In a season opener marked by the Florida Panthers’ misfortunes, the Minnesota Wild emerged victorious with a commanding 2-0 win. It was a night of firsts and exemplary goaltending, with the Panthers on the receiving end of some unfortunate events.
Brock Faber, a standout native of Minnesota, seized the moment in the first period, notching his debut NHL goal. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky faced an onslaught of shots, with Filip Gustavsson stopping an impressive 41 shots to secure a season-opening shutout for the Wild.
Exemplary teamwork was on full display when Joel Eriksson Ek assisted in Faber’s milestone goal. Not content with that, Eriksson Ek himself capitalized on a 4-on-3 situation in the second period, further extending the Wild’s lead. Gustavsson, who had already won over the hearts of fans following his stellar debut season with the Wild, continued to stand tall as an impenetrable fortress in the net.
Gustavsson, with humility, commented, “It’s not going to be like that every night, that’s for sure. It’s on the limit a few times. It’s very close, that the puck goes by me. But sometimes you’re lucky, and you create your own luck.”
The Xcel Energy Center, home to the Wild, continued to be an unfriendly venue for the Panthers, as they now sport a 9-1-1 record in season openers at the arena and an 11-2-3 record when facing the Wild at home.
Faber, who previously starred in college hockey for the home-state Gophers, was entrusted with a prominent role on the first defensive pair alongside Jonas Brodin. He capitalized on the opportunity, converting a drop pass from Matt Boldy into a powerful slap shot that eluded Panthers’ goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Down 10-2 in shots before Faber’s strike, the Wild finally found their rhythm. Coach Dean Evason praised Faber, saying, “Jumped into the play a lot. He’s just a very intelligent hockey player.”
The game took on a somewhat exhibition-like feel at times but escalated in physicality. Dual penalties left both teams shorthanded, putting Bobrovsky in a tough position. After the Wild’s Alex Goligoski hit the crossbar on a 4-on-4 shot, Panther’s defenseman Dmitry Kulikov was penalized for tripping Mats Zuccarello, granting the Wild a 4-on-3 advantage. Eriksson Ek seized this opportunity, securing the two-goal lead for the Wild.
While the Panthers were the last Eastern Conference team to make the playoffs last season, their ambitions are set higher this time under the leadership of coach Paul Maurice and star player Matthew Tkachuk. They aim to not only return to the Stanley Cup Finals but to secure their franchise’s first-ever championship.
Despite their defeat in the opening game of the season, the Panthers demonstrated some potential, with rookie Mackie Samoskevich making an impactful debut on the third line, and Tkachuk relentlessly putting 10 shots on goal with 15 attempts.
Coach Maurice emphasized the importance of their performance, stating, “When your goalie plays a game like that, you should have a chance to win.”
The Wild’s normally sturdy defense showed some vulnerability, especially with captain Jared Spurgeon sidelined due to an upper body injury. Furthermore, Matt Dumba’s departure to Arizona marked the end of his ten-year tenure with the team. However, the Wild managed to block 26 shots, and Gustavsson delivered a stellar performance.
Looking ahead, the Wild are confident in their goaltender Gustavsson, who is often referred to as the “Gus Bus,” after awarding him a new contract and making him the clear starter over Marc-Andre Fleury. Gustavsson’s statistics from the previous season, including a 2.10 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage in 39 games, have solidified his position as a key asset for the team.
Faber acknowledged the vital role of their goaltender, stating, “It gives you a lot of confidence as a defenseman when you see your goalie playing the way he was. It makes our job very easy. Obviously, we hope to support him a little more.”
The Florida Panthers will now regroup as they prepare to face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, with their home opener set for October 19th against Toronto at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
