Minnesota Wild Beat the Arizona Coyotes on Hockey Day Minnesota
Final. 3. 98. 1. 121
Backstopped by another solid from Devan Dubnyk, the Minnesota Wild are winners of two straight games for the first time since November 20th. Even strength goals by Charlie Coyle and Jason Zucker led the way for the Wild.
Good evening and happy Hockey Day Minnesota, Wild fans. My favorite day of the year has come and gone. From Baudette to La Crescent and Ada to Apple Valley, the sound of skates on the ice filled the air. To culminate a holiday based on our favorite sport, the Minnesota Wild won its second straight game, toppling the Arizona Coyotes 3-1. Dubnyk has yet to allow an even strength goal as a member of the Minnesota Wild, which may contribute to its success. Don’t forget to check out Gone Puck Wild’s game preview for more.
First Period:
The Wild came out strongly in the opening minutes, much to the delight of the hometown crowd. Dubnyk made some really great saves, including a flurry in the opening 5 minutes.
The Wild seemed to spend the entire first period on the power play. Despite spending 6 of the last 14 minutes in the first period on the power play, the Wild was unable to convert on any of its 8 shots at maligned goaltender Mike Smith.
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had the type of game the Wild want from him tonight, starting with a first period goal. Christian Folin dumped the puck in to the offensive zone from just past the red line.
tried to bat the puck out of the air but an aggressive forecheck by
caused the puck to drop to the ice. Niederreiter rushed the net but couldn’t settle the puck down. Lucky for Nino, Coyle skated right in to the puck and roofed a shot right over the trapper of Smith.
1-0 Wild at 13:35 of the first period.
Jason Pominville hit the post about 100 times in the first period alone.He played really well, but he always hits the dang post.
Shots after one period: Arizona Coyotes 8, Minnesota Wild 15
Second Period:
Coyle was at it again to light up the second period. Around the 7th minute. Coyle and Kyle Chipchura got in to a scrum as Nate Prosser and Stone jabbed away next to them. With his size, Coyle needed to add some grit to his game.
Jason Zucker scored the eventual game winner on a sweet breakaway. Picking up a pass from Dubnyk along the half wall, Zucker avoided pressure by passing off to Justin Fontaine. Zucker broke loose from 3 defenders, picked off a pass from Fontaine and flipped a backhander over Smith’s glove to make it
2-0 Wild at 08:41 of the second period.
You can see on the replay he never quite settled the puck down and managed to lift the puck with the heel of his stick anyway. Dubnyk had an assist on the play. Wait, he stops the puck AND puts points on the board? We’ll keep him.
Just to spoil the party, Antoine Vermette ended Devan Dubnyk’s shutout streak at just over 93 minutes. With Mikko Koivu in the box, Vermette tipped in a rebound from an Oliver Ekman-Larsson blast to make it 2-1 Wild at 13:47 of the second period.
Arizona’s goal put the Wild on its heels for remainder of the period and seemingly the remainder of the game.
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Shots after two periods: Arizona Coyotes 15, Minnesota Wild 28
Third Period:
The Coyotes put a lot of pressure on the Wild, who looked extremely flustered after allowing its first goal in over 90 minutes. Dubnyk looked really, really good though.
The Wild iced the puck 3 times in the last 8 minutes, leaving Arizona to buzz freely through the offensive zone. Smith went to the bench with just over 90 seconds left. Zach Parise added an empty netter for insurance to seal the game and make it 3-1 Wild at 19:01 of the third period. How fitting that Minnesota native Zach Parise, just a day after his father’s funeral, closed out the game on Hockey Day Minnesota.
Final shots on goal: Arizona Coyotes 26, Minnesota Wild 33
Trembley’s Take:
Awesome game tonight.
Dubnyk is playing well enough to earn himself a contract extension come this off-season. He has yet to allow an even strength goal while in a Wild sweater.
Like I said above. Coyle played exactly how he needs to in order to return to form.
Talk to you on Monday, Wild fans. I have an early travel day.