Seventh heaven as #mnwild defeats Buffalo 7-0: final score by @budlight. Dubnyk gets his first W with #mnwild. pic.twitter.com/dOJIJhtHd5
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 16, 2015
The Minnesota Wild snapped their six-game losing streak in commanding fashion Thursday night, whipping the Buffalo Sabres 7-0 in Buffalo.
The Wild controlled the ice and got a solid performance in net and cruised to the victory.
The shutout completed a whirlwind 28 hours (give or take) for new Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk. After catching a red-eye flight to New York City from Arizona followed by an early morning flight to Buffalo, Dubnyk performed admirably. He recorded his 10th career shutout, stopping all 18 shots he faced and putting a big plug in the Wild’s leaky goaltending.
It didn’t take the Wild long to get on the scoreboard. Just five minutes into the game Zach Parise deflected a shot at the net and to give the Wild the early lead.
Former Sabre Thomas Vanek returned to Buffalo with a solid game. He pushed Minnesota’s lead to 2-0 on a powerful one-timer.
Replay time! What a wicked one-timer from Vanek on the PP. WATCH: http://t.co/kuCUQBl7s9 #mnwild
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 16, 2015
Vanek finished with the goal, an assist and eight shots on goal. Jason Pominville also had an impressive return. He assisted on three goals, upping his team-leading assist total to 27.
The Wild return home Saturday for Hockey Day Minnesota, when they’ll face Dubnyk’s former team, Arizona.
Scoring Summary
1st period: 5:13 MIN – Zach Parise (15) Deflected shot – Assist: Mikko Koivu (16), Jason Pominville (25) 1-0 MIN
1st period: 19:01 MIN – Thomas Vanek (8) Slap shot – Assist: Koivu (17), Pominville (26) 2-0 MIN
2nd period: 6:00 MIN – SHG Kyle Brodziak (6) Wrist shot – Erik Haula (3) 3-0 MIN
2nd period: 9:06 MIN – Matt Dumba (2) Slap shot – Assist: Pominville (27), Parise (17) 4-0 MIN
2nd period: 18:54 MIN – Jared Spurgeon (6) Slap shot – Assist: Jonathon Blum (1), Ryan Carter (9) 5-0 MIN
3rd period: 4:26 MIN – Matt Cooke (4) Deflected shot – Assist: Brodziak (6) 6-0 MIN
3rd period: 18:27 MIN – Haula (4) Snap shot – Assist: Vanek (19), Christian Folin (4) 7-0 MIN
