SHOUT OUT MINNESOTA SPORTS

The Minnesota Wild are having one of the best seasons in franchise history. Only the 2020-2021 & 2021-2022 (best season in franchise history) seasons have had a better win percentage than the current season. The good news is there is plenty more hockey to be played and also a chance to become the best season in franchise history. Currently Minnesota is 3rd in the Western Conference and only three points back of Vegas and division leading Winnipeg Jets.

 Much of the Wild's success has come from #97 Kirill Kaprizov. He is currently tied for fourth place with 50 points (23 goals) on the season. He is also tied for second in +/- stats at 21. Kaprizov's teammate Jake Middleton leads the league with a +/- of 22. 

Jake Middleton has been a reliable defenseman for the Minnesota Wild for the past few seasons, but this could be his best one yet. After spending four seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Middleton has helped solidify the defense with his timely hits and his ability to take the puck away from opponent's offenses. It has made him a huge part of the Wild's success this season. Coming off a career season last year scoring seven goals and eighteen assists, he has a chance to surpass that. It may not always show up on the stat sheet, but Middleton can be an impact defenseman in the league. 

Minnesota's young talent have also made an impact this season. Notable players include Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, and Minnesota's own Brock Faber.  Marco already with 29 points on the season is on pace to surpass his career best of 40 points from last season. Brock also has a huge upside. His career high 39 assists (47 points) last season was incredible and has a chance to establish a new career-best this season. Already at 19 points on the season (5 goals, 14 assists), he has been an eye-opening defenseman at the young age of 22. He even had the game winner in OT vs Dallas Stars. The league is learning quickly what many of the Minnesota Wild faithful already knew. The state of hockey is back!

Also worth mentioning, Marcus Foligno becomes the all-time leader (most hits) in Minnesota Wild Franchise history with 1,458.

It was the Preseason Home Opener for the Minnesota Wild and they came to play last night. Minnesota struck first at 1:32 into the first period with a Kirill Kaprisov goal assisted by Joel Eriksson Ek & Mats Zuccarello. The Winnipeg Jets would answer back in the tenth minute with a Cole Perfetti goal assisted by Nikita Chibrikov & Alex Afallo. Winnipeg racked up 2 penalties in the first period. Lambert for Slashing & Salomonsson for interference. Minnesota played a relatively clean first period with only a penalty to Defenseman Jack Peart for Holding.

The second period ended up being an offensive explosion for the Minnesota Wild. Seven goals scored by six different players and one of them had multiple goals. Wild goals scored by Khustnutdinov, Ohgren, Zuccarello, Jones, Eriksson Ek (2), and another goal by Kirill Kaprizov. The Jets only goal in the second period was by Mason Appleton assisted by Haydn Fleury. Multiple penalties for the Wild this period Ohgren for Tripping and repeat offender Jack Peart, who picked up his second penalty of the game. This time for Tripping.

After the offensive outbreak of seven goals in the second period, The Minnesota Wild failed to score any goals in the third period. Marc-Andre Fleury played a solid first two periods before giving up three unanswered goals to Winnipeg. Chibrikov, Yager, and Barron all netted goals, but it wasn't enough as the Minnesota Wild get the win 8-5. Marc-Andre Fleury with 36 saves on 41 shots does enough to get the job done for Minnesota. Next up, The Wild will face the 4-0 Dallas Stars on Sunday 9/29 5pm at the Xcel Energy Center.

It was an uphill battle all night, but the Minnesota Wild kept fighting regardless. The Wild racked up 4 penalties in the first period, which basically crippled the offense. Eight minutes of the twenty were spent in the penalty box. Merrill, Clarke, and Gaunce (4 minutes for Roughing) were all called for penalties. The Dallas Stars took advantage of that and scored a power play goal at 6:41. Goal was credited to Arttu Hyry with the assists by Kyle Capobianco & Kole Lind. The period ended with Dallas leading 1-0.

Minnesota's offense was still trying to get going in the second period, but had come up empty yet again. The Wild were outshot 11 to 5 in the second period with one shot sneaking past Goalie Jesper Wallstedt to give Dallas a 2-0 lead. The Stars goal scored by Logan Stankoven at 12:24 and assisted by Matej Blumel & Sam Steel. Minnesota was only called for one penalty in the period on Riley Heidt for Hooking at 14:19. The period ended with Dallas leading 2-0.

The Wild's offense finally broke through in the third period scoring 2 goals to bring it within one goal late in the 3rd. Minnesota goals scored by Gaudreau at 11:36 (PP) assisted by Rossi & Hunt. The second goal by Boyd at 12:00 and assisted by Gaunce & Shore. After pulling their goalie late it the 3rd period, Dallas scores an empty-net goal to give the Stars the win and go to 5-0 in the preseason. Final score was Dallas 4 Minnesota 2.