The Wild scored a pair of goals 37 seconds apart in the first period and that was all they needed in a 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks Thursday night.
Ryan Hartman’s wrist shot beat goaltender John Gibson just over seven minutes into the opening period, and then 37 seconds later Kevin Fiala buried a rebound for a 2-0 lead. Fiala has scored four goals in his past six games.
It was Minnesota’s second game after missing nearly two weeks due to a COVID-19 outbreak. They lost 4-0 to the L.A. Kings in their return to the ice Tuesday, and though they didn’t look crisp in Anaheim they did just enough to get the win.
“It was not pretty or our best game, but we know we are going to get better,” said Marcus Foligno, per ESPN. “It is important to break the ice with a win after two weeks of not doing anything.”
Foligno scored one second after a power play expired in the third period to put the Wild up 3-1.
Minnesota has been dreadful on the power play this season. After going 0-for-5 Thursday night, the Wild are 3-for-50 with the man advantage this season. Only the Detroit Red Wings have been worse.
Up next: Wild at Anaheim Saturday at 8 p.m.
