Minnesota erased a first-period deficit in 23 seconds to open the second, then pulled away in both middle and final frames — this game turned on structure, not score. A Vancouver side playing out a lost season faced a Wild team with playoff positioning to defend, and the difference showed in every structural metric.
⚡TURNING POINT
Boldy's goal at 0:23 of the second period immediately neutralized Vancouver's 2–1 lead, denying the Canucks any opportunity to defend with a cushion entering the middle frame. The instant reset eliminated the only tactical leverage Vancouver had built, forcing them into open play against a deeper, better-structured opponent.
🏆WHY MIN WON
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Gustavsson conceded 1.30 goals fewer than league average on 33 shots — in a 5-goal game, that margin functionally decided the outcome before the third period began.
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Minnesota's 5v5 depth produced four separate goal scorers across three lines, eliminating any ability for Vancouver to key defensively on a single threat.
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A 39-shot volume against 33, combined with 19 blocked shots from MIN defenders, meant Vancouver's offense was consistently compressed and never generated sustained zone pressure.
📉WHY VAN LOST
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Tolopilo conceded 0.20 goals above average — marginal on its own, but on a team that scored twice all game, there was no buffer for any deviation.
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Vancouver converted 0-of-2 power plays in regulation despite DeBrusk's lone PP goal; their failure to capitalize on the man advantage while trailing in the second and third periods removed their only realistic path back.
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Sixteen giveaways surrendered puck possession at critical moments, enabling Minnesota's transition game to repeatedly generate quality entries.
Three Stars
Matt Boldy1st
MIN, L
2G 1A 3P6 shots on goal+3TOI 15:45
His goal 23 seconds into the second period was the pre-determined turning point of the game, and his three-point output drove Minnesota's offensive engine across all three periods.
Kirill Kaprizov2nd
MIN, L
1G 1A 2P5 shots on goal+3TOI 19:45
Kaprizov's production across nearly 20 minutes of ice time sustained offensive pressure and directly contributed to Hartman's insurance goal late in the third.
Mats Zuccarello3rd
MIN, R
0G 2A 2P3 shots on goal+2TOI 20:02
Both assists came on third-period goals that sealed the game, making Zuccarello the connective tissue in Minnesota's decisive run.
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Gustavsson's 1.30-goal edge above average combined with Minnesota's three-line depth made Vancouver's two-goal first period nothing more than a brief delay.
