ST. PAUL, Minn. — Andrei Svechnikov’s goal 1:33 into overtime lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-3 overtime victory Saturday over the Minnesota Wild.
Svechnikov’s wrist shot from the right faceoff circle off a feed from Dougie Hamilton beat Devan Dubnyk to the stick side to hand the Wild just their second regulation loss in seven home games.
Eleven different Hurricanes recorded points as they improved to 5-1 in overtime while Minnesota fell to 0-2 in the extra session.
The Wild had plenty of chances to take the lead in the third period but were thwarted when Hurricanes goalie James Reimer swiped Joel Eriksson Ek’s shot off the goal line before Jordan Greenway’s blast hit the back of the goaltender’s left pad and clanked off the far goal post.
For the fifth time in six games the Wild (7-11-2) fell behind 2-0, but they rallied to tie the game 3-3 entering the third period. But it was not enough to overcome a Carolina team that improved to
Joel Edmundson opened the scoring for Carolina 3:56 into the game. His point shot deflected off Wild centre Luke Kunin over Dubnyk’s glove for the defenceman’s second goal of the season. Martin Necas also drew an assist, giving him eight points in eight games.
Two minutes later a rebound off Dubnyk ricocheted into the slot where winger Brock McGinn pounced on the puck and whipped it past the goaltender on the short side, and the Hurricanes were cruising.
Luke Kunin cut the deficit in half 4:27 into the second period. His quick shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle beat Reimer to convert a pretty three-way passing play with Jordan Greenway and Jonas Brodin. It was Kunin’s fourth goal of the season.
Minnesota’s momentum was fleeting. Warren Foegele regained Carolina’s two-goal lead at 8:50, one-timing Ryan Dzingel’s centring feed past Dubnyk for his second goal in three games after scoring only one in his first 17.
Then it was the Wild’s turn for a quick two-goal strike. Zach Parise bagged his sixth of the season shorthanded at 15:43. Just 1:21 later defenceman Carson Soucy beat Reimer with a wrist shot from the left circle for his first career NHL goal. Former Hurricanes centre Victor Rask earned the lone assist as Minnesota outshot Carolina 15-7 in the second period.
Brian Murphy, The Associated Press
