A four-goal first period was too much for the Wild to overcome Thursday night as they rallied but fell short in a 6-5 road loss to the San Jose Sharks.
It was ugly from the start as Logan Couture scored on Wild goalie Alex Stalock just 55 seconds into the game, with the Sharks lighting the lamp three more times in a 4-0 first period rout.
“We weren’t ready to play,” head coach Bruce Boudreau said, via the Wild. “That’s all I can say. The preparation wasn’t ready.”
Stalock was pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots. Devan Dubnyk replaced him and wound up making 17 saves while allowing two goals.
After trading two goals each in the second period, the Wild entered the third down 6-2.
Brad Hunt made it 6-3 with just under 12 minutes to play. A little over a minute later Ryan Donato fired a shot under the crossbar to cut the deficit to two goals. With under five minutes left in regular, Jason Tucker scored and suddenly Minnesota’s four-goal deficit was down to one with plenty of time to go.
Zach Parise had a golden chance to tie the game on a solo breakaway but he was stopped by Sharks goalie Martin Jones. In the waning seconds Ryan Suter sent a shot that hit the pipe, and that’s as close as Minnesota came.
The loss drops the Wild to 5-10-1 on the season. Up next, they play at Arizona at 7 p.m. Saturday.
