Wild snap losing streak in new coach John Hynes' first game

Matt Boldy scored, the penalty kill was perfect and the Wild snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Author:
Joe Nelson
Publish date:
Nov 28, 2023 10:51 PM EST

One day after head coach Dean Evason was fired, the Minnesota Wild and new bench boss John Hynes snapped a long losing streak with a 3-1 home victory against the St. Louis Blues.

The defining moment in the game was in the third period when Matt Boldy, whose struggles were weighing on him according to general manager Bill Guerin, didn't miss on a breakaway as he fired a wrist shot for a goal to give Minnesota a two-goal cushion with 2:52 left in the game.

Boldy scored his first goal since Oct. 14 after spending four minutes in the penalty box for a double-minor high-sticking penalty earlier in the third period. Minnesota's penalty, ranked dead last in the NHL entering the game, was a perfect 4-for-4, including killing Boldy's four-minute penalty.

It's worth noting that Minnesota's ratty penalty kill came to life against the league's 30th-ranked power play, which has now scored goals on just six of 65 power plays this season.

Joel Eriksson Ek and Freddy Gaudreau also scored for Minnesota and Filip Gustavsson stopped 23 of 24 shots for his fourth win in 12 starts this season and give the Wild its first win since Nov. 7.