Walker and Blake Lead Hurricanes to 4-3 Win Over Wild
Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each contributed a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Minnesota Wild 4-3 at the Lenovo Center on Thursday.
Other scorers for Carolina included Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers. Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots, helping the Hurricanes improve to 9-4-0 and secure their second straight win and third in the last four games.
“Blake is probably the one who needs the most credit for tonight,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “The one goal was all him, and the other was just a great pass.”
Wild's Boldy Scores Twice
Matt Boldy netted two goals for the Wild, who had won their previous two games. Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves in the loss.
“They’re a high-pressure team. There were times I thought we handled it well, and there were times when there was another good team on the ice, too,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “We got some looks in different segments of the game.”
Boldy opened the scoring at 5:34 of the first period, tapping in a loose puck on a rush after Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski lifted Kirill Kaprizov’s stick near the crease. This was Boldy’s 300th NHL game.
Fast-Paced Action
The game featured an intense 4-on-4 sequence where the teams combined for three goals in just 52 seconds, showcasing the competitive nature of the matchup.
Summary
The Hurricanes’ balanced offense and strong goaltending secured a tight victory over the resilient Wild, highlighted by Blake’s standout performance and Boldy’s two goals.
Author’s Takeaway
The Hurricanes' win demonstrated their depth and ability to perform under pressure, with key plays by Blake and Andersen proving decisive in a closely contested game.