Alex Goligoski scored his first goal of the season 1:12 into overtime and the Minnesota Wild generated enough late-game offense to overcome the visiting Carolina Hurricanes in a 2-1 victory Saturday night in St. Paul, Minn.
Sam Steel forced overtime with a goal late in the third period and Minnesota was on the way to breaking a three-game losing streak. Steel and Frederick Gaudreau assisted on the winning goal.
Sebastian Aho scored Carolina’s goal, but the Hurricanes were saddled with their second straight loss.
Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson made 20 saves.
Pyotr Kochetkov of the Hurricanes stopped 19 saves after appearing in good shape for a potential second shutout in less than a week.
Steel’s third goal of the season came with 2:37 remaining in regulation.
Kochetkov is 2-0-1 since joining the Hurricanes from the American Hockey League following an injury to top goalie Frederik Andersen. Kochetkov was close to posting back-to-back shutouts after blanking the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday for his first career shutout.
Aho scored at 13:47 of the first period for his ninth goal, with Martin Necas and Stefan Noesen picking up assists. Necas sent a smooth pass through the slot and Aho one-timed it past Gustavsson.
Aho has posted goals in back-to-back games for the third time this season. In 15 career games against Minnesota, he now has 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists).
The Wild weren’t overly active in the offensive zone. They took five shots on goal in the first period and eight more in the second. The teams each had one shot in the first eight minutes of the third period.
Among Kochetkov’s best stops came by denying Mats Zuccarello late in the second period.
Steel broke through for his goal. Jared Spurgeon and Kirill Kaprizov had assists.
Carolina has been stingy defensively. This was the first game since the Hurricanes allowed a season-low shot total (15) in a game against the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.
The Wild have a nine-game home-ice points streak in games against Carolina.
–Field Level Media
