If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Minnesota Wild this season, it’s to never leave a game early.
The Wild were down by two goals with just over four minutes to go but a Ryan Hartman goal with 1.1 seconds left in regulation helped the Wild earn a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The evening got off to a great start for the Wild thanks to Kirill Kaprizov. After ending his nine-game scoring drought to start the season on Tuesday night, Kaprizov scored again on a rebound to put Minnesota on the board in the first period.
Kirill Kaprizov scored to record his 60th career point (29-31—60 in 65 GP). He required the fewest games to reach the mark among players to debut with the @mnwild, eclipsing Marian Gaborik (93 GP).#NHLStats: https://t.co/nRsXGZgCRQ pic.twitter.com/bBNYZ9tvGK
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 6, 2021
Kaprizov’s early goal was no match for the Penguins’ unlikely source of offense as Kapanen scored twice in the final 4:27 to send Pittsburgh into the first intermission up 2-1. Jake Guentzel’s third goal of the season put the Penguins up 3-1 before Jared Spurgeon made it a one-goal game late in the second period.
CUTTING INTO THAT LEAD. @mnwild | #mnwild pic.twitter.com/pDyRud9OiA
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) November 7, 2021
Despite not scoring a goal prior to the game, Kapanen completed the hat trick in the third period to put Pittsburgh up 4-2. But the Wild pulled Cam Talbot with just over four minutes to go and the gamble paid off with Spurgeon’s second goal of the night. With the Wild down 4-3, Hartman provided the equalizer and sent the game to overtime.
HARTMAN WITH THE EQUALIZER!!! 🤑🤑🤑🤑 pic.twitter.com/JhJxFmZzP0
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) November 7, 2021
The Wild had their chances to win it in overtime but thanks to two breakaway stops from Talbot, the game went into a shootout. In the fourth round, Nick Bjugstad stuck it to his former team with the game-winner to help Minnesota leave Pittsburgh with a victory.
The Wild (7-3-0) will head home after the win when they host Zach Parise and the New York Islanders on Sunday night.
