ST. PAUL, Minn. — Kevin Fiala notched his first profession hat trick, Kirill Kaprizov had two of Minnesota’s three power-play targets, and the sharp-shooting Wild beat Colorado 8-Three handy the Avalanche their first regulation loss in 16 video games.
Luke Johnson, Ryan Hartman and Joel Eriksson Ek additionally scored, because the Wild caught NHL wins chief Philipp Grubauer on a uncommon off night time within the internet. He was pulled halfway by way of the third interval for Jonas Johansson, who gave up the eighth aim — to Fiala — that matched the all-time Wild document.
Within the final of their eight common season matchups with the West Division chief, the Wild made fairly the impression in case they meet the Avalanche within the playoffs. There have been 18 penalties known as on this tightly officiated contest, together with one sport misconduct for either side, and scrums broke out early and late.
Nathan MacKinnon bought the Avalanche on the board simply 26 seconds within the second interval, after the Wild constructed a 3-Zero lead. Andre Burakovsky and Mikko Rantanen every scored to chop the deficit to 4-3, however the Wild have been prepared for the surge. They completed the sport with simply 19 pictures on aim.
Each of Kaprizov’s targets and two of Fiala’s have been on an influence play, because the Wild went Four for five towards an Avs penalty kill that entered the night ranked second within the league. Six of Minnesota’s 18 targets with the person benefit have are available in these final two video games towards Colorado. The Wild started the sport with the second-worst energy play within the NHL.
Cam Talbot made 29 saves, Jared Spurgeon had three power-play assists and Victor Rask helped on two for the Wild, who turned the primary group to beat the Avalanche earlier than additional time since Arizona on March 8. Colorado, which has the league’s greatest factors share and trails Toronto by one level within the general standings, was 13-0-2 on that 15-game run.
The third-place Wild haven’t superior within the Stanley Cup playoffs since beating St. Louis within the first spherical six years in the past, and in the event that they wish to stick round this spring they’ll most likely need to be extra aggressive with Colorado. This positive was a step in the precise course.
The Avalanche had received 5 of the primary seven conferences by a mixed 28-17 margin, together with the 5-Four determination right here on Monday that stopped Minnesota’s franchise-record dwelling successful streak at 11 straight video games. The Wild admitted 3,000 clients to that contest, the primary time the gates have been formally open this season. The followers had greater than sufficient to cheer this time, tossing caps on the ice after Fiala’s third aim and giving the house group an approving roar as they skated off.
UP NEXT
Avalanche: Go to Anaheim on Friday and Sunday. They’re 4-1-1 towards the last-place Geese this 12 months.
Wild: Play at St. Louis on Friday and Saturday. They face the Blues in seven of their subsequent 14 video games.
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