The Minnesota Wild completed their season on Thursday night with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. A pre-game ceremony to honor Wild goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury with the second annual Tom Kurvers Humanitarian Award for his positive impact on the community. Kurvers was an assistant GM for the Wild until he passed away in 2021 from cancer. Fleury, fresh off of signing a one-year, 2.25M AAV contract extension to play one last year in Minnesota, got the start in net chasing after his 562nd career win.
Scoring his 46th goal of the season, Kirill Kaprizov tallied the first goal of the game at 4:04 in the first period, while the Wild were on the power play. Seattle winger, Oliver Bjorkstrand, was called for interference after he checked Ryan Hartman into the Minnesota goal crease, resulting in the first penalty of the game. The teams were even in first-period shots, though the good guys were up 1-0 after twenty minutes.
The Kraken tied the game in the second period with a power play goal by Matty Beiners at the 11:00 mark. Marcus Johansson watched the goal from the penalty box after taking a tripping penalty. The Wild took three penalties in the period, including Johansson’s minor. Mats Zuccarello had a tripping minor as well and Alex Goligoski also went to the sin bin for a high-sticking call. The second period ended with a 1-1 tie.
Seattle, also playing their last game of the season, began the night with a 33-35-13 record on the season. Both teams trying to end their season on a high note. The Wild were plagued by injuries all year, particularly on the blue line. Jared Spurgeon was ruled out on January 18 for the remainder of the season with a hip injury. The obvious bright spot for the defense was rookie and Minnesota-native, Brock Faber.
Faber, who also played for the Minnesota Gophers is in the conversation with some Connor guy from Chicago for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie. He finished the season with 47 points (8G, 39A) and playing in all 82 games.
In the third, Seattle went ahead 2-1 with a short-handed goal. Zuccarello later tied it on a nifty breakaway, drifting to his left, and the ripping it top-shelf glove side on Seattle goalie Joey Daccord’s glove side. However, Seattle’s Tye Kartye would put the Kraken ahead for good with a goal roughly five minutes later. Yanni Gourde, who had two goals for the game for Seattle, would add an empty netter to put the Kraken up 4-2. Faber would add the last Wild goal of the season with just over a minute left to make it 4-3, but that would be the final score as the Wild end their season with an overall record of 39-33-10 with 87 points.
After the game, Coach Hynes talked about what’s next for the team as they head into the offseason beginning with meetings for each player on Friday. Each player on the team will have separate meetings with both Hynes and Wild GM Bill Guerin. Hynes added “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.”
Marc-Andre Fleury expressed obvious disappointment as he will miss the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons saying, “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.” He added that everyone who comes back next season will “be hungry”.
The Wild will no doubt see roster changes in the offseason, as there are rumors that Alex Goligoski – the Grand Rapids, MN-native, may retire this summer. In a tip-of-the-cap, the Wild made him an alternate captain for tonight’s game and started him on the first line as well. Wild GM, Bill Guerin, will no-doubt be assessing what (and who) the team needs for a return to the playoffs next year.
Side note – for Minnesota and Arizona football fans, I had the honor to meet the father of Larry Fitzgerald while in the press box last night. He was talking with a media member a few seats down to my left from Montreal and I heard “hey, big guy”. I turned and realized he was talking to me. I walked over and we all introduced ourselves. Fitzgerald said, “together, we can’t remember when the North Stars left Minnesota, can you help us out?” I replied, “1993”. Fitzgerald said that the following years until the Wild came to Minnesota were “very bitter”. I added “Norm Green still sucks.”
We talked about the Wild game, as the Minnesota team was putting pressure on the Kraken. I asked, “so you’re Larry Fitzgerald, Sr.?” He said “No, I’m not a senior. I’m the original.” I’m dying. LMAO. I told him that I am from Hutchinson, MN where his son, Larry Fitzgerald, who became an All-Pro NFL wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, must have played a few road games while he played for Holy Angels High School against the Hutch Tigers (reigning Class 4A state champs in 2023, btw.) He replied, “Yeah, Hutchinson. I’ve been there, we had the Dennis Green Show (former MN Vikings Head Coach) from Hutchinson once.” It was an unexpected surprise to meet him, but very likeable guy.
The end of the season for the Wild, can also mean the end for some of their staff. I rode the elevator down with Julie from the Xcel Energy Center staff who had a cart full of flowers and gifts as she was retiring last night. Then there is my security pal, Doug P. who is the last man standing (or sitting) before I reach the locker room who always has a mint at the ready to hand out (greatly appreciated, btw). It’s really the staff at the X who make it all happen and make our experience seamless and incredible every game. Stick taps to you all.
Well, Wild fans. I will be covering Wild news over the summer and like Fleury, I also agreed to a contract extension this week, with The Morning Skate of course, so I will be back for my fourth season next year and I couldn’t be more stoked. Stay tuned in for more and be sure to check out The Morning Skate for all of the Stanley Cup Playoff coverage. I’m out.
The Morning Skate 