Tag: Minnesota Wild

IHM NEWS: Kaprizov leads Wild past Islanders 5-2; Zuccarello logs assist in season debut

Date: November 8, 2025 | Author: IHM News

Kaprizov has goal, assist as Wild cruise past Islanders 5-2

Zuccarello picks up assist in season debut; Minnesota rolls four lines on second night of back-to-back

ELMONT, N.Y. – Kirill Kaprizov recorded a goal and an assist and the Minnesota Wild beat the New York Islanders 5-2 at UBS Arena on Friday night. Mats Zuccarello, playing his first game of the season after missing 15 with a lower-body injury, notched an assist, while Marco Rossi and Brock Faber also scored. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt made 25 saves as Minnesota improved to 6-7-3, winning for the third time in four outings one night after a 4-3 loss at Carolina.

“Going in on a back-to-back, we wanted to keep the energy up and roll all four lines,” coach John Hynes said. “Zuccarello around 16-plus minutes is a manageable load for him, and we could do that because the group played the way it needed to. All four lines, all six defensemen, and Wallstedt was good in net.”

Zuccarello’s return drew immediate praise from Kaprizov. “He’s smart and reads the game so well,” Kaprizov said. “We tried to help him today. It’s easy to play with him and hard to play against him.”

For New York (6-6-2), Emil Heineman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored, and David Rittich stopped 21 shots in a second straight loss after a 2-0-1 stretch. “We had a good start, but after they scored the first one they took momentum,” coach Patrick Roy said. “They won more battles and took advantage of our turnovers.”

How it happened

1st period – Minnesota scored on its first shot when Vinnie Hinostroza tapped in Jonas Brodin’s feed to the far post at 7:24 for 1-0. Danila Yurov doubled the lead at 12:32, finishing Yakov Trenin’s feed into the low slot through traffic for 2-0.

2nd period – The Islanders cut it to 2-1 at 4:38 when Mathew Barzal worked the puck below the goal line to Bo Horvat, who found Heineman alone in the low slot for a tap-in. Minnesota answered 1:18 later: Brock Faber intercepted a Matthew Schaefer clearing attempt and fired from the slot; the puck deflected off Rittich’s glove for 3-1. At 9:05, Marco Rossi made it 4-1 on a breakaway sprung by a Kaprizov stretch pass from inside the Wild zone.

New York drew back within two at 18:51 when captain Anders Lee chipped the puck to open ice and Pageau won the race, cut to the slot and beat a sprawling Wallstedt glove side on a breakaway for 4-2.

3rd period – Kaprizov finished the scoring at 8:33, burying a one-timer from the right circle after a between-the-legs drop off the rush to Zuccarello and a quick return pass for 5-2.

What they said

“It stinks to be on for a goal, but you’ve got to bounce back,” Faber said of the Heineman tally. “Long year, long game – move on to the next. I thought we all responded the right way.”

Islanders captain Anders Lee: “We were off. When we struggle to break pucks out and turn it over, it’s a long night. We made it hard on ourselves.”

By the numbers

Shots: NYI 27, MIN 26
Goaltending: Wallstedt 25 saves; Rittich 21 saves
Streaks: Wild have won 3 of 4; Islanders drop two straight (2-0-1 prior)

Coach Mark comment
Minnesota’s neutral-zone spacing was clean on the back-to-back, and their stretch game through Kaprizov punished New York’s gaps. Wallstedt was composed on first shots; the Wild won most second-puck races. Zuccarello’s return adds poise to Minnesota’s east-west game – it showed on the 5-2 dagger.

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Wild Beat Predators in OT After Dramatic Stamkos Equalizer

Minnesota beats Nashville 3-2 in OT after Stamkos equalizer with 0.3 seconds left | IceHockeyMan

By IHM Team | IHM News | November 5, 2025

Wild top Predators in OT after last-second equalizer by Stamkos

Johansson wins it at 3:38 of overtime as review confirms goalie-caused net displacement

ST. PAUL, Minn. Minnesota absorbed a gut punch and still closed the deal. After Steven Stamkos hammered a one-timer with 0.3 seconds on the clock to force overtime, the Wild regrouped and defeated the Predators 3-2 at Grand Casino Arena. The winner belonged to Marcus Johansson at 3:38 of OT in a rare sequence that required a long look from the NHL Situation Room.

The deciding play began when Nashville goaltender Justus Annunen knocked the net off its moorings during a scramble. Johansson’s first attempt struck the left side where the post should have been, and he immediately tapped the puck into the vacant space. On-ice officials ruled goal. Video review supported the call, determining Annunen’s actions displaced the net prior to the puck crossing, which by rule awards the goal.

