First of all, I know that it is Wednesday and this game took place on Sunday but it was a game that really does need to be talked about and its all good things.
It was another come from behind win for the Minnesota Wild which seems to be a common trend this season but that’s okay as long as at the end of these games Minnesota ends with the two points.
Kaapo Kahkonen gets first win
Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen only made his second start of the season vs. the Islanders and after a troubling first game, the second year goaltender was able to pull off the win while only allowing two goals.
The stats for Kahkonen don’t look all that great yet but hopefully with picking up the win against New York, it will build the goaltenders confidence. Kahkonen is expected to start when the Wild face off against the Arizona Coyotes later on tonight as a matter of fact.
Kahkonen is now 1-1 on the season with a goals against average of 3.63 and save percentage of .860.
Duhaime and Hartman leading the way
It’s always great when you can get secondary scoring and it seems that the Wild are getting a good chunk of it out of current leading scorer Ryan Hartman and rookie forward Brandon Duhaime. On the early front, Hartman is a slam-dunk for the Wild this year and for lack of a better phrase, a bargain.
We’ll talk about Hartzy in a second but right now, lets look at Brandon Duhaime. Duhaime was initially credited with a 2nd period goal but was taken away and given to Nick Bjugstad but Duhaime didn’t quit there, he also scored a great 3rd period goal that ultimately put the Wild ahead on the score board. Ryan Hartman had scored the game-tying goal literally 2 minutes earlier. Both Hartman and Duhaime each finished the night with one goal, one assist each.
Brandon Duhaime now has 2 goals & 3 assists this season, Ryan Hartman has 6 goals and 1 assist and is the current leading scorer for Minnesota.
Zach Parise’s return to the Xcel Energy Center
Sunday marked the first time that now Islanders forward Zach Parise returned to the Xcel Energy Center since being bought out by the Wild in the off-season.
It was strange hearing Anthony LaPanta say his name and think he was on the opposition. The Wild ultimately held Zach Parise off the score sheet and in fact, finished the game a -2 with only one shot.
Zach Parise video tribute. Was a great dude to cover and one heckuva gamer pic.twitter.com/6MBXHS0QZm
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) November 8, 2021
The Wild are now 8-3-0 on the season and are currently 2nd in the division only behind the St. Louis Blues. Minnesota will look to continue it’s winning ways in Arizona tonight.
*All stats/info from NHL.com