The Minnesota Wild, who are shorthanded, defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Saturday night thanks to goals from Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy, 36 saves from Marc-Andre Fleury.
The Wild won their sixth straight game despite missing top scorer Kirill Kaprizov and a number of other important players.
The Wild took a 2-0 lead in the second period thanks to goals from Rossi and Boldy, who each scored their 16th goal of the year. Mats Zuccarello added an empty-netter and provided an assist on both goals.
Late in the second half, Sharks player William Eklund trimmed the margin in half. 18 saves were made by Yaroslav Askarov.
Takeaways
Wild: Minnesota bounced back from Thursday’s 6-1 setback to the Colorado Avalanche. The 40-year-old Fleury, who has won three consecutive starts, saved the Wild after they were outshot 37-21.
Sharks: Despite their three-game losing streak, the offense produced more scoring opportunities than in their 2-1 loss to Utah on Friday. Askarov made a number of point-blank saves, further demonstrating his potential as the Sharks’ future goalie. Will Smith, a member of the team’s youthful core, stayed on the bench throughout the third period instead of playing.
Key moment
Macklin Celebrini was carrying the ball into the Wild zone with just over a minute remaining when Declan Chisholm took it away from him. Askarov had scarcely stepped out of the crease when Zuccarello scored into an empty net after recovering it.
Key stat
In what was probably his final game at SAP Center, Fleury defeated San Jose to raise his career record to 20-5-4. When he faced the Sharks, his career save percentage was.9339.
Up next
The Sharks start a five-game trip in Detroit on Tuesday, while the Wild visit Vegas on Sunday.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.