In Chicago, the Minnesota Wild posted three first period goals on Friday night, and coasted to a 5-1 win over the Blackhawks.
Ryan Hartman hit for a pair of goals for Minnesota.
“I didn’t expect that,” Chicago head coach Derek King said. “I thought we’d come out jumping. We knew we were playing against a very good hockey team, and I thought we were up for the challenge. We had plenty of rest where we could practice. The puck dropped, and that’s why they’re one of the best teams in the league. They come hard, win puck battles, and they’re ready to play.”
The Wild improved to 23-10-3.
“I ate a little bit, a salad and a couple noodles,” Hartman said. “Every 10 seconds, it felt like four minutes. I was just kind of exhausted. Hopefully I can get some food in tonight.
“Good thing [the goals] were at the beginning of the shift. Hopefully it’s on its way out. My stomach, every time I’d go out, I was trying not to throw up.”‘
Kaapo Kahkonen made 35 saves for the Wild win.
Dylan Strome scored in the 15th minute of the third period to ruin the shutout bid.
The Blackhawks dropped to 15-19-6.
Marcus Foligno and Hartman combined to stake the Wild to the 3-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes.
Calen Addison scored for the Wild in the middle frame to give them a 4-0 lead.
“Just a great game for us overall,” Addison said. “I think we played the game the right way. I think when you do things right out there as a team, individually, you have success. Luckily, I just kind of walked down Broadway there, saw a corner and picked it.”
Brandon Duhaime‘s goal gave the Wild a 5-0 lead.
Marc-Andre Fleury got the start for Chicago, but was given the hook in the middle frame after the Wild took a 4-0 lead. He made nine saves.
“The game plan was Fleury tonight, and me taking Fleury out was nothing to do with him,” King said. “We were not good in front of him. Him playing lots of hockey, especially after the COVID (Dec. 27-Jan. 2), he gets tired pretty quick, so I was just saving him really. I’m not a big fan of home-and-homes, but it was more for rest with the body. And then tomorrow we planned on going with Lankinen, so unless that changes, we’d like to stick to that.”
Kevin Lankinen made saves in a mop up role.
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