The Vorarlberger had played in the NHL for the first time on Epiphany, the Wild celebrated a 3-2 away win against the Boston Bruins. His first game on home ice brought the same close result, but after a real thriller. Rossi took his first penalty in the ninth minute. He was put in the penalty box for two minutes to stop. In the twelfth minute he tested Capitals goalie Zach Fucale for the first time with a shot on goal, three minutes later another shot over the goal.
After the goalless first third, the capital city team took the lead with a double strike from Connor McMichael (23rd) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (26th / PP). In the 34th minute, an own goal credited to Minnesota attackers brought the home team back into play. In the third third, Minnesota Wild pushed for the equalizer, with Rossi also having his strongest moments. Fucale had to fend off the Vorarlberger’s second and third shot on goal in the 50th and 52nd minute.
The great commitment of the home team was rewarded by Zuccarello’s equalizer in the 60th minute. It was also the first goal for Washington goalkeeper Fucale in the NHL after 138 minutes. He set a record with it – no goalkeeper kept his goal clean at the beginning of his career in the league. At the own goal, Fucale had left his goal for an extra attacker with an indicated penalty against the game.
After a goalless extension, the decision was finally made in the penalty shootout, in which the home team prevailed 2-0 after attempts by Kevin Fiala and Frederick Gaudreau. The Wild lacked numerous regulars with strikers Kirill Kaprisow, Joel Eriksson Ek, Nick Bjugstad (all injured), Brandon Duhaime and Jordan Greenway (both CoV protocol), defenders Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon and goalie Cam Talbot (all injured). Rossi had an ice age of 14:51 minutes in total.
Dallas turns game against penguins
The Dallas Stars with Carinthian Michael Raffl turned the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins into a win. After the early 0: 2 with a double strike within 25 seconds (7th minute), the hosts fought their way back into the match, goals from Denis Gurianov (37th), Joe Pavelski (55th) and Roope Hintz (57th) helped them to the 3-2 success against the favorites for superstar Sidney Crosby.
Brian Dumoulin with a durable shot and Kaspari Kapanen, who deflected the puck into the goal, shot Pittsburgh quickly into the lead, the stars were unable to use their chances for the time being. A shot by Raffl missed the goal (13th). But in the middle section, the hosts came into play better, proved to be equal opponents and were also a little lucky with the connection goal.
In the last third there was an exchange of blows with the better end for the stars, who still lived up to their nimbus as one of the strongest home teams in the league. A double strike from Joe Pavelski (55th) and Roope Hintz (57th / 13th goal of the season each) ended the ten-match winning streak of the “Penguins”. Dallas celebrated the fourth success in a row, the second after the longer forced break due to positive coronavirus tests of several players.
National Hockey League
Tables basic round
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