National Hockey League
Minnesota 3, Chicago 2
When: 2:00 PM ET, Friday, November 29, 2024
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees: Cody Beach, Chris Lee
Linesmen: Justin Johnson, Derek Nansen
Attendance: 18532

Jared Spurgeon celebrated his 35th birthday in style, scoring twice to help the Minnesota Wild rally past the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Friday in Saint Paul, Minn.

The Wild captain, who played just 16 games last season due to back and hip injuries, scored for the first time since April 2023 and notched the eighth multi-goal game in his 15-year career.

Trailing 2-0 midway through the second period, the Wild made some changes to their lines, and the shake-up led to two goals in a 17-second span.

Marco Rossi cut Chicago's lead in half after Marcus Johansson found him cutting to the net. Kirill Kaprizov, who played in his 300th NHL game, set up the goal with a spinning pass across the attacking zone to Johansson.

Seconds after the ensuing faceoff, Spurgeon tied it when he knocked the puck into the crease, and it deflected into the net off Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy's skate with 9:11 left in the second.

Seven minutes later, Spurgeon gave Minnesota its first lead of the game when he skated across center ice and shot the puck after entering the attack zone. Chicago goalie Petr Mrazek got his glove on the puck, but it still trickled past him into the net.

Joel Eriksson Ek had two assists for the Wild. Kaprizov, Johansson, Matt Boldy and Marcus Foligno also recorded assists for Minnesota, which won for the second straight game.

Former Wild center Ryan Donato scored both goals for the Blackhawks, including a power-play tally in the second period. It was the second two-goal game of the season for Chicago's leading goal-scorer, who has 10 in 21 games after never recording more than 16 in his previous eight seasons.

Tyler Bertuzzi, Alex Vlasic and Connor Bedard earned assists for the Blackhawks.

Marc-Andre Fleury got the start in net for the Wild, who will host Nashville on Saturday night. The veteran goalie, who turned 40 on Thursday, made 20 saves to win for the fifth time in six starts.

Mrazek made 26 saves for Chicago, which lost for the fifth time in seven games.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Chicago   Minnesota
Ryan Donato 2 Points Jared Spurgeon 2
Ryan Donato 2 Goals Jared Spurgeon 2
Connor Bedard 1 Assists Joel Eriksson Ek 2
Ryan Donato 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Petr Mrazek .897 Save Percentage Marc-Andre Fleury .909
Petr Mrazek 26 Saves Marc-Andre Fleury 20
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Chicago 22 2 1-3 2-2 6 15
Minnesota 29 3 0-2 2-3 6 27
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Nashville. The Wild have a W/L % of .600 after a win and .750 after a loss.
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against Columbus. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .111 after a win and .500 after a loss.