Recent content from Sarah McLellan
Wild's Foligno much more than a role player now
Marcus Foligno is driving the Wild's offense so far on this four-game road trip, which resumes Friday with the first of two in a row at Arizona.
Can Wild keep up as schedule gets more challenging?
Before losing twice to first-place Vegas, the Wild had mostly played against the clubs projected to finish lower than it in the standings.
Wild loses 5-1, shows it has work to do after getting swept in Vegas
"We can't get sidetracked with these tough losses," winger Marcus Foligno said. "We gotta understand that we're a great hockey team."
Parise on being scratched: 'I don't agree with the decision'
The Wild made Zach Parise a healthy scratch for the first time because of his play, most notably a botched shift in the 5-4 overtime loss on Monday.
Kaprizov's hot start means Wild gets a thrill from 'Dollar Bill Kirill"
One practice. That's all it took for Nick Bjugstad to realize his new Wild teammate Kirill Kaprizov wasn't another run-of-the-mill hockey player.
Top line shut down but balanced scoring continues fueling Wild
For the first time in six games, the Wild's most dangerous line of late came up empty-handed in the 5-4 overtime loss to the Golden Knights.
Wild gives up two-goal lead, falls to Vegas in OT to end winning streak
Despite outmuscling Vegas during a four-goal second period, the Wild faded down the stretch as its six-game winning streak came to a halt in overtime.
Wild, Golden Knights face off with first place up for grabs
Vegas will face goalie Cam Talbot, who made 27 saves Friday during a win over Los Angeles that was Talbot's return from the NHL's COVID protocols.
Wild goalie Stalock claimed off waivers by Edmonton
The 33-year-old NHL veteran went on the waiver wire Sunday after being the team's No. 1 goalie at the end of last season.
Wild's Dumba, Zuccarello team up in dramatic OT win over Kings
After a string of anticlimactic victories, the Wild rediscovered its flair for the dramatic in a 4-3 overtime win over the Kings Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.
Kings have seen a lot of Wild rookie Kaprizov, and are impressed
Kirill Kaprizov's wraparound goal vs. L.A. stood out Friday, as did his toughness.
Inspired Dumba scores with .3 seconds left in OT; Wild wins sixth in row
Matt Dumba's game-winner was his sixth overtime goal, the most in franchise history, and also the record for the latest OT goal. It gave the Wild a weekend sweep over the Kings.
What letdown? Wild comes out firing in first game back at the X
Coach Dean Evason interrupted the Wild's morning skate Friday to remind his team about the pitfalls of the first home game after a long road trip.
Wild's Dumba to launch camp aimed at diversity during Hockey Day Minnesota
Youth players from the Herb Brooks Foundation, the Hendrickson Foundation and New Directions Youth Ministry will take part in the event.
Easy as 1-2-3: Trio of first-period goals enough for Wild's fifth win in a row
Kirill Kaprizov, Nick Bjugstad and Joel Eriksson Ek scored on consecutive shots on goal while goalie Cam Talbot was almost unbeatable in his first start since Feb. 2. It added up to a 3-1 victory over the Kings.
Talbot back in net as Wild and Kings match winning streaks at the X
The Wild has won four in a row since losing to the Kings in their first game back from its COVID shutdown. Los Angeles brings a six-game winning streak to St. Paul.
Wild pours it on Colorado 6-2, wins fourth in row on the road
The Wild wrapped up its longest road trip of the season with a continued show of skill. Minnesota picked up eight of a possible 10 points on the trip.
Parise, Fiala, others hit milestones as Wild ends road swing with flourish
After limping through a loss in the road-trip opener, the Wild finished with a night of excellent team play and individual accomplishments.
Wild's Hartman standing out as a playmaking center
Switched from playing wing, Ryan Hartman scored on Wednesday vs. Colorado and has four assists since moving to center.
Kahkonen starts again as Wild ends road trip tonight against Avalanche
Goalie Kaapo Kahkonen has a .930 save percentage and 1.82 goals-against average in five road starts, and is keeping veteran Cam Talbot on the bench.
Wild's hottest line goes up against one of NHL's best in Colorado tonight
The Kaprizov-Rask-Zuccarello line has the Wild offense soaring and faces off vs. the Avalanche trio led by Nathan MacKinnon.
Goal, assist, one-sided fight: Foligno tallies 'Gordie Howe hat trick'
Marcus Foligno wasn't just a participant in a first-period fight with Sharks rookie Nikolai Knyzhov. Foligno stopped the fight after landing a bloody blow.
Wild stays hot on West Coast with 6-2 victory at San Jose
The Wild won for the third time in a row and tallied a season high in goals. Mats Zuccarello tied a career high with four points and Marcus Foligno scored with his stick and his fist.
Wild center Victor Rask takes an early step up in production
With five goals, he has already matched last year's output.
Soucy returns to Wild lineup; Talbot will be back-up goalie tonight
Carson Soucy will be reunited with Ian Cole on the blue line, with captain Jared Spurgeon rejoining Ryan Suter on the top unit.
Wild's Kevin Fiala rediscovers his finishing touch and more
In the third period at Anaheim on Saturday, he passed on an opportunity at a hat trick and earned an assist instead.
Tighter schedule puts practice, rest at odds for Wild
Two rescheduled games are now in place of a five-day break that was to begin Sunday.
