Boldy’s Shootout Heroics Propel Wild Past Avalanche in Thrilling 2-1 Victory
In an electrifying matchup on Tuesday night, Matt Boldy emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in a shootout that secured a 2-1 victory for the Minnesota Wild against the Colorado Avalanche.
The Wild's Mats Zuccarello made his mark by scoring both in regulation and during the shootout, while goaltender Filip Gustavsson showcased his skills with an impressive 27 saves throughout the game.
On the other side, Joel Kiviranta found the net for the Avalanche, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 22 saves, but it wasn’t enough to extend their six-game winning streak.
The shootout kicked off with Zuccarello finding the back of the net, followed by Gustavsson denying Nathan McKinnon’s attempt. Boldy then scored, and Martin Necas’ rush ended in disappointment as the puck slipped off his stick, sealing the win for Minnesota.
The Wild took an early lead in the second period, capitalizing on a turnover by Necas in his own zone. Boldy deftly poked the puck to Marco Rossi, who set up Zuccarello for a high wrist shot that beat Blackwood over the shoulder.
Kiviranta equalized at 14:20 of the third period, deftly tipping a long backhand shot from Samuel Girard past Gustavsson, setting the stage for a tense finish.
For the Avalanche, this game marked a shift after a dominant homestand where they scored 31 goals in six games. Despite the loss, Kiviranta’s goal and Blackwood’s solid performance allowed Colorado to leave with a crucial point.
As for the Wild, they are now 1-1 at the start of a challenging stretch, with 10 of their next 11 games at home. This victory brought their points total to 78, just three behind the Avalanche, who currently occupy the third playoff spot in the Central Division.
Shortly after Zuccarello’s opening shootout goal, Gustavsson made a critical save, sliding across to deny Necas a golden opportunity. Meanwhile, McKinnon, who had been on a scoring spree with two or more points in five of his last six games, was effectively kept off the scoresheet by the Wild’s defense.
