Gustavsson Shines, Wild Triumph Over Blues, 4-1

In an electrifying performance, Filip Gustavsson turned away 27 shots and even netted an empty-netter, leading the Minnesota Wild to a decisive 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. The win put an end to the Wild’s two-game slump.

Gustavsson’s Netminding and Scoring Prowess

The thrilling victory was punctuated by Gustavsson’s unexpected goal, a rare spectacle in hockey. His impressive feat was captured in a tweet by the NHL: a triple shout-out of “GOALIE GOAL!”

Ryan Hartman and Jakub Lauko also showcased their skills, with Hartman scoring on a power play in the inaugural period and Lauko notching a short-handed goal in the second. Adding to the Wild’s tally, Marco Rossi found the back of the net in the third period. Kirill Kaprizov, displaying his playmaking abilities, contributed with two assists.

Mathieu Joseph, a new addition to the Blues from Ottawa, marked his first goal for St. Louis in the third period. Despite a determined performance from Jordan Binnington, who made 23 saves, the Blues couldn’t extend their home opener winning streak to five.

Key Takeaways from the Showdown

For the Wild, the game was a significant milestone. It marked the first time since their 5-0 shutout against the New York Islanders on January 15, 2024, that they had registered both a power-play and a short-handed goal in the same match. Meanwhile, the Blues found themselves in a multi-goal deficit for the fourth consecutive game this season.

Turning Point of the Game

The game’s pivotal moment came with the Blues on a power play. Lauko managed to break away from the Blues’ defense, doubling the Wild’s lead to 2-0 at 7:52 of the second period. This was the second short-handed goal conceded by St. Louis this season.

In a near miss, Jordan Kyrou’s potential goal for the Blues was disallowed as the official had prematurely stopped play, assuming Gustavsson had secured the puck. Ryan Suter also had a close call for the Blues, but the replay revealed the puck had crossed the line after the second-period buzzer.

The Stat of the Night

Kaprizov’s assists on the Hartman and Rossi goals highlighted his consistent performance against the Blues. With these two assists, he now boasts an impressive tally of 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in his 18 career games against St. Louis.

What’s Next in Store?

Looking ahead, the Wild will proceed on their season-long seven-game road trip, squaring off against Columbus on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Blues will play host to the New York Islanders on Thursday night.