Minnesota leaned on its top pieces all night. Kirill Kaprizov recorded a goal and an assist, again steering the power-play tempo from the top of the slot, and Brock Faber logged two primary helpers including the low-slot shot that Zeev Buium redirected for a second-period power-play strike. Filip Gustavsson handled 32 of 34 shots with sturdy tracking through layers.

Nashville earned its point in dramatic fashion. With Annunen pulled for the extra skater, Stamkos darted into the left circle and uncorked a clean one-timer off a high feed, beating Gustavsson over the shoulder with 0.3 seconds remaining to tie the game 2-2. Earlier, rookie Matthew Wood had pulled the Predators level 1-1 by slipping behind coverage for a back-door finish on a Michael McCarron backhand pass.

Minnesota opened the scoring at 10:44 of the first on a man advantage. Kaprizov walked into a wrist shot from the high slot through traffic for his third goal in six games, part of an eight-point surge in that span. The Wild restored control late in period two when Buium angled Faber’s low drive past Annunen for 2-1, setting the stage for the wild finish.

Scoring summary

1st, 10:44 MIN PP – Kaprizov 3, wrist shot from the slot (Faber, Johansson), 1-0
2nd, 5:16 NSH – Wood, back-door tap-in from McCarron, 1-1
2nd, 16:01 MIN PP – Buium, redirection of Faber shot in low slot (Faber, Kaprizov), 2-1
3rd, 19:59 NSH – Stamkos, one-timer from high left circle with extra attacker, 2-2
OT, 3:38 MIN – Johansson, awarded after goalie-caused net displacement, 3-2

Goaltenders

MIN: Gustavsson 32 saves on 34. NSH: Annunen 22 saves on 25.

Team notes

Minnesota power play goes 2-for-x on the night, both goals created through Faber’s point activation and Kaprizov’s half-wall gravity.
Kaprizov up to 8 points in his last 6 games, continuing to drive controlled entries and east-west looks.
Nashville drops a second straight in overtime after a 5-4 OT loss to Vancouver the previous night.

Coach Mark comment
Minnesota showed mature game management after an emotional swing. The Kaprizov unit kept pace and spacing simple, Faber’s point timing was excellent, and the bench reset quickly before overtime which is a good playoff indicator.

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New Jersey Devils celebrate sixth straight win after 4-1 victory over Minnesota Wild

Devils Stay Hot With 6th Straight Win, Beating Wild 4-1

Author: IHM Team | Date: October 23, 2025

The New Jersey Devils continued their October surge with a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild at Prudential Center, stretching their winning streak to six games. The team’s speed, layers, and structure again defined the night.

First impressions

New Jersey entered off a road win in Toronto; Minnesota arrived after a rare victory at MSG. The first period was tight and physical, but the Devils dictated pace with aggressive gaps and clean zone exits.

Dillon strikes again

Early in the second period, New Jersey pressed hard. Jack Hughes nearly converted on a breakaway, followed by a scramble in front of Filip Gustavsson. A minute later, pressure turned into points: Simon Nemec cycled for Dawson Mercer, who found Brenden Dillon at the blue line. His wrist shot through traffic made it 2-0 – Dillon’s second in two games.

Gritsyuk’s first NHL goal

At 4:00 of the third, David Jiricek took a penalty for slashing Ondrej Palat. On the ensuing power play, Timo Meier won the draw and Arseni Gritsyuk pounced on the rebound to score his first of the season. It was a clean setup: retrieval, rotation, and net-front execution.

Wild’s lone response

Midway through the period, Zeev Buium started transition through center, feeding Joel Eriksson Ek, who set up Matt Boldy for a shot off the bar and in – his fifth of the season. The Wild pulled Gustavsson late but couldn’t generate sustained pressure.

Bratt seals it

With 1:10 remaining, Jesper Bratt forced a turnover and scored into the empty net to lock in the 4-1 victory. Jake Allen stopped 25 shots, stabilizing every late Wild push.

Coach Mark’s Comment: “The Devils look mature now – they manage momentum, stay disciplined, and trust structure. Hughes and Bratt drive tempo, while the supporting cast delivers depth goals. That’s what a complete team looks like.”

Blackhawks’ Young Core Finds Poise as Rebuild Gathers Speed

Wild Reclaim Their Identity - Yurov’s Breakthrough Leads the Way

Wild Reclaim Their Identity as Yurov Scores First NHL Goal in New York

Author: IHM Team | Date: October 21, 2025

Minnesota finally looked like Minnesota again. At Madison Square Garden, the Wild beat the Rangers 3-1, snapping a three-game slide and resetting the tone of their road trip. Rookie Danila Yurov scored his first NHL goal, Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves, and the group delivered a composed, team-first game in all three zones.

