Wild dominate Panthers, still haven't trailed in regulation

Field Level Media|published: Tue 22nd October, 21:27 2024

Oct 22, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) shoots the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Goalie Filip Gustavsson made 24 saves as the visiting Minnesota Wild -- who have yet to trail in regulation this season -- defeated the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-1 on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla.

The Wild are 3-0-1 on their seven-game road trip, and they have earned at least one point in all six of their games.

Gustavsson improved to 4-0-1 this season. He got goal-scoring support Tuesday from Marco Rossi, Marcus Johansson, Matt Boldy, Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek. Jake Middleton had three assists, and Kirill Kaprizov added two assists.

The Wild completely shut down Sam Reinhart, who started the night tied for the league lead with 12 points. Sam Bennett scored Florida's goal.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 11 saves on 16 shots before getting pulled in favor of backup Spencer Knight, failed to get career win No. 400. Bobrovsky is now 399-226-56 for his career.

The Panthers got a boost as winger Matthew Tkachuk return after missing five straight games. He had an assist on Bennett's goal.

Tkachuk had been listed out due to an illness. But prior to Tuesday's game, Tkachuk said he was out due to a "procedure."

In addition, Panthers center Aleksander Barkov missed his sixth straight game due to a leg injury.

For the Wild, forward Ryan Hartman missed his second straight game due to an upper-body injury.

Minnesota opened the scoring with two first-period goals within 22 seconds of each other.

With 11:40 expired, Rossi scored on a deflection after taking a centering pass from Kaprizov.

Then, Boldy skated beyond Florida's net before finding Johansson, who scored on a one-timer from the high slot. The shot went between Bobrovsky's pads.

The Wild made it 3-0 with just 2:40 gone in the second. After an interference penalty on Bennett, the Wild scored on Boldy's tip-in off a shot by Zuccarello.

Florida got on the board with 8:41 left in the second. On the rush, Carter Verhaeghe passed the puck to Bennett, and the puck went in off Bennett's stick and right skate.

But Minnesota closed the second with goals by Zuccarello and Eriksson Ek to take complete control of the game.

Also prior to Tuesday's game, the Panthers gave coach Paul Maurice a multi-year contract extension.

--Field Level Media