Minnesota Wild vs. New Jersey Devils Recap (L – SO)

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 2 – Devils 3 (SO)

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

Boldy’s 100th career goal forced OT, but the Devils edged out the Wild in a shootout thriller in Newark.

📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Winner: Jesper Bratt (shootout dagger)

• Turning Point: Boldy’s goal with 2:08 left in regulation forced OT, but the Wild came up empty in the shootout.

• Standout Stat: Wild blocked 18 shots and won the faceoff battle, but still fell short.

• Goaltending Anchor: Filip Gustavsson stood tall with 26 saves and nearly stole the extra point in OT.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Boldy Hits 100: Boldy’s game-tying goal was his 25th of the season and 100th in the NHL.

2️⃣ Hinostroza Hustle: Vinnie tied it earlier in the third with a slick deflection for his 5th of the year.

3️⃣ Gus Keeps It Close: Gustavsson made several clutch saves, including a puck-on-back review and OT stops, but couldn’t win it solo.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ J. Markstrom (NJD • Goalie): 27 saves, perfect in shootout

2. ⭐ M. Boldy (MIN • Left Wing): 1 goal, 100th career tally

3. ⭐ N. Hischier (NJD • Center): 1 goal, continued offensive tear

📊 By The Numbers:

• Shots on Goal: Wild 29 – Devils 28
• Power Play: Wild 0% (0/2) – Devils 0% (0/2)
• Penalty Minutes: Wild 4 – Devils 4
• Faceoffs: Wild 52.8% – Devils 47.2%
• Hits: Wild 25 – Devils 23
• Blocked Shots: Wild 18 – Devils 13
• Giveaways: Wild 13 – Devils 23
• Takeaways: Wild 5 – Devils 3

📰 Around the Team:

• Close But No Cigar: Wild nearly stole the second point but are now 2-7-0 in their past nine road games.

• Gritty Effort: Hynes praised the playoff-like intensity and the team’s improved response from Saturday’s letdown.

• Kaprizov Watch: Kirill and Eriksson Ek are on the road trip, but neither is expected to play this week.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Milestone Moment: Boldy’s 100th NHL goal came on a backhand while falling down late in the third.

• Staying in the Race: Wild cling to a one-point lead over the Blues for the West’s top wild-card spot.

• Elite Netminding: Gustavsson continues to deliver big-time saves with the playoffs in sight.

🔍 What This Win Means:

⏳ Grit Still Matters – The Wild battled back twice but couldn’t finish in the skills comp.

🚨 Playoff Race Tightens – Every point matters. Wild now hold just a 1-point cushion.

🧭 Mental Reset Needed – The team has dropped 4 of the last 5. Time to recalibrate on the road.

🔥 Next Up:
• Opponent: @ New York Rangers
• Date: April 2, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM CST
• Where to Watch: TNT, truTV, Max 📺 

📬 Final Whistle:

One point gained, one slipped away. The Wild fought hard, and Boldy delivered a milestone, but now it’s time to regroup for Broadway. Stick with Wild Hockey Insider as the playoff push hits full throttle!

📢 Stay tuned to Wild Hockey Insider for pre-game insights and analysis!