Minnesota Beats Utah, Keeps Pace With Winnipeg For Best Record in NHL

Matt Boldy scored the only goal in the shootout in the Minnesota Wild’s 5-4 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on December 10th in Salt Lake City. (The Utah Hockey Club, formerly the Arizona Coyotes prior to April, still hasn’t picked a team name). The Wild improved to 19-5-4 (42 points) to keep pace with the Winnipeg Jets at the top of the standings in the Central Division, as well as the top record overall in the NHL. The Jets were also in action on December 10th, and pounded the Boston Bruins 8-1. Winnipeg is 21-9, also 42 points.

Left Wing Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota in both goals (18) and assists (25) for a total of 43 points, tied for 2nd best in the NHL. Kaprizov scored a goal in the win over Utah. Minnesota is 12th in the league in scoring, averaging 3.21 goals per game, but the Wild is getting it done by being at the top in defense. Minnesota is allowing just 2.39 goals per game and Wild goalies have a save percentage of .923. Both numbers lead the league. The #1 goalie for Minnesota, Filip Gustavsson, is 14-4-3 with a league leading 2.08 goals against average, and a save percentage of .927, just .001 behind league leader Anthony Stolarz. Gustavsson’s backup is 21 year veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, who is 5-1-1 with a 2.56 goals against average.

The Wild have lost two games to the Jets this year and the two will play each other for their last regular season meeting in Winnipeg on December 22nd. The Wild’s next game is at home against Edmonton on December 12th.