Staying in the hunt is all that matters for the Minnesota Wild and they did what they needed to do Friday night with a 4-2 road victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Matt Boldy scored twice and Filip Gustavsson made 41 saves as the Wild won for the sixth time in the past eight games (6-1-1) to improve to 27-24-6 this season. With 60 points in 57 games, Minnesota is just two points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference playoff race.
Gustavsson was a monster. He stopped all 37 shots he faced at even strength and made 23 saves in the third period. The only goals he allowed came when the Oilers were on the power play.
The game was tied 1-1 until Jonas Brodin put Minnesota ahead 2-1 at the 9:31 mark of the third period. Less than three minutes later Boldy’s second of the night gave the Wild a two-goal cushion and they held on for the 4-2 win, with the final goal going to Mats Zuccarello on an empty net with 1:27 remaining.
Connor McDavid had two assists, giving him an NHL best 66 this season for the Oilers.
Up next: Wild at Seattle, Saturday at 9 p.m. CT.
