Wild thrash Ducks, 7-3

In St Paul, Mats Zuccarello  struck for two goals to help the Minnesota Wild to a 7-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.“I think we were playing really good the last three games,” Zuccarello said. “Everyone was [mad]. We lost five in a row. So, you got to get back and we got a huge win in Boston and we kind of got a huge win here against Washington as well and kept rolling. Today the puck bounces our way, we get some good goals, and it feels good when it’s like that.”

Kaapo Kahkonen made 39 saves in the Wild win.

“Couple cringes down in the corner,” Wild head coach Dean Evason said of Kaprizov’s return. “He pulled up and spun back and got hit pretty hard by some big people, so yeah, I don’t think there was anything serious, he got out of it and continued to play. We’re real happy with that for sure.”

The Wild improved to 22-10-2.

“It’s so nice to see ‘Zuccy’ shoot, right? Because he doesn’t,” Evason said. “He’s got such a quick release … He’s such a pass-first guy. Obviously, he sees the ice really well, but when he does that it’ll open things up for, not only him but for Kirill and ‘Hartzy’ too. Real nice goal.”

Max Comtois and Trevor Zegras scored for the Ducks.

“It’s really hard to come back on these teams,” Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins said. “I don’t think they’re ever completely out of a game anymore, but you certainly don’t want to play from behind.

“We can’t give up seven goals and expect to win. … We need to be more focused.”

Kevin Fiala  and Ryan Hartman staked the Wild to a 2-0 lead.

Anaheim dropped to 19-14-7.

Matt Boldy and Victor Rask  also scored for Minnesota.

Derek Grant had a goal for the Ducks in the third period when they cut the Wild lead to 6-3.

Minnesota’s Matt Dumba scored midway through the third period for the 7-3 final

“It’s great,” Dumba said. “Not all parts of our game were all that great tonight. But we definitely did execute. It’s great to get the third (straight win).”

Anthony Stolarz got the start for Anaheim and yielded six goals and made 23 saves.  allowed six goals on 29 shots, he was given the hook in the third period.

Lukas Dostal made 12 saves in a mop up role.