The Wild finally shook off their slump in style, taking down the Blackhawks 4-3 in a thrilling overtime victory at United Center. This win couldn't have come at a better time, especially after a rough patch of three consecutive home losses to teams outside the playoff picture. Missing Joel Eriksson Ek due to injury, the Wild needed to dig deep, and they did just that.
Mats Zuccarello was the hero of the night, firing home a one-timer from Marcus Johansson just over three minutes into overtime. This marked Zuccarello’s ninth career OT goal and his fifth game-winner of the season.
“Playing 3-on-3 when you’re exhausted is tough, but we kept the pressure on them,” Zuccarello remarked post-game. “I got lucky with the goal, but it was bound to happen.”
Johansson was instrumental, notching two assists and breaking his 16-game scoring drought. Brock Faber also shone with three assists, while Vladimir Tarasenko continued his hot streak with his third goal in two games, setting the Wild up with a 3-1 lead after the first period.
“Tarasenko’s shot is something else,” Johansson praised. “With the confidence he’s showing lately, it’s a joy to watch.”
But the Blackhawks weren’t going down without a fight. They clawed back, scoring in the second and then again after a surprising goalie swap by the Wild.
Filip Gustavsson had to leave the ice with a gear issue, allowing Jesper Wallstedt to step in briefly before Gustavsson returned. With just 1:40 left, Connor Bedard set up Frank Nazar for a game-tying goal.
Gustavsson explained, “I had gear trouble that needed more than a quick fix, so I rushed to get it sorted. It was frustrating, but I got back out there.”
Despite the late equalizer, overtime is where the Wild thrive. They’ve now notched their 10th OT win, tying for the most in the NHL, and lead the league with 26 extra-time games.
Gustavsson ended the night with 21 saves, boosting his road record to 13-6. The Wild’s away performance has been stellar, improving to 20-9-4.
With Eriksson Ek out day-to-day, rookie Danila Yurov stepped up to center the top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. Coach John Hynes kept faith in the Tarasenko-Hartman-Zuccarello line, which nearly sparked a comeback against Toronto.
“It wasn’t our best game,” admitted Gustavsson. “We started strong but faded. Still, finding a way to win is what counts.”
The game kicked off with Ryan Hartman scoring early, thanks to a slick setup from Kaprizov and Boldy. This marked the Wild’s first lead in the opening period since their last win over Utah.
Michael McCarron set the tone with a big hit on Bedard, and luck seemed to be on the Wild’s side when a rebound off McCarron found Johansson for a goal.
“Sometimes the puck just bounces your way,” Johansson said. “It’s frustrating when they don’t go in, but I’ll take a fluke goal any day.”
The Blackhawks put the pressure on, especially after Ryan Greene’s goal in the second period. Gustavsson’s temporary exit in the third added to the drama, but he returned just in time to see Chicago level the score.
Hynes and goaltending coach Frederic Chabot decided Gustavsson should finish the game, a decision that paid off. “Wally did great stepping in,” Hynes noted. “His stops were crucial.”
All matchups between these teams this season have gone to overtime, with the Wild coming out on top each time. Zuccarello’s game-winner came after a long shift by Quinn Hughes in OT.
“Johansson made a great play,” Zuccarello said. “He was fantastic today and a key factor for us.”
The Wild’s penalty kill was perfect, going 2-for-2, while Chicago’s Spencer Knight made 33 saves.
“Getting a win feels good,” Zuccarello added. “We’ve been playing well but just couldn’t finish.
Today, we started strong, and even though we eased off, we got the job done. This win is big for our momentum and confidence.”