Wild Finally Solve Talbot, Win 2-1
The Minnesota Wild spent the night camped in front of Cam Talbot. Their 2-1 win should have been far more comfortable. Only the Columbus goalie kept it a one-goal game.
The gap was wide. Minnesota outshot Columbus 34-14. By expected goals, a measure of how many goals a team's chances were worth, the Wild's looks added up to 4.73 against just 1.35 for the Blue Jackets. That is nearly five goals' worth of chances turned into two.
Talbot made 32 saves. He stopped about 1.75 more goals than an average goalie would have on those shots. Max Shabanov also rang a shot off the post, so Minnesota left goals on the table.
Kirill Kaprizov scored on 5 shots, and Matt Boldy fired 6 without scoring. Danila Yurov scored on a line with Yakov Trenin and Shabanov. Minnesota went 1-for-4 on the power play.
At the other end, Jesper Wallstedt had a quiet night, stopping 13 of 14. Adam Fantilli scored the lone Columbus goal.
The Wild move to 5-2-1 and 3-0-0 at home. Columbus, 3-3-0, got a strong night from its goalie and little offence in front of him.
