Exhausted Minnesota Wild Can’t Overcome Winnipeg Jets, Lose 2-1 In OT

Despite solid play by a busy Devan Dubnyk, the Minnesota Wild couldn’t overcome tired legs, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Winnipeg Jets in overtime.

Good morning, Minnesota Wild fans. The Wild’s win streak has ended at 6, although they did capture a very important point in the standings. Outshot and outchanced by an unthinkable margin in the first period, the Wild looked prime to lose in blowout fashion. In fact, if not for another solid outing by Devan Dubnyk, they would have been. The loss of Jason Zucker didn’t help an already worn out offense as Jason Pominville was the only Wild forward to sneak a goal past Michael Hutchinson. Don’t forget to check out my coverage of the Zucker injury and Dustin’s coverage of the recent Wild call-ups.

First Period:

Thank goodness for Dubnyk. Outshot by as much as 10-0 at one point, the Wild looked like a team that played the night before. Dubnyk will probably be hearing from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, because some of his saves were straight larceny.

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Mile High Sticking

Zach Parise went to the bin for hooking Jacob Trouba in the 8th minute. Registering 3 shots, Bryan Little had the best chance on a point-blank shot from just outside the goalmouth.

The Wild’s only true sustained zone pressure came on a power play in the 15th minute. Registering 4 shots, Charlie Coyle had a great chance on a Mikael Granlund set up. Mathew Dumba had a goalmouth tip-in bid that didn’t quite click. The Wild’s tip-in tries are usually over telegraphed.

shots after one period: Minnesota Wild 8, Winnipeg Jets 15

Second Period:

Ryan Suter hit the goalpost in the first minute immediately after a face-off in the offensive zone. Just the Wild’s luck tonight.

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The Wild earned its second power play of the night in the second minute, and Mikko Koivu looked to put the Wild on the board as he fired a low shot that squeezed through Hutchinson’s leg pads and dribbled through the crease before Trouba keenly stuffed the puck underneath Hutchinson for a stoppage.

Nino Niederreiter had a 2-on-1 bid with Granlund midway through the second. Opting to shoot his wicked hard wrister, Nino nailed Hutchinson’s glove. I’m sure he had some choice words in his native tongue on the way to the bench.

The Wild actually managed to lock down defensively in the second period, evening the shot count at 20 before Suter got caught holding the stick of Dustin Byfuglien. The Wild once again killed off the Jets penalty, making them a perfect 100% on the PK since the all-star break.

Shots through two periods: Minnesota Wild 21, Winnipeg Jets 24

Third Period:

Lots of really good chances by both teams in the third, including a Dumba shot that deflected off the goalpost after whistling through Hutchinson.

Now, let’s get to the goals.

After a Wild power play expired,

Toby Enstrom

put the Jets on the board. Buzzing in the neutral zone, Toby Enstrom fired a slap shot from the blue line that Niederreiter actually tipped past Dubnyk to make it

1-0 Winnipeg at 07:53 of the third period.

Per Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, Enstrom’s goal marked the first time in 419 minutes that the Wild were not leading or tied. Take a look at the video below for more.

Finally, after looking gassed all game, the Wild responded with a bit of urgency and Pominville tied the game.

Parise and

Marco Scandella

won a few board battles to keep play alive in the offensive zone.  Parise beat Enstrom to a loose puck in front of the goalmouth and pushed the puck down the slot where it landed in front of Pominville. Pommer barely had time to tee up a one-timer, but got the shot away and beat Hutchinson high on the glove side to make it a

1-1 tie at 10:22 of the third period.

Parise deserved the assist, but the goal reads unassisted.

A few good chances on either side went nowhere, so off to overtime we go. Both teams earn a point, so the Wild pulled within two of the Calgary Flames for the #8 seed.

Shots through regulation: Minnesota Wild 28, Winnipeg Jets 32

Overtime:

Two shots a side before Byfuglien potted the game winner.

Jared Spurgeon picked up the puck at the base of the left face-off circle and turned to pass it off for Koivu at the blue line. Unfortunately, Spuregeon turned over the puck and dropped it right on to the stick of Byfuglien who had a clear break to the net. Byfuglien fired a shot high and over Dubnyk’s blocker that hit the crossbar and dropped in to the net. Game over, Winnipeg Jets win 2-1 at 4:00 of the overtime period.

Final shots on goal: Minnesota Wild 30, Winnipeg Jets 32

Trembley’s Take:

The Wild was out attempted 74 to 45 through 64 minutes of play. There’s no way the Wild were primed to win this game. Jason Pominville was the only wild player with a positive Corsi for at 58%. Niederreiter, who led the team in that category the last two games, was only 42%.

The fact of the matter is this: Devan Dubnyk simply cannot win every game for the Wild. Even with a stellar .941 save percentage from Doob, the offense has to step up, especially due to Zucker’s injury. We need to see more from every single forward.

Spurgeon put the loss on his back after the game, but no hockey game comes down to one play. The Wild were out hit, out shot, and out played every step of the way.

Wild has a mandated day off tomorrow before taking on the surging Florida Panthers on Thursday. Talk to you then unless there’s big news.