wild to a 3-1 win over the Sharks despite missing key players.

📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Winner: Mats Zuccarello (empty-netter with 1:17 remaining)

• Turning Point: Marco Rossi’s first-period goal gave the Wild a lead they never relinquished.

• Standout Stat: Marc-Andre Fleury posted a .973 save percentage, his highest this season.

• Goaltending Anchor: Fleury made 36 saves, outdueling Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Fleury’s Vintage Performance: The 40-year-old was brilliant, shutting down wave after wave of Sharks attacks, earning his 570th career victory.

2️⃣ Top Line Steps Up: Rossi, Boldy, and Zuccarello combined for all three goals and six points, bouncing back after a tough game against Colorado.

3️⃣ Defense Holds On: Despite struggles clearing the zone, the Wild’s defense, led by rookie David Jiricek, held strong in key moments.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ M. Fleury (MIN • Goalie): 36 saves, .973 SV%

2. ⭐ M. Boldy (MIN • Left Wing): 1 goal, 1 assist

3. ⭐ M. Celebrini (SJS • Center): 1 assist, game-high 6 shots

📊 By The Numbers:

• Shots on Goal: Wild 22 – Sharks 37
• Power Play: Wild 0% (0/0) – Sharks 0% (0/2)
• Penalty Minutes: Wild 4 – Sharks 0
• Faceoffs: Wild 46% – Sharks 54%
• Hits: Wild 20 – Sharks 18
• Blocked Shots: Wild 17 – Sharks 14
• Giveaways: Wild 17 – Sharks 12
• Takeaways: Wild 10 – Sharks 4

📰 Around the Team:

• Kaprizov Update: Kirill Kaprizov missed his eighth straight game but continues to skate and progress.

• Injury Impact: Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin remain day-to-day, while Jared Spurgeon resumed off-ice workouts.

• Road Dominance: The Wild improved to 16-3-3 on the road, the best record in the NHL.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Fleury vs. Sharks: Fleury now boasts a .940 career save percentage against San Jose, his best against any NHL team.

• Rossi’s Clutch Play: Marco Rossi’s first-period goal was his 16th of the season, matching his career high.

• Boldy’s Game-Winner: Boldy’s goal marked his eighth game-winning tally, ranking second in the NHL.

🗓️ Next Up:
• Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights
• Date: January 12, 2025
• Time: 7:00 PM CST
• Where to Watch: FanDuel

📬 Final Whistle:

Marc-Andre Fleury’s brilliance and contributions from the top line propelled the Wild to another road win. As they head to Vegas, momentum is building for the short-handed team.

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