ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a final memory of this disappointing season, the Minnesota Wild put forth an uncharacteristically subpar effort to give their loyal fans, who sold out Xcel Energy Center once again, one final home loss to endure.
Game 82, with both teams having nothing to play for, understandably can be tough to play, but some Wild players didn’t even attempt to empty the tank during a season-ending 4-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
Kirill Kaprizov’s first-period power-play goal didn’t hold up as the Wild took lazy penalties, avoided checks and ultimately gave up a backbreaking short-handed breakaway goal in the middle of the third period to Yanni Gourde, one of two he had on the evening. In the end, Tye Kartye deflected a shot with 2:40 to go for the winning goal.
Brock Faber also scored a power-play goal, Mats Zuccarello snapped a 20-game goal drought and Matt Boldy had two assists as the Wild finished the season with a 39-34-9 record for 87 points and 20-16-6 record at home.
“In the first, I thought that we played fast and we were on it,” coach John Hynes said. “In the second period, we were a little bit slow and didn’t really get out of our end much and didn’t have a lot of offensive pressure. When we get in the offensive zone, we didn’t have a lot of puck recoveries and things like that.
“I think tonight we know what happened, but to me, I think it’s important that it’s really the focus coming into (Friday), when we have our (exit) meetings with guys and we’ve got to start to push this thing in the right direction. It starts (Friday) and then we’ll work our plans through the summer and get ready as the summer continues to go along and make sure we’re ready to go in September.”
- Faber ended his rookie year with eight goals and 47 points. He scored the first goal of the Wild’s season and the last goal.
- Freddy Gaudreau went minus-2 and established a team record minus-23 for the season.
- The Wild enter the upcoming draft lottery in the 13th slot, ahead of the June 28-29 draft in Las Vegas. Only the bottom 11 teams have a chance to get the No. 1 pick in the draft. The most a team can move up is 10 picks, so if the Wild get lucky, the best they can move up to is No. 3 overall.
Mats Zuccarello converts on the breakaway, tying it up for the Wild in Game 82!#mnwild pic.twitter.com/ojiLZrktk9
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 19, 2024
Goligoski’s last game?
It was a classy touch by Hynes to put an “A” on Alex Goligoski’s sweater for Thursday’s finale, in what could have been his 1,078th and final game. Hynes also put Goligoski in the starting lineup. Goligoski, 38, is in the final year of his contract and hasn’t decided yet if he’s going to retire. But Goligoski admitted he’s been thinking more about what he’ll do after his playing days, such as pursuing a job in a front office. Goligoski, a true pro over 17 seasons, the last three with his hometown Wild, won the Stanley Cup in 2009 with the Penguins. In typical Goligoski fashion, he was at peace after the game.
“I’m not gonna close any doors or anything,” he said. “I’ll take some time, keep thinking about stuff and just kind of go from there.”
Goligoski said he hasn’t spent a lot of time thinking about retirement and will consider how his body is feeling and if there are any fits out there.
Asked if it was bittersweet leaving the ice one last time in a Wild sweater, the Grand Rapids, Minn., native said, “I mean, I don’t know. Not really. I think I’ll look back on it, if this is it, it’ll feel different. But I don’t know. It feels fine right now. If this is it, this is it. I don’t know. I don’t really get too deep into stuff like that. So, I’m good if that’s it. If it’s not, then I’ll keep going. So we’ll see.”
Quite the finish for Kaprizov
With a torrid pace of 20 goals in his final 21 games, Kaprizov ended his season with 46 goals — one behind his team record — after burying a perfect centering pass from … Seattle’s Jared McCann. The 46 goals tied Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point for eighth in the NHL. His 19 power-play goals this season tied Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos for third in the NHL. Kaprizov now has 58 career power-play goals, 11 behind Zach Parise’s Wild record. Kaprizov was one player who did work hard, finishing with six shots and 12 shots attempted.
Kaprizov gives the Wild the early lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uWvCtyQds4
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 18, 2024
Three stars
1. Yanni Gourde, Kraken: The former Lightning two-time Stanley Cup champion scored two short-handed goals.
2. Matt Boldy, Wild: Assisted on two goals, had three shots and had another eight attempted.
3. Brandon Tanev, Kraken: Two assists, three hits and exuded effort all over the ice.
Quotes of the night
“Been a while since I’ve missed the playoffs. The last little stretch here in the season was weird, playing for nothing really, right? So, not a good feeling, and definitely something I don’t want to feel next year.” — Marc-Andre Fleury, whose 17-year playoff streak ended.
“I think we’re all professionals, so we go into a game and you want to win. Obviously, it’s heartbreaking not to go to the playoffs. I think that’s what we all play for, but some years are like that. Everyone’s gotta get better the next year and look forward to that and come back stronger. We wanted to win in front of our fans one more before we head in different paths here.” — Mats Zuccarello.
“Obviously, no one’s happy. It’s been some ups and downs this season, but once you don’t make the playoffs, it’s a downer for all of us and all the fans and everyone that follows the team. Just have to figure a way to come back stronger and give us the best chance next year.” — Zuccarello.
“We tried to use some guys in different situations, and gave some guys some different opportunities. It was more of a bigger picture. With (Jesper) Wallstedt getting some games, and things like that, it’s important. We think its important for players, too, some of those younger guys, to get some different experiences and opportunity to play. I also think it helps them when they leave to go into the summer, however many games they played — Marat (Khusnutdinov) playing what 15 or 20 games and Wally after the Dallas game getting in a couple games, (Liam) Ohgren getting his first taste. Now, that was short term, now there’s a training camp, there’s 82 of these.” — Hynes.
“Respect for him as a player. What he’s been able to do throughout his career, and as a person. You don’t play as long as he’s played if you don’t have the type of character. Team guy. Great pro. And it’s something we felt, it’d be nice for him tonight.” — Hynes on giving Goligoski the “A.”
(Photo of Marc-Andre Fleury and Seattle’s Tye Kartye: Nick Wosika / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images): )