Another steady effort from Kahkonen in win over Ducks
With veteran Cam Talbot still sidelined, rRookie Kaap Kahkonen continued a strong season under mostly unexpected circumstances
Wild goalie Talbot enduring a stop-and-no-go season
Injury and COVID-19 have kept Cam Talbot from gaining any traction with the Wild.
Wild's Jonas Brodin back in action vs. Ducks
Defenseman Jonas Brodin will return to the lineup Saturday against the Ducks as the Wild moves closer to getting everyone affected by a COVID-19 outbreak back in action.
Wild finally near full strength after COVID outbreak; lineup still in flux
After welcoming back Cam Talbot, Jonas Brodin, Carson Soucy Brad Hunt and Victor Rask from the NHL's COVID protocols, the team is going to wait until Saturday morning to determine its lineup.
Tic-tac-goal: Foligno nets clinching goal on rare power-play appearance
Marcus Foligno was on the ice at the end of a Wild power play, the NHL's worst, and finished off a slick passing play just as it expired late in the third period
Wild players happy to trade COVID isolation for getting back on the ice
From holing up in hotel rooms to hiding in the basement, Wild players in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol coped with symptoms and/or boredom as best they could.
Plenty left to work on, but Wild pleased with 3-1 victory over Anaheim
First-period goals by Ryan Hartman and Kevin Fiala held up, but the club breathed easier after Marcus Foligno converted late in the third.
Spurgeon, Cole among lineup additions as Wild juggles lines to face Ducks
With his team getting closer to full strength, coach Dean Evason is changing things up after Tuesday's 4-0 loss to Los Angeles.
'Shoot it, shoot it': Wild focuses on scoring more
When the Wild has racked up three or more goals this season, it is 6-1 in those games. And when it's been limited to two goals or fewer, the Wild is winless.
Coach calls 20-year-old Addison's debut 'real good, real poised, real calm'
Calen Addison logged the third-most minutes on the Wild blue line despite being the least experienced, skating almost 20 minutes against the Kings.
Three more Wild players set to return Thursday
Ian Cole, Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm were on the team's COVID list.
Sluggish Wild no match for Kings in return after two-week layoff
Despite outmaneuvering the Kings in three of four previous games this season, the Wild couldn't get anything going in a rusty return to play.
Wild finally returns to ice tonight after two weeks off; eight games rescheduled
With five players still in COVID protocols, and another three released but not ready to play, the Wild will rely on its taxi squad and minor-league call-ups in its return vs. the Kings.
Wild needs Greenway's growth into an NHL force to continue
Leading up to the stoppage, Jordan Greenway was on the best run since his debut with the Wild in 2018.
Wild now faces challenge of making up lost time, and lost ground
The Wild's mission coming out of a weeklong layoff because of COVID-19 protocols is to tighten the gap in a competitive division
Several regulars still sidelined but Wild has 'turned the corner'
Only 16 players skated Friday during the Wild's first practice since the NHL suspended the team's season and shuttered its facilities after a COVID-19 outbreak.
Matt Dumba back for Wild, and Mats Zuccarello is close
Jared Spurgeon and Marcus Johansson still have injuries that will keep them out longer.
With 12 players sidelined, Wild will go back to work Friday
The team will hit the ice at Xcel Energy Center to get ready for a return to action Tuesday after having six games postponed.
Two more players added to Wild's COVID list; one player comes off
Defenseman Jonas Brodin and goalie Cam Talbot were the latest to be placed in the virus protocols as the team's shutdown continued.
With games becoming a grind, Koivu decides its time to retire
Mikko Koivu joined Columbus after 15 seasons in Minnesota. He could become the first Wild player to have his number retired.
Wild has two more games postponed, two more players sidelined by COVID
With 11 players unavailable, the Wild is one of the teams most impacted by the virus since the NHL season began almost a month ago. Six other clubs have been stalled.
Wild now has nine players out due to NHL virus protocols
Defenseman Brad Hunt is the newest addition to the list, which has resulted in the Wild being idled and having four games called off.
What's next for suddenly idle Wild? Sitting, waiting, watching
The Wild has seven players on the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list and won't play until at least late next week. Colorado, the Wild's most recent opponent, is also shut down.
'It was an accident.' Suspension ends for remorseful Fiala
Matt Roy of the Kings hasn't played since the boarding penalty last week that resulted in Wild star Kevin Fiala being suspended for three games.
Wild's next four games called off as COVID concerns sweep through roster
Five Wild players joined Marcus Foligno in being sidelined by NHL virus protocols. Instead of playing tonight at Colorado, the team will return home, with affected players traveling separately.
Spurgeon injured as Wild falls short in 2-1 loss to Colorado
The Wild fell behind early and its lineup, already suffering from the loss of several key players, took another hit when Jared Spurgeon was hurt.
COVID-19 always lurking in the minds of Wild players
With a teammate sidelined, the pandemic is still a threat to the continuity of the NHL season.
Spurgeon latest to get injured in Wild's narrow loss to Avalanche
Wild captain Jared Spurgeon suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday, missing the entire third period.
Colorado star out for next two games against depleted Wild
Nathan MacKinnon will be out for the remainder of the team's four-game series against the Wild, which resumes tonight in Denver.
New jerseys, players and result: Wild tops Avalanche on quick OT goal
Jonas Brodin scored the game-winner as the Wild wore its North Stars-themed jerseys