CHICAGO — In a game where the Minnesota Wild looked very much like a team that just played back to back in California before flying to the Windy City for a third game in four nights, John Hynes’ third-period line juggling sparked his team to a come-from-behind point in the standings.
Philipp Kurashev’s goal in overtime gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 win to snap a 12-game losing streak against the Wild and six-game losing streak to Minnesota at home.
But Matt Boldy, one shift after hitting the crossbar on a terrific move in an attempt to tie the game, tied the score at 1-1 with 4:31 left in regulation. It came on a shift where Boldy, normally a winger, centered Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. Kaprizov extended his road point streak to nine games with an assist.
BOLDY TIES IT 👀
That’s his fifth goal in his last six games!
📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/mkLVQlQ5r6
— NHL (@NHL) November 11, 2024
The Wild seemed to get better as the third period went along after a disjointed performance in the first two periods where they looked slow, sloppy and disconnected. They avoided only their second regulation defeat in 10 road games (7-1-2).
Mrazek made 32 saves. Filip Gustavsson was outstanding with 20 saves.
The Wild returned to Minnesota after the game, will take at least Monday off and will open a two-game homestand Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens. It’ll be three much-needed off-days.
Gustavsson kept Wild in check
Gustavsson entered Sunday’s game with a 7-2-1 record, 2.30 goals-against average and .920 save percentage, and he had to feel like a man alone on an island for much of this latest game.
The Wild looked that fatigued. They could barely put two passes together, and even though they defended well, the Wild could get nothing going offensively. That led to a lot of stress on the goaltender, who gave up a goal in the first period to Jason Dickinson after Jake Middleton, who struggled all game, and Joel Eriksson Ek lost wall battles and Zuccarello skated himself right into a screen and bumping of his goaltender.
It was just another so-so game for a number of players, especially Marcus Johansson, who saw several plays die on his stick. The second-line left wing now has one goal and zero assists in his past 13 games.
Jason Dickinson GETTING THINGS DONE😤 pic.twitter.com/CjhIYOnWhL
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) November 11, 2024
Hynes looking for more consistency from Rossi
Marco Rossi is tied for third in scoring with 13 points and has at least a point in 11 of 15 games, but Hynes is looking for more consistency. He knows Rossi’s getting points, but feels like his game has been up and down.
For instance, after taking three penalties in a four-game stretch, Hynes thought Rossi was good in San Jose. But in Anaheim — a game he still ended up with a goal and assist — Hynes felt Rossi needed to be harder on plays and manage the puck better.
Hynes sent him a message late in the second period Friday by elevating Marat Khusnutdinov to play between Kaprizov and Zuccarello for three straight shifts. Rossi centered Yakov Trenin and Jakub Lauko on the fourth line. Rossi ended with a big third period and scored his fourth goal.
Sunday, Rossi played a little bit with all the top-six wingers as Hynes tried to scramble players in the second period to spur his tired team along and get a spark. Finally, in the third period, Hynes dropped Rossi to the third line with Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman as he reunited the dominant Kaprizov-Eriksson Ek-Boldy line of last season and came up with a Johansson-Freddy Gaudreau-Zuccarello second line.
Rossi played a strong third period, setting up Hartman twice and being denied twice by Mrazek on great chances.
Milne’s NHL debut on hold
Even though he didn’t play on the Wild’s three-game road trip and will likely be returned to Iowa on Monday, Mikey Milne soaked in every ounce of his first NHL recall.
After a home loss to the Kings, the Wild recalled Milne so they’d have an extra forward on the trip. It was a reward for being Iowa’s most consistent forward this season. Hynes even said there was a chance he’d debut in San Jose because he wanted more from a couple forwards.
One was Yakov Trenin. Hynes met with him in San Jose, gave him another chance and he responded with two of his better games of the season, especially on the penalty kill.
Those two wins in San Jose and Anaheim also meant Hynes returned with the same forward group against the Blackhawks.
Milne, you can bet, understands and will use the experience as motivation toward debuting later this season.
“It’s incredible, obviously, joining a team that’s been winning hockey games,” Milne said earlier on the trip. “It’s good vibes in the dressing room, and everyone’s super nice. I’m just trying to keep my eyes open, listen to everyone, see what everyone has to say, and kind of experience that NHL lifestyle.”
Milne was recalled over Liam Öhgren because the Wild wanted Öhgren to get more game action and responsibility than he could on Minnesota’s fourth line or as the 13th forward. Öhgren notched his first North American professional hat trick Saturday during a win over Rockford.
Liam Öhgren is calling for the hats📞🎩 pic.twitter.com/YBnfnPsTH3
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) November 10, 2024
(Photo: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)
