Walker, Blake each has 2 points as Hurricanes edge Wild
RALEIGH, N.C. — Jackson Blake and Sean Walker both recorded a goal and an assist, helping the Carolina Hurricanes secure a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild at Lenovo Center on Thursday. Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for the Hurricanes, while Frederik Andersen made 21 saves. Carolina improved to 9-4-0 with their second consecutive win and third in the last four games.
“Blake is probably the one who needs the most credit for tonight,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “The one goal was all him, and the other was just a great pass.”
Minnesota's Matt Boldy scored twice in the game. The Wild, who had won their previous two games, fell to 5-7-3. Filip Gustavsson stopped 23 shots in the loss.
“They’re a high-pressure team. There were times I thought we handled it well, and there were times when there was another good team on the ice, too,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “We got some looks in different segments of the game.”
Game Highlights
- Boldy opened the scoring at 5:34 of the first period, giving the Wild a 1-0 lead.
- On a Carolina rush, Mark Jankowski lifted the stick of Kirill Kaprizov near the net, leading to a loose puck that Boldy tapped in to score.
- The teams combined for three goals in 52 seconds during an intense 4-on-4 sequence.
The Hurricanes' balanced scoring and solid goaltending ultimately proved decisive in this tightly contested matchup.
Author’s summary: Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each contributed a goal and assist as the Hurricanes narrowly defeated the Wild 4-3, showcasing strong performances on both sides.