In a game that left Jets hopefuls scratching their heads, Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstedt put on a show on Saturday night, stopping 38 of 40 shots to lead the Wild to a dominant 5-2 victory over Winnipeg in an NHL pre-season matchup.
The scoring was spread out for Minnesota as Ben Jones, Jakub Lauko, Graeme Clarke, Daemon Hunt, and Caeden Bankier all found the back of the net. On the other side, Colby Barlow and Colin Miller managed to get a couple past Kaapo Kahkonen, who made 23 saves on 28 shots for Winnipeg at the Canada Life Centre.
The game was marked by a number of turnovers, a common sight in pre-season matches, with many leading to scoring chances and goals for the Wild. Barlow’s late goal, with just 46 seconds remaining, on a feed from Brayden Yager provided some consolation for the Jets in an otherwise frustrating night.
Jones extended Minnesota’s lead to 5-1 early in the third period with an unassisted goal, showcasing his skill by stealing the puck from Mason Shaw and beating Kahkonen. The Wild nearly made it 5-1, but Kahkonen’s save on Cameron Crotty’s breakaway kept the score closer than the run of play suggested. The Jets even outshot the Wild 29-17 through the first two periods.
Lauko’s breakaway goal to make it 4-0 for Minnesota was a highlight of the night, with the forward blocking a Miller shot before racing up the ice and finishing with a well-placed wrist shot past Kahkonen.
As the pre-season rolls on, both teams will look to clean up their play and build some momentum heading into the start of the regular season. With standout performances and areas to improve on, this game provided plenty of talking points for fans and analysts alike.