New York struck first when Artemi Panarin ended the Rangers’ home scoring drought 57 seconds in. Minnesota did not blink. The Wild controlled pace and territory, outshooting the Rangers 16-6 in the opening frame and playing to their structure: tight neutral-zone gaps, clean exits, and a heavy forecheck that wore down New York’s breakouts.

Jonas Brodin tied it with a low wrister that changed direction twice and beat Igor Shesterkin. The key moment arrived in the third. Yurov won a draw, stayed inside the dots, and finished a loose puck with a calm backhand as Shesterkin was scrambling. Gustavsson protected the lead with a sharp glove stop on Mika Zibanejad, and Kirill Kaprizov sealed it into the empty net.

Coach Mark’s takeaway: Minnesota trusted the system, shifted from chasing to dictating, and earned a result that can anchor the rest of this trip.

NHL 2025-26: Season Preview

By Mark Lehtonen · 7 October 2025

The puck drops on 7 October as the NHL returns for another thrilling season. With 32 teams lining up, it’s time to take a closer look at who might surprise, who could disappoint, and which storylines are set to define the year ahead.

Washington Capitals: Ovechkin’s new target

Alex Ovechkin keeps rewriting the book. After 44 goals last term despite a broken leg and 17 games missed, the focus now is a tidy milestone: 40 goals at 40 years old, taking him to 937 career goals.

The Capitals remain a balanced outfit, with depth throughout the roster and a reliable system that has kept them competitive.

Tampa Bay Lightning: regular-season machine

The core of Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point still screams elite. Tampa topped the league in goals scored last season and ranked fourth in defence.

With rivals in the Atlantic Division showing inconsistency, Tampa have every chance to claim top spot again. Expected finish: around 109 points and first place in the division.

Chicago Blackhawks: lessons through setbacks

The rebuild is real, and it hurts. With heavy minutes for youngsters, losses are part of the process. A few prospects will pop, most will need time.

Expected finish: bottom of the table but strong odds for a top draft pick in 2026.

Minnesota Wild: time for a step forward

Injuries to Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek skewed last season. Healthy, the Wild looked like a top-five team in the West. The roster is settled, there’s cap breathing room, and youngsters are coming.

Expected finish: ~100 points and a first series win since 2015.

Boston Bruins: caught between eras

Last season’s slide was a warning. The post-Marchand attack lacks top-end punch, and Jeremy Swayman still has to meet the standard of his contract.

Expected finish: bubble team, roughly 95-97 points, margin for error thin in the Atlantic.

New York Rangers: careful adjustments

Mike Sullivan replaces Peter Laviolette and Vladislav Gavrikov bolsters the blue line, but losing Chris Kreider and K’Andre Miller could bite more than expected.

It hinges on Igor Shesterkin rediscovering peak form. Expected finish: ~100 points, steady rather than spectacular.

Edmonton Oilers: all eyes on Connor

Connor McDavid isn’t going anywhere. The only debate is short-term flexibility vs a longer commitment. Either way, with McDavid on the ice, the ceiling is sky-high.

Expected finish: 109-111 points and among the West’s top contenders.

Florida Panthers: wear and tear showing

Three straight Finals have a cost. Florida still have the star power and structure, but after so much hockey the edges dull.

Expected finish: ~104 points and a safe play-off place, but repeating deep runs is a big ask.

Montreal Canadiens: steady climb

Nick Suzuki’s 89 points, Cole Caufield’s 37 goals and growth from Juraj Slafkovsky set the platform. With added balance from Noah Dobson and Zach Bolduc, Montreal look more complete.

Expected finish: a meaningful step forward, firmly in the play-off conversation.

Philadelphia Flyers: Michkov’s moment

Matvei Michkov posted 63 points as a rookie. With greater trust and freedom, the next leap is on.

Expected finish: around 40 goals and confirmation as Philadelphia’s new star.

Pittsburgh Penguins: the captain stays

Sidney Crosby intends to see out his deal in Pittsburgh through 2027. Evgeni Malkin could explore a move for one last big push, but the bond with the Penguins stays strong.

Stanley Cup Final Prediction: Carolina vs Vegas

If there’s a team built for the decisive moment, it’s the Carolina Hurricanes - elite leaders in Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, true depth, young legs, and cap space to strengthen late in the season.
The most likely opponent: the Vegas Golden Knights.

Prediction: Carolina will win the Stanley Cup.

Written by Mark Lehtonen · 7 October 2025