Even Josh Harding’s return couldn’t help the Wild Sunday night, as they blew a three-goal lead against the Islanders and dropped a 5-4 decision at Xcel Energy Center.
Ryan Suter opened the scoring for Minnesota, netting his first goal of the year, and Jonas Brodin and Nino Niederreiter added a goal apiece in the second, which is usually more than enough for the NHL’s best goaltender.
But Harding gave up four straight goals, the last of which was to Kyle Okposo, to put the Wild behind the eight ball with eight minutes left.
Justin Fontaine would pull Minnesota even with six minutes to go, but just 27 seconds later Okposo got his second goal in two minutes, what would prove to be the game-winner for the Islanders.
In his first game against his former team, Cal Clutterbuck, who spent the first six years of his career in Minnesota, scored his fifth goal of the season.
Harding made 26 saves but allowed all five goals. His goals against coming into the game was 1.51, the best in the league, and five lamp-lighters is the most he’s given up this year.
Winger Zach Parise missed his third straight game with a foot injury, and word came down before the game that the injury may be more severe than anticipated.
Michael Russo of the Star Tribune reported that Parise’s injury may be a stress fracture, something that typically hinders a normal person for four-to-six weeks.
Parise isn’t normal, but he is human, and since stress fractures only heal with rest, you’d imagine he’d have to serve close to the four weeks at the least.
Regardless of the rumors of a stress fracture being true or not, Minnesota will likely be without Parise when they return to the ice against St. Louis Tuesday.
