Just when the Wild are rebounding in St. Paul and rekindling their offense, they have to go on a two-week hiatus.
“Just weird the way the season works,” captain Jared Spurgeon said.
But after overcoming a successful homecoming by the Islanders’ Minnesotans to rally 6-3 Saturday at Xcel Energy Center while playing down another forward because of injury, the Wild could have momentum waiting for them after the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Obviously, we feel like we’re playing well and in a good spot,” Spurgeon said. “But there’s a lot of season left. Take the break, the mental break, but also for your body as well, and come back ready to go.”
Frederick Gaudreau, Matt Boldy and Yakov Trenin sparked the second-period comeback, with Boldy and Trenin scoring 51 seconds apart to turn a 3-1 deficit into a one-goal lead.
Boldy capitalized again in the third period for a three-point performance that tied his season high, and Marcus Foligno tacked on an empty-netter with 4:14 to go for his 10th goal.
“We got more emotionally engaged in the game,” coach John Hynes said, “and played a little bit more north and direct.”
Goaltender Filip Gustavsson finished with 31 saves, and the Wild won back-to-back games at home for the first time since Nov. 30 and Dec. 3 despite being shorthanded.