National Hockey League
Minnesota 4, Detroit 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees: Frederick L'Ecuyer, Chris Rooney
Linesmen: Devin Berg, Michel Cormier
Attendance: 18324

Frederick Gaudreau scored two goals and the Minnesota Wild won their third straight game by downing the visiting Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Matt Dumba and Mats Zuccarello had the other goals for Minnesota, which has given up just two goals during the streak. Filip Gustavsson made 16 saves while recording his fifth consecutive victory.

Magnus Hellberg, making his first Red Wings start this season after being claimed off waivers, stopped 18 shots. Elmer Soderblom, just recalled from the American Hockey League after an injury rehab assignment, scored the lone goal for Detroit. The Red Wings are winless in their last four games.

Detroit defenseman Filip Hronek left the game in the first period after taking a blindside hit from Ryan Reaves. The Red Wings were already without center and team captain Dylan Larkin, who suffered a hand injury in a 1-0 loss to Carolina on Tuesday and did not make the trip.

The Red Wings had only two shots on goal in the first period as Minnesota took a 1-0 lead.

Detroit's Lucas Raymond was whistled for tripping Samuel Walker at 12:44. The Wild cashed in as Gaudreau lifted a shot over Hellberg's right shoulder for his sixth goal. Sam Steel and Jared Spurgeon collected the assists.

Dumba beat Hellberg on the stick side for his third goal 8:02 into the second period. He benefited from a nifty pass by Jordan Greenway, who won a puck battle along the boards. Joel Eriksson Ek had the second assist.

Soderblom scored his third goal after making a steal in the Wild zone. Adam Erne returned the puck from behind the net and Soderblom scored in front.

Minnesota made it 3-1 only 16 seconds later and with little more than one minute left in the period. Zuccarello scored his 10th goal from his knees, firing the puck between Hellberg's pads. Kirill Kaprizov collected the assist.

Gaudreau clinched the Wild's victory on an empty-netter with 42 seconds remaining. Marcus Foligno had the assist.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Detroit   Minnesota
Elmer Soderblom 1 Points Frederick Gaudreau 2
Elmer Soderblom 1 Goals Frederick Gaudreau 2
Adam Erne 1 Assists Joel Eriksson Ek 1
N/A Power Play Goals Frederick Gaudreau 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Magnus Hellberg .857 Save Percentage Filip Gustavsson .941
Magnus Hellberg 18 Saves Filip Gustavsson 16
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Detroit 17 1 0-3 3-4 13 25
Minnesota 22 4 1-4 3-3 11 28
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Wild have a W/L % of .562 after a win and .538 after a loss.
  • Detroit will play their next game at home against Ottawa. The Red Wings have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .375 after a loss.