Boldy's Hat Trick Lifts Wild Past Blues 5-4
The Minnesota Wild had the better of this one almost all night, and they still needed every goal to beat the St. Louis Blues 5-4.
Minnesota outshot St. Louis 38-24, and its chances were simply better. By expected goals, a measure of how many goals a team's chances were worth, the Wild built up 4.86 to the Blues' 2.82. In other words, the Wild's chances were worth nearly two goals more than St. Louis's.
Matt Boldy led the way with a hat trick and four points on eight shots, playing alongside Kirill Kaprizov (one goal, two assists) and Joel Eriksson Ek (two assists).
So why was it close? Joel Hofer made 33 saves for St. Louis. At the other end, Jesper Wallstedt allowed four goals on 24 shots. Cam Fowler set up three Blues goals. The posts also had a busy night. Shots rang off the iron five times, and three of those belonged to St. Louis: Colton Parayko, Mason McTavish and Pius Suter. A friendlier bounce or two, and the Blues might have stolen a point.
