Instant Analysis with three takeaways from the Wild's 4-2 win over Islanders
The Minnesota Wild have now won two in a row with their 4-2 win over the Islanders. Early we talked about how the Wild will look to build off their last two periods during the New York Rangers game.
Tonight they did just that and walked away with a 4-2 win over the Islanders. Vinni Lettieri picked up his first goal of the year, the Wild's power play connected with a goal, and the Pat Maroon, Marcus Foligno, and Joel Eriksson Ek line looked great tonight.
Vinni Lettieri gets first goal with Wild
In his seventh game for the Wild, Lettieri has his first with his hometown team. He did it with his grandpa Lou Nanne, in the broadcast booth.
Lettieri, 28, signed with the Wild in the offseason. He brings over 270 career games in the AHL with 232 points and 90 career NHL games with eight goals and 19 points after tonight's goal.
His goal came after Brock Faber fed one to Matt Boldy on the flank. Boldy waited, opened up, and passed one to Lettieri at the blue line. The former Gopher forward, walked in a bit and fired a shot past Semyon Varlamov tying the game at 2-2 in the second period.
Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov connect on power play
Not only did Wild head coach Dean Evason split up Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov from the top line but also on the top power play unit. But after three straight power plays with nothing to show for it Evason put Zuccarello back on the top power play.
Zuccarello replaced Boldy on the top unit with Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Johansson, and Marco Rossi. It only took about 40 seconds on the power play before Zuccarello found Kaprizov on the far side for a goal.
It was Kaprizov's fourth goal of the year and his second in his last three games. It gave the Wild a 3-2 lead and a much needed power play goal that has connected now twice in their last 11 power plays.
Foligno-Eriksson Ek-Maroon line
Since being put together the Foligno-Eriksson Ek-Maroon line has looked great. It has provided the Wild with a lot of physicality, defensive play, and some offense. But most importantly it has got the Wild's identity back.
Maroon got the Wild on the board first on the first shift of the game. The third line went to work after the puck was dumped into the zone by Jake Middleton. Foligno did his job by pressuring Ryan Pulock.
Eriksson Ek picked up the loose puck and fed Maroon in the slot who scored his second of the year. Last year the Wild started the year slow but quickly found their identity.
The Wild's newly constructed third line could be what gets the Wild's identity back and tonight was a good example of that.