Minnesota’s special teams have set the tone early, and that could matter again tonight in Buffalo.
The Wild come in having killed off all seven penalty-kill chances through two games, one of just six NHL teams yet to allow a power-play goal. That stands in sharp contrast to the Sabres, who rank 29th on the penalty kill after giving up two goals on five chances, and who have also gone 0-for-5 on the power play in their first two games. Minnesota has already cashed in three power-play goals this season, good for a tie for fifth in the league.
Jesper Wallstedt is projected to make his third start of the season for Minnesota, and he’s been sharp through his first two. He is 2-0-0 with a 1.01 GAA and a .957 SV%, and he has turned aside all 10 shots he has faced while the Wild has been shorthanded. This will be Wallstedt’s first career appearance against Buffalo.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start for the Sabres. He has taken both of Buffalo’s first two games, going 1-1-0 with a 4.03 GAA and a .784 SV%. Against Minnesota in his career, he is 3-2-2 with a 2.78 GAA and a .913 SV% across seven starts.
Matt Boldy is still looking for his first point of the season, but the chances have been there. He has put nine shots on goal in two games and was denied on a shorthanded breakaway attempt Saturday against Boston. Against Buffalo, he has six points (1-5=6) in eight career games, including a point (1-3=4) in three straight meetings.
Kirill Kaprizov reaches a milestone tonight with career game No. 400.
Minnesota’s all-time leading goal scorer is also riding a two-game goal streak and will try to make it three in a row. He has 14 points (7-7=14) in nine career games against the Sabres and has scored in six of those matchups.
It’s also the first time Kaprizov has opened a season with a multi-game goal streak.
In Other News...
Wild Let A 2-0 Lead Slip In A Brutal Road Loss
The Wild had the game where they wanted it for most of the night in Buffalo, carrying a two-goal lead into the stretch before the Sabres started to chip away. Minnesota could not close it out, and what looked like a solid road win instead turned into a frustrating defeat after Buffalos late push kept the pressure on until the end.
Buffalo finished the rally with third-period goals from Tage Thompson and Noah Ostlund to force overtime, while Colten Ellis held his own with 18 saves in his season debut. For a Minnesota team that had already done enough early to feel in control, the loss leaves the familiar sour aftertaste of letting a lead get away, especially with the Sabres finding just enough offense to turn the night around. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Win Came With A Wild Injury Scare Fans Will Notice
Nick Folignos night ended early against the Sabres, adding an unwelcome injury note to a game Minnesota was already trying to manage. The veteran forward left with an upper-body injury and had already seen limited ice time before he was forced out, a reminder of how quickly a hard-working depth piece can become a concern for a team that leans on experience in the lineup.
Foligno, who scored the Wilds season-opening goal earlier in the year, has been part of the group since arriving last season and returning on a one-year deal. For Minnesota, any absence would be worth monitoring not just because of what he brings on the ice, but because he has fit as one of those dependable role players who can steady a lineup when things get choppy. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Forced Into Forward Shuffle Before Next Game
Minnesotas forward depth took a hit after Nick Foligno left the previous game early, leaving the Wild to adjust on the fly before a matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The veterans absence creates an opening in the lineup, and the timing matters for a team that has had to lean on its depth throughout the season.
Tyler Pitlick was recalled from Iowa to help fill the gap, giving the Wild another experienced option who has spent time in both the NHL and AHL. Now in his second year with Minnesota, Pitlick gives the coaching staff a familiar plug-in as it waits to see how long Foligno is unavailable. [Read more 🡒]