Joel Eriksson Ek recorded a goal and an assist for a two-point night to propel the Minnesota Wild to a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night inside Mullett Arena.
Eriksson Ek, Jonas Brodin and Matt Boldy all scored for the Wild (25-23-5) who have won four straight games. Marc-André Fleury made 25 saves.
Logan Cooley had the lone Coyotes goal as their losing streak has grown to seven in a row. Connor Ingram stopped 28 shots before being replaced by Karel Vejmelka who rejected 12 in relief.
Eriksson Ek capitalized on the power play for his 24th goal of the season for the Wild to lead 1-0 with 5:59 remaining in the first period.
Minnesota dominated in the puck possession department, firing at will as they outshot the Coyotes 20-7 before the first intermission concluded.
In the second frame, the game started to even up as both sides had plenty of chances denied by both goaltenders Fleury and Ingram.
“You got to be positive,” Cooley said, “We’ve gotta keep that energy of we’re going to get back in this game and we had our looks, but just couldn’t find a way.”
The goaltending battle would continue throughout the middle period before Arizona responded later on, but it would shortly wipe out.
With Barrett Hayton setting a screen in front of Fleury, Schmaltz found enough space to find the back of the net. But to the dismay to the Coyotes and their fans, the Wild challenged for goalie interference since Hayton made contact with Fleury prior to the potential goal. Taking a few seconds to analyze the play, the officials waved it off after they determined Hayton’s collision with Fleury impeded his ability to save the shot.
Soon after, the ‘Yotes faithful hounded at the referees with a storm of boos before the crowd erupted even more a few minutes later.
Receiving a pass from Connor Dewar, Brodin was open in the slot before scoring off of a deflection, hitting J.J. Moser’s stick and floating by Ingram for a 2-0 Wild edge with just 21 seconds remaining in the second period.
Despite allowing just two goals on 30 shots, Ingram’s night came to an end after the second period.
When the Coyotes returned to the ice for the third, Vejmelka was shockingly guarding the crease. Come to find out, Ingram suffered an injury before the intermission and did not return.
Cooley got the Coyotes within one, 2-1, as his shot squeaked between Fleury’s five hole 5:21 into the third period.
But Boldy ultimately finished off the Wild’s 3-1 win after his snap shot on Vejmelka trickled between the goaltender’s legs before rolling over the goal line.
“I think we played our best hockey in the second half,” Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said. “We had a lot of possession. I would have loved us to put more pucks at the net. I think we held on to it a little bit. Trying for the perfect play which did not happen.”
Next Games
Coyotes: Home vs. Carolina Hurricanes (30-17-5) on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. MST
Wild: Home vs. Buffalo Sabres (23-25-4) on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. MST
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