After a very strong 4-1 start to the new season, the Bolts went on the road for the first time in 2018. Their first stop – Minnesota – where they haven’t won since 2011.
The first period was dominated by the Lightning. It started with the first goal of the season by Ryan Callahan in just his second game since coming back from injury. The goal was off a deflection from Anton Stralman at 2:23 of the first period.
Yanni Gourde would add his third goal of the season mid-way through the first. A couple minutes later, the Wild would cut into the lead after Lightning goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy, would turn the puck over and get beat by Charlie Coyle.
J.T. Miller would get the two-goal lead back with a power play goal heading into the first intermission.
Wild begin to take control
As dominant as the Bolts were in the first, the Wild began to turn the tide in the second. Former Bolt, J.T. Brown, assisted on the only goal scored in the second frame. Marcus Foligno would pull the Wild within one as he put his first of the year past Vasilevskiy.
Back-up goalie and Minnesota native, Alex Stalock, shut the Bolts out in the second making some amazing key saves on the power play. After Miller’s goal, the Bolts would finish the night just 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Bolts give it up and take it back
The Wild weren’t done in the third. They came all the way back to take a 4-3 lead in the third period thanks to goals from Zach Parise and Jason Zucker. But Stralman would play the hero late in the third with a game-tying goal, his first of the year, to send it to overtime.
Free hockey on the road
The Wild would pick up the second point and the win with a game-winner by Mikael Granlund at the 3:43 mark of the extra frame. It would snap the Bolts four-game winning streak as they head to Chicago.
THREE STARS
- MIN C Charlie Coyle – got the scoring started for the Wild and assisted on the game-winner in overtime. Also finished +1 on the evening.
- TB LW Yanni Gourde – scored in the first and assisted on Stralman’s game-tying goal late in the third. Was all over the ice tonight.
- MIN G Alex Stalock – after a rough first period, settled in to allow just one more goal the rest of the way. Made clutch saves on the penalty kill as well.
