Was it really all coaching and style of play holding back the Minnesota Wild? So far, it’s hard to argue against it because the Wild pounded the Flames 5-2 in Calgary Tuesday night to win a fourth straight game since Dean Evason was fired and replaced by John Hynes.
Marcus Foligno scored just 1 minute, 26 seconds into the game, Kirill Kaprizov netted his eighth goal of the season and Matt Boldy scored twice, giving him four goals in the past four games.
That's just absurd from Marcus Foligno pic.twitter.com/RUmr7A1rqy
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) December 6, 2023
Kaprizov batted the puck into the net after Marco Rossi’s shot hit the post just 45 seconds into the second period, and then Boldy’s work of art — a snipe that found the top shelf — happened exactly 45 seconds later and the Wild were in control at 3-0 just 90 seconds into the second period.
TOP SHELF BOLDS for the @xcelenergy High Energy Moment of the Week 🔋#mnwild pic.twitter.com/XfK8xi5xPr
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 6, 2023
Boldy wasn’t done. His second of the night came with 6:02 left in the middle period when he redirected a pass from Kaprizov by Calgary goalie Dustin Wolfe.
Wolfe was in the game after Dan Vladar was yanked after allowing three goals on 16 shots. Vladar started because No. 1 goalie Jacob Markstrom suffered a broken finger in practice on Monday, and Wolfe only joined the team earlier Tuesday after being called up from the American Hockey League.
THIS BEAUTIFUL BOLDY GOAL >>>#mnwild pic.twitter.com/bd8eKUdMbY
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 6, 2023
The Flames got within 4-2 early in the third period but any thought of a comeback was put to rest when Joel Eriksson Ek scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season at the 6:49 mark of the third.
Minnesota was 5-10-4 when Evason was fired and they’re now 9-10-4 with a chance to climb back to .500 when they face Vancouver at 9 p.m. CT Thursday.
