The Minnesota Wild got off to a strong start in their Stanley Cup Qualifying Series, riding a pair of power play goals and a shutout by Alex Stalock to claim a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night.
The Wild got going from the opening face-off as Marcus Foligno and Michael Ferland brawled 1:19 into the game. Ryan Donato kept things going by drawing a tripping penalty on Alexander Edler and Kevin Fiala capitalized with a power play goal to put Minnesota on the board.
Who else but Kevin Fiala?
The youngster gives the #mnwild an early lead! pic.twitter.com/YNpTJlXS60
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) August 3, 2020
Vancouver turned up the intensity in the second period, but Stalock held up as the Canucks pushed to tie the game. Getting the start in net over Devan Dubnyk, Stalock stopped all 28 Vancouver shots and kept the Wild ahead.
Late into the second period, the Wild drew a slashing penalty on Tanner Pearson and Jared Spurgeon cashed in with a power play goal of his own, giving the Wild a 2-0 lead through two periods.
𝓣𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓪đť“𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝓮đť“𝓵𝓮
Jared Spurgeon scores to put the #mnwild up 2-0! pic.twitter.com/480boSRQPx
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) August 3, 2020
Spurgeon added an empty-net goal late in the third period to wrap up the Wild’s first Game 1 victory since 2015. The Wild will play the second game of the series on Tuesday with the puck drop scheduled for 9:45 p.m. in Edmonton.
