Canucks End Wild’s Season with 5-4 OT Win
The Minnesota Wild saw their season come to an end at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks after a 5-4 overtime loss Friday night. The Canucks will advance to the NHL Playoffs while the Wild now head into the offseason. Minnesota led by a 3-1 score heading into the third period but couldn’t close out the win.
Final from Game 4.#mnwild pic.twitter.com/8bUrbLf3Iy
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) August 8, 2020
Vancouver was back on their bullshit in Game 4, but Ryan Hartman was having none of it. Just like the Wild did in Game 1, they showed the Canucks they meant business.
Ryan Hartman and Jake Virtanen Fight #Canucks pic.twitter.com/2jjr5j4Ebh
— Lucas Parmenter (@LucasParmenter) August 8, 2020
HOT START
The Wild got the scoring started on a power play goal by Luke Kunin to take a 1-0 lead. After going 0 for their last 13 on power plays in Games 2 and 3, it was nice to see the Wild take advantage of their opportunities for once.
GOAL. Luke Kunin scores on the power play to give Minnesota the early lead.
— Hockey Wilderness (@hockeywildernes) August 8, 2020
1-0. pic.twitter.com/dPWJHt0R4b
After Tanner Pearson tied things up at 1 with time winding down in the first period, Eric Staal once again gave the Wild the 2-1 lead. Staal was able to deposit his goal on the top shelf past Jacob Markstrom, who was nowhere near as brick-wallish in Game 4 as the previous two games.
Eric Staal with a little snipe show pic.twitter.com/d4IQnirGUy
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) August 8, 2020
The Wild got another goal past Markstrom in the second period to increase their lead to 3-1. Joel Eriksson Ek scored his first of the series on another goal from a tough angle.
Joel Eriksson Ek beats Markstrom to push the Wild lead to 2!#MNWild pic.twitter.com/EkJHMkbSNP
— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) August 8, 2020
THE DREADED 2 GOAL LEAD
The Canucks were able to tie the score at 3 after goals by Brandon Sutter and Quinn Hughes. The Wild answered right back on the first career goal from Nico Sturm to jump back out in front 4-3.
GOAL. Nico Sturm scores the first goal of his NHL career to give the Wild the lead late in the middle period!
— Hockey Wilderness (@hockeywildernes) August 8, 2020
4-3. pic.twitter.com/cJEuhmo5zq
Vancouver would answer back midway through the 3rd period. Bo Horvat would score his second goal of the series to knot things up at 4.
Clutch from the Captain! Pearson finds Bo Horvat in front and he ties the game at 4 #Canucks #mnwild pic.twitter.com/yO0fJPUT0a
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) August 8, 2020
Vancouver ended the game 11 seconds into overtime on a goal by Christopher Tanev.
1️⃣1️⃣ SECONDS INTO OVERTIME – TANEV WINS IT!!!!! pic.twitter.com/uBPkPMs9Dq
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) August 8, 2020
BETTER POWER PLAY
The Wild finally snapped their Power Play drought with a first period goal. Both teams were more focused on actual hockey, but when the Wild did have additional skaters they seemed to be more aggressive with the puck.
THE END FOR KOIVU?
The Wild have several pressing questions as they now move toward the offseason. One of the biggest is the status of Mikko Koivu. Koivu has only played for the Wild during his lengthy career. Will he be back? Does another team swoop in to sign him away? Only time will tell.
Seth Toupal | Minnesota Sports Fan
The last 2020 Wild Report Cards (via Jake Jensen – @myhockeyeyes – Twitter)
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