Game Recap: Hurricanes 4, Wild 3
RALEIGH, N.C. — Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each tallied a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Minnesota Wild 4–3 at Lenovo Center on Thursday night. Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored, while Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots for the Hurricanes (9-4-0), who have now secured back-to-back wins and three victories in their last four games.
“Blake is probably the one who needs the most credit for tonight,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “The one goal was all him, and the other was just a great pass.”
Matt Boldy netted two goals for the Wild (5-7-3), who entered the game on a two-game winning streak. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson recorded 23 saves in the loss.
“They’re a high-pressure team. There were times I thought we handled it well, and there were times when there was another good team on the ice too,” said Minnesota coach John Hynes. “We got some looks in different segments of the game.”
Boldy opened the scoring at 5:34 of the first period, marking his 300th NHL game. After Carolina forward Mark Jankowski accidentally knocked the puck toward Frederik Andersen, Boldy tapped in the loose puck from the slot.
The pace intensified midway through the game, as both teams exchanged three goals within a brief 52-second span during an exciting 4-on-4 stretch.
Summary
The Hurricanes outlasted the Wild in a fast-paced contest led by Jackson Blake’s standout performance and Matt Boldy’s two goals.
Author’s Summary
Carolina earned a narrow win in Raleigh thanks to balanced scoring and strong teamwork, overcoming Minnesota’s early push and Boldy’s effort to force a close finish.