Walker, Blake Each Scores Twice as Hurricanes Narrowly Defeat Wild
RALEIGH, N.C. — Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each recorded a goal and an assist to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild at Lenovo Center on Thursday. Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrei Svechnikov also scored, while Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots. Carolina improved to 9-4-0, marking their second straight win and third in the last four games.
“Blake is probably the one who needs the most credit for tonight. The one goal was all him, and the other was just a great pass.” — Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour
For Minnesota, Matt Boldy scored twice in his 300th NHL game. Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves as the Wild’s winning streak ended at two games. Minnesota's coach John Hynes commented on the intense matchup:
“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. We got some looks in different segments of the game.”
Game Highlights
- Boldy gave the Wild an early 1-0 lead at 5:34 of the first period after tapping in a loose puck near the crease following a play by Mark Jankowski.
- The teams scored three goals in just 52 seconds during a fast-paced 4-on-4 sequence, showcasing the intensity of the game.
The Hurricanes showed resilience by overcoming Minnesota’s early lead, highlighted by Blake’s individual effort and playmaking.
Author’s summary: Walker and Blake propelled the Hurricanes to a narrow 4-3 win over the Wild, with strong performances from Andersen and Boldy shaping a tense, fast-paced contest.