Honestly, the Minnesota Wild needed a win like they needed oxygen. After dropping three straight and watching their grip on the standings start to slip, heading into KeyBank Center to face a Buffalo Sabres team that had won 15 of its last 17 felt like a tall order. But somehow, the Minnesota Wild game last night turned into a 5-4 overtime thriller that felt more like a playoff battle than a mid-January matinee.
It wasn't pretty. It was messy, chaotic, and featured enough lead changes to give any hockey fan whiplash.
The Mats Zuccarello overtime heroics
When the game went to the extra frame, you just knew Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello were going to find a way. They always do. With Peyton Krebs sitting in the box for a hooking call that happened with just 11 seconds left in regulation, the Wild started overtime on a 4-on-3 power play.
The Sabres almost killed it off. Mattias Samuelsson had a chance to clear the zone and basically seal the kill, but Filip Gustavsson—who was sharp all night despite the four goals against—made a heads-up stretch pass that caught the Sabres in a sloppy line change. Kaprizov grabbed the puck, dished it over to Zuccarello, and the "Lizard King" didn't miss.
That goal didn't just end the game; it ended a three-game skid that was starting to get inside the players' heads.
A wild second period collapse (and recovery)
Early on, it looked like Minnesota was going to run away with it. Marcus Foligno opened the scoring against his former team, and Ryan Hartman added another late in the first to make it 2-1. When Vladimir Tarasenko made it 3-1 just a minute into the second period, you could almost hear the Buffalo crowd start to tune out.
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Then, the wheels came off. Or maybe the Sabres just woke up.
In a span of about ten minutes, Buffalo completely flipped the script. Peyton Krebs tipped one in, then Jack Quinn tied it up just 87 seconds later. By the time Alex Tuch fired a power-play rocket over Gustavsson’s shoulder to make it 4-3, the Wild looked completely deflated.
But here's why this Minnesota Wild game last night felt different: they didn't fold. Usually, when this team gives up three straight goals in the second period, they spiral. Not this time. Quinn Hughes, who has been an absolute revelation since joining the blue line, hammered home a slap shot less than a minute after Tuch’s goal to tie it back up at 4-4.
That Hughes goal was the turning point. It settled the bench down.
Breaking down the box score
If you look at the underlying stats, the Wild probably deserved this one more than the score suggests. They generated 21 high-danger scoring chances according to Natural Stat Trick. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the only reason the Sabres even got a point, stopping 30 of 35 shots, many of them from point-blank range.
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The Wild's depth was tested too. They were missing their entire top forward line and two veteran defensemen due to injury. Seeing guys like Ben Jones step up—getting his first career NHL assist on the Foligno goal—is exactly what John Hynes needs to see right now.
- Final Score: Minnesota Wild 5, Buffalo Sabres 4 (OT)
- Shots on Goal: MIN 35, BUF 24
- Power Plays: MIN 1/4, BUF 1/4
- The Stars: Quinn Hughes (1G, 1A), Mats Zuccarello (1G, 1A), Kirill Kaprizov (3A)
Why this win matters for the standings
The Western Conference is a meat grinder. Entering the game, the Wild were sitting in third place, but the gap between them and the wild-card chase was shrinking. By grabbing two points in Buffalo, they've stabilized the ship before heading to Toronto on Monday.
The Sabres are no joke this year, either. Taking a point away from a team that has been as "sizzling" as Buffalo is a massive confidence booster for a locker room that was starting to feel the weight of a winless homestand.
What most people get wrong about the Wild is the idea that they are a one-man show. Sure, Kaprizov is the engine. He had three assists last night. But when you get goals from Hartman, Foligno, Tarasenko, and Hughes, you’re a much harder team to defend.
Defensive concerns still linger
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Giving up a two-goal lead in a single period is a habit the Wild need to kick. The defensive pairing of Brock Faber and Jake Middleton played heavy minutes (Faber logged over 28 minutes!), and you could see the fatigue setting in during that second-period barrage.
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Filip Gustavsson was solid, making 20 saves, but he was left out to dry on the Ryan McLeod deflection and the Jack Quinn goal. The communication in the defensive zone still feels a little "kinda" loose at times.
What's next for the Minnesota Wild?
The road trip continues. There’s no rest for the weary as they head to Toronto for a Monday night clash with the Maple Leafs. If they can carry the momentum from this OT thriller into the Scotiabank Arena, they might actually be able to turn this "slump" into a distant memory.
If you're looking to track the progress of this team, keep an eye on the injury report. Getting those veteran defensemen back is going to be crucial for the late-January push. For now, enjoy the two points. They were hard-earned.
Actionable Insights for Wild Fans:
- Watch the Power Play: The 4-on-3 execution in overtime was flawless. Look for Hynes to keep leaning on the Kaprizov-Zuccarello-Hughes trio during man-advantage situations.
- Monitor Quinn Hughes: He's playing nearly 30 minutes a night. Check the box scores to see if his production stays high or if the heavy workload starts to impact his defensive gaps.
- Toronto Preview: The Maple Leafs play a similar high-event style to Buffalo. Expect another high-scoring affair on Monday; betting the "over" might not be a bad move given the Wild's current defensive injuries.
The Wild showed a lot of heart in Buffalo. They took a punch, wobbled, and then hit back. That’s the kind of grit that gets you through the dog days of January.