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Wild 3, Hurricanes 2 (SO)

A Wild finish on Saturday afternoon in St. Paul as the Canes lose to Minnesota 3-2 in a shootout.

By Jamie Kellner
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Twice the Carolina Hurricanes went down a goal to the Minnesota Wild, and twice they came back to even the score. For the sixth time in seven games, extra hockey was required to reach a decision, and after a last-ditch effort from Elias Lindholm came up just shy of putting the game away in overtime, the Wild were able to prevail in a shootout for the 3-2 win.

The teams played even for the first 45 minutes until David Jones broke the seal for the Wild when he pushed his way to the front of the net and backhanded home a rebound from the paint on a shot from Erik Haula.

But the Canes would answer right back 90 seconds later when Noah Hanifin, who might have been caught spectating a bit on Jones' goal, found Chris Terry with a stretch pass and Terry ripped a beautiful wrister from the dot to beat Devan Dubnyk short side.


Just 16 seconds into the third period, a Mikko Koivu shot bounced straight to Jason Zucker, who beat Ron Hainsey to the front of a wide-open net to put the Wild ahead 2-1. It was Zucker's third goal in two career games against the Canes. Bill Peters used his coach's challenge to dispute that Zucker was offside entering the zone, but the play was ruled onside and the goal stood.


But the Canes were once again able to even things up down the stretch, with Jordan Staal in the right place at the right time to collect and deposit a rebound past Devan Dubnyk with 6:51 remaining, assisted by a strong forecheck and net presence from Elias Lindholm.



With the game undecided after three periods, Elias Lindholm nearly created an NCAA tournament-worthy buzzer beater, barreling down the ice on tired legs to pull off a spin move in the waning seconds of overtime, but he was shut down by Dubnyk as the horn sounded.

Riley Nash was the lone goal scorer for the Canes in the shootout skills competition, and Charlie Coyle and Zach Parise converted on their chances to give the Wild the extra point in the win.

The Canes wrap up their five-game road trip with a 1-1-3 record and return to Raleigh to host the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night.

Notes:

  • Jaccob Slavin once again led all Canes skaters with 27:55 TOI.
  • After sitting for two games, Cam Ward was solid in net, making 30 saves (many from point-blank range) on 32 shots.
  • Jeff Skinner generated five shot attempts and four scoring chances, all from high danger areas, and Elias Lindholm had four scoring chances (two high danger), six shot attempts, and a primary assist. Lindy also lead the team with four hits.
  • The Canes were uncharacteristically below average on faceoffs tonight, winning 26 and losing 29 for a 47% win rate.
  • Both teams had two power play opportunities and neither were able to convert.
  • Brody Sutter may have been a curious choice as the first shooter (Chris Terry was the third). That said, Sutter is four-for-eight in shootout attempts in his AHL career.
  • After the game, both Sutter and Trevor Carrick were reassigned to the Checkers, who are pushing for the AHL playoffs and have a game in Rockford, IL on Sunday.