Episode 102 Postgame

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 1 – Colorado Avalanche 6

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

After a rough stretch at home, the Wild got back on track in Chicago, with Joel Eriksson Ek scoring and Matt Boldy racking up three assists in a much-needed 4-2 win.

📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Winner: Joel Eriksson Ek (Power-play goal, second period)

• Turning Point: The Wild dominated the first two periods, holding Chicago to just five total shots.

• Standout Stat: Minnesota outshot Chicago 28-20 and played lock-down defense in the first 40 minutes.

• Goaltending Anchor: Filip Gustavsson made 18 saves, standing strong despite a late push by the Blackhawks.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Boldy’s Playmaking Night – Matt Boldy assisted on three of the Wild’s four goals, continuing his strong offensive stretch.

2️⃣ Strong Start, Shaky Finish – The Wild controlled the first two periods but let the Blackhawks claw back in the third before closing it out.

3️⃣ Gustavsson Stands Tall – After some recent struggles, Gustavsson made timely saves to help Minnesota secure the win.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ J. Eriksson Ek (MIN • Center) – 1 goal

2. ⭐ S. Jones (CHI • Defenseman) – 1 goal

3. ⭐ M. Boldy (MIN • Left Wing) – 3 assists

📊 By The Numbers:

• Shots on Goal: Wild 28 – Blackhawks 20
• Faceoff %: Wild 42.1% – Blackhawks 57.9%
• Power Play: Wild 33.3% (1/3) – Blackhawks 33.3% (1/3)
• Penalty Minutes: Wild 10 – Blackhawks 10
• Hits: Wild 10 – Blackhawks 26
• Blocked Shots: Wild 16 – Blackhawks 12
• Giveaways: Wild 7 – Blackhawks 20
• Takeaways: Wild 6 – Blackhawks 5

📰 Around the Team:

• Guerin Sounds Off – Wild GM Bill Guerin was blunt about the team’s recent struggles, saying there’s “no excuse” for the lack of pushback in recent games.

• Eriksson Ek Keeps Rolling – With another power-play goal, he continues to be one of the Wild’s most consistent offensive contributors.

• Defensive Reset – The Wild’s blue line tightened up after a sloppy loss to Calgary, holding Chicago to just one shot in the first period.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Matt Boldy Heating Up: He now has 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in his past 11 games.

• Wild’s Road Dominance: Minnesota improves to an NHL-best 18-5-3 on the road.

• Faceoff Struggles: The Wild won just 42.1% of faceoffs, an area that continues to be a weak point.

🗓️ Next Up:
• Opponent: Toronto Maple Leafs
• Date: January 29, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM CST
• Where to Watch: FanDuel

📬 Final Whistle:

A road win was exactly what the Wild needed after a rough homestand. With strong performances from Eriksson Ek and Boldy, the team looks to build momentum heading into a tough matchup against the Maple Leafs. Stay locked in with Wild Hockey Insider for all the latest updates! Subscribe here!