ST. LOUIS — Magic in the preseason when they teamed up for a pair of shorthanded goals in one game, Marat Khusnutdinov set up Jakub Lauko shorthanded for the Czech youngster’s first goal in a Wild sweater to help spoil the St. Louis Blues’ home opener with a 4-1 Minnesota victory.
Lauko’s goal, which gave the Wild a two-goal lead, was a beauty on a breakaway and offered a rare offensive gem on a night where the Wild defended well but were short on shots until late in the second period.
The Wild had only five shots in the first 35:57 of the game (three at even strength) but ended just two shots behind the Blues at 28-26.
Playing for the second game in a row without defenseman Jared Spurgeon and center Joel Eriksson Ek, and for the first time without Marcus Johansson, the Wild got another terrific game from Filip Gustavsson and improved to 2-0-2 this season.
Gustavsson lost his shutout bid with 9:50 remaining in the third on Mathieu Joseph’s goal, but he made 27 saves to improve to 2-0-1. After that 27th save, Gustavsson aimed right for a wide open cage and scored the first goal by a Wild goalie in team history.
FILIP GUSTAVSSON GOALIE GOAL pic.twitter.com/RDakJY7YrZ
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 16, 2024
Ryan Hartman, elevated to the top power-play unit for the injured Eriksson Ek, also scored a power-play goal. Marco Rossi scored the first of his season early in the third period. Kirill Kaprizov had two assists on a night he was double-shifted as the Wild dressed seven defensemen.
With Spurgeon sidelined, the Wild recalled Daemon Hunt from Iowa for his season debut and 13th NHL game.
The Wild will next play Saturday in Columbus.
Jakub Lauko’s first Wild goal is a shorthanded beauty. 2-0 #mnwild pic.twitter.com/gLS19TpTcs
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 16, 2024
Kaprizov bounces back
Sunday night, less than 24 hours after playing more than 24 minutes against Seattle, Kaprizov was visibly fatigued throughout the Wild’s game against the Jets. He had some nice moments, but it was clear he was playing with tired legs and hands. Like Mats Zuccarello and Matt Boldy, little was clean.
He sure rebounded Tuesday night and appeared re-energized.
In 27:59 of ice time, Kaprizov had two terrific assists.
Ryan Hartman cashes in on the powerplay. What a play by Kirill pic.twitter.com/eWPIuIu6TJ
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 15, 2024
On the Hartman power-play goal, he took Brock Faber’s neutral zone drop pass, sped into the zone down the left-wing boards, centered himself once he crossed into the Blues’ end and slipped a gorgeous pass between two defenders for Hartman ahead of the play. On Rossi’s goal, the Blues were exiting when he picked off Nick Leddy’s outlet.
Seconds later, Zuccarello’s intended pass for Kaprizov ricocheted off a skate right to Rossi at the back door.
Marco Rossi’s first of the season gives Minnesota a 3-0 lead early in the third period pic.twitter.com/DefYNWXPWL
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 16, 2024
Öhgren’s encore much better than debut
Rookie Liam Öhgren, scratched the first two games of the season, admitted Tuesday morning he was a combination of rusty and nervous in his season debut and fourth NHL game Sunday in Winnipeg. Öhgren’s speed was apparent, but he really struggled with his puck touches for much of the night.
On Tuesday, Öhgren played on the fourth line with Lauko and Freddy Gaudreau and on the second power-play unit. He looked much more at ease, had a couple shots, drew a power play and gave a glimpse of what he could bring when eventually elevated in the lineup.
Coach John Hynes has immense respect for Öhgren and believes he’s only going to ascend from here.
“I think some things were rushed a little bit with the puck (against the Jets), but we know what he looks like with the puck,” Hynes said. “So to me, it’s a little bit of probably first-game jitters coming in.”
Eriksson Ek, Spurgeon, Johansson updates
The Wild were hoping Eriksson Ek would rejoin the team in St. Louis after breaking his nose Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken. But with the Wild off until Saturday, the team and medical staff decided it’d be more prudent to keep him at home rather than risk putting him on a couple flights.
The good news is Hynes said Eriksson Ek sustained no further injuries beyond the broken nose.
“I would assume that based on what I know, he’ll be up and running when we get back (to Minnesota),” Hynes said.
The Wild will take Wednesday off, practice outdoors in St. Louis Park on Thursday and at TRIA Rink on Friday before flying to Columbus to continue their seven-game road trip.
Spurgeon is still listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Hynes said he also hopes to have more of an update on the Wild captain this week.
Johansson missed Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury. He was a game-time decision Sunday in Winnipeg but ended up playing. He was initially hurt in the second period against Seattle when Kraken captain Jordan Eberle was checked into him by Wild teammate Jonas Brodin.
Boldy integrated onto PK
Not only did the Wild score shorthanded, their penalty kill went 2-for-2 against the Blues. Of course, they were aided by a bit of a quick whistle on the same shift Lauko scored. The Blues felt they scored after Gustavsson made a sensational sprawling save on Jordan Kyrou, but referee Carter Sandlak wiped it out after ruling Gustavsson covered the puck.
One of the more noteworthy parts of the penalty kill was Boldy’s presence.
After experimenting with him on the PK for the United States at the World Championship in May, Hynes, who doubled as the Americans’ coach, said Boldy would play the penalty kill this season for the first time in his NHL career. But Boldy got hurt early in camp, and even though he sat through all the meetings and video work, he didn’t get many reps in practice.
In the fourth game of the year, assistants Jack Capuano and Pat Dwyer tried him there and so far, so good. The Blues were scoreless in his 1:16 of ice time. Boldy, in three previous seasons, totaled 17 seconds of penalty kill time.
(Top photo: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)
