Wild break away from second-period tie, top Predators

Field Level Media|published: Tue 31st December, 23:22 2024

NHL: Nashville Predators at Minnesota Wild

Dec 31, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Nashville Predators right wing Michael McCarron (47) tries to tip a pass by Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) with Minnesota Wild center Marat Khusnutdinov (22) defending in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Marco Rossi had two goals and one assist and the Minnesota Wild pulled away for a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

Mats Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin each added one goal and one assist for Minnesota, which earned its third win in the past four games. Declan Chisholm also scored for the Wild.

Colton Sissons, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O'Reilly each scored for Nashville.

Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 43 of 46 shots to improve to 17-6-3 this season.

Predators goaltender Justus Annunen allowed five goals on 38 shots.

Chisholm scored the go-ahead goal on the power play to give the Wild a 4-3 advantage with 2:52 remaining in the second period. He scored on a slap shot that sailed above Annunen's glove and went into the net.

Rossi scored another power-play goal to increase Minnesota's lead to 5-3 with 12:53 to go in the third period. He parked in front of the net and knocked in a loose puck.

The Wild opened the scoring 7:54 into the game. Rossi scored on a deflection after Zuccarello ripped a shot from the top of the left circle.

Sissons scored 3:06 later to even the score at 1-all. He scored on a tip-in after Brady Skjei blasted a slap shot from near the blue line.

Nashville grabbed a 2-1 lead with 4:46 remaining in the first period. Marchessault fired in a one-timer moments after the Wild committed a turnover in their own zone.

Zuccarello found the back of the net to even the score at 2 with 13:41 to go in the second period. Joel Eriksson Ek fielded a stretch pass, handled the puck for a few seconds and zipped a pass to Zuccarello in front of the net for a power-play goal.

Minnesota pulled ahead 3-2 on Brodin's goal with 11:03 remaining in the second period. Brodin snapped a long shot through traffic that Annunen could not spot in time.

The hard-fought contest continued, as O'Reilly scored for Nashville to make it 3-all with 7:59 to go in the second period. It was his second goal in his past four games.

--Field Level Media