ST. PAUL — Matt Boldy had another stellar game with a goal and team-leading eight shot attempts, but it was the Minnesota Wild's second line of Marcus Johansson, Marco Rossi and Ryan Hartman that delivered the difference-making performance in their 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings inside Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday night.
The trio combined for five points and paved the way to the Wild's fourth win in a row and seventh victory in their past eight games. You could tell from puck drop that this line would be a key ingredient in their recipe for success against Patrick Kane and the Red Wings.
"Felt like I didn't miss a step," said Hartman, who missed the past three games due to injury. "Playing with those two, they see the ice really well. They made a lot of great plays, and we were able to be the difference tonight."
The Wild's depth and secondary scoring continues to be a major reason behind their success without some of their most important players in Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin and Mats Zuccarello — all of whom are injured.
"They're huge parts of our team," Marcus Foligno said. "Guys have done a really good job of stepping up when needed. That shows a lot of character and depth of our team — but we'll be happy when they get back."
Until then, the Wild need players to continue to step up to fill their void. And Wednesday wasn't any different except that it was Johansson who led the way.
Johansson has been playing better as of late after a slow start to the season where he had just one goal and 11 points (six secondary assists) in 25 games. He didn't look like the player who recorded 18 points in 20 games after being traded from the Capitals to the Wild in February in advance of the trade deadline.
Johansson's name on the scoresheet is becoming a more common occurrence as he entered the game with six points in the past eight games.
On Wednesday night, Johansson had the type of breakout performance the Wild needed from him with two goals and three points. It's the first time he has had a three-point night in a Wild sweater since he did so last season against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10.
Johansson was at the right place at the right time early in the second when he found Hartman's rebound in the high slot and fired it past James Reimer glove side 1:37 into the middle frame. The goal gave the Wild a 2-1 lead after Boldy and Patrick Kane first-period goals.
The trio gelled Wednesday, and in 10:42 of ice time, the Wild outshot (8-4) and outscored (3-0) the Red Wings while controlling 71.82 percent of the expected goal share (0.70-0.28), according to Natural Stat Trick.
"We just go out and play and work hard," Johansson said of his line. "And I feel like all three of us can play kind of anywhere. We can play center, play right wing or left wing, and that makes it easier too. You don't have to think. You just play wherever you are, and it's been working so far and it's fun."
Hartman scored his 10th goal of the season that gave the Wild the lead back 4:35 into the third period, a minute and 52 seconds after Alex DeBrincat tied the game at two. The line found the back of the net on the rush when Hartman beat Reimer from the edge of the right circle after a nice feed from Johansson.
Johansson pointed out how Rossi drove to the net, which gave Hartman more time and space, an example of why their line can be so effective. "It’s little stuff like that that makes it work, stuff that might not get a lot of attention — but it pays off for the line," Johansson said.
Hartman was one of the Wild's most noticeable forwards Wednesday night and his goal was a fitting way to cap off his return from injury.
"He can play with anyone, (and) he makes players around him better," Foligno said of Hartman. "He has that poise, can make tough plays in tight, and that buys you some time and get you another scoring chance. ... He plays that gritty game, but at the same time, the skill is lost on some people.
"Our guys don’t take for granted how good he is. He makes plays, threads needles. He probably could have had three or four points tonight. He was playing pretty special.”
Johansson, in the first season of the two-year deal he signed in May, found the back of the net for a second time 75 seconds after Foligno's fifth goal of the season gave the Wild a 4-2 lead. Rossi created a 2-on-1 opportunity when he forced Robby Fabbri to turn the puck over in his own zone. Johansson retrieved the turnover, drove to the net and beat Reimer under his blocker.
Johansson now has three goals and nine points in the past nine games, and there's no question the Wild need his vision and passing ability even more right now with Zuccarello out.
"They were going tonight, obviously all three of them," coach John Hynes said of the line. "It was a good combo. Yeah, it's nice to see Marcus Johansson be able to get rewarded for the way that I think he's played as of late.
“Great skating game, he's making plays, and I thought the three of those guys really stepped up for us tonight."
Kirill Kaprizov scored his 13th goal of the season when he tipped Dakota Mermis’ point shot past Reimer with 5:45 left in the game and 6:15 after Daniel Sprong cut the Wild’s lead to 5-3.
The last time the Wild played the Red Wings, on Nov. 26, they lost 4-1 in Detroit, and Dean Evason was fired the next day.
This time, the Red Wings learned that the Wild, led by their second line Wednesday, are a completely different team under Hynes.