1. It's all about that comeback.
For the third time in as many games against the Blues this week, a team overcame a multi-goal deficit in the third period.
On Wednesday night, it was the Blues scoring three unanswered goals in the final 20 to secure a 4-3 regulation victory.
The next night, the Wild clawed back from a couple down, including the tying goal in the final minutes, to force overtime and net a point.
On Saturday, it was the Wild again, erasing a two-goal third-period deficit on goals by Nico Sturm and Jonas Brodin in the final six minutes of regulation to force overtime. Brodin's goal came with Kaapo Kahkonen on the bench for the extra attacker, the second time in as many games the Wild has scored with its tendy on the bench.
In overtime, Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello worked some serious magic to cap the comeback in style, with Fiala ripping a one-timer by Jordan Binnington for his second career overtime winner.
2. The streak of (no) threes lives on.
Minnesota entered the night as one of three teams in the NHL this season to have avoided a three-game losing streak.
It left that way.
It didn't look good, with Minnesota trailing late, but the offensive heroics in regulation and in overtime made sure the Wild will go into its final weeks as one of three without a three-game skid. Boston and Pittsburgh, both headed to the postseason from the East Division, are the others.
3. And down the stretch they come.
Saturday's game marked the 50th game of the season for the Wild, who have six games remaining on the regular season schedule. The next four will be here at Xcel Energy Center, and things won't get any easier, as the first-place Vegas Golden Knights come to town for two games beginning Monday night.
The good news for the Wild? Minnesota is 4-1-1 against the Knights this season, the best record for any opponent against Vegas this season. Including OT losses, Vegas has lost 14 times this season, and nearly a third of those have come against the Wild.
Video: STL@MIN: Kahkonen makes save on Perron
In terms of chasing down the top spot in the division, the Wild trails the Knights by four points in the West. Vegas also has a game in hand, and Colorado also stands in between them.
If the Wild has designs on winning the division, it might take five or six wins - and some additional help - to do it. The two games against the Knights are a must.
Article From & Read More ( Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 4, Blues 3 (OT) - BlueJackets.com )https://ift.tt/3ugUfAY
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