Wild Secures 4-0 Victory Against Kraken, Playoff Hopes Bolstered

The Minnesota Wild achieved a decisive 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, driven by a remarkable sequence of three goals within the first 8:11 of the second period. Marco Rossi, Justin Brazeau, and Mats Zuccarello contributed to this scoring burst, with Frederick Gaudreau sealing the win with an empty-net goal. Goalie Filip Gustavsson continued his strong performance, stopping 20 of 21 shots, enhancing the Wild's position in the playoff race with 85 points, eight points clear of the St. Louis Blues. In a prior matchup, the Wild also dominated the Seattle Kraken, winning 4-0, with Gustavsson recording a shutout by saving all 35 shots faced. Ryan Hartman, Matt Boldy, and Liam Ohgren scored early, establishing a commanding lead, and Boldy later added an empty-netter. The Wild's offensive resurgence, particularly in the early periods, marks a significant improvement as they approach the final stretch of the season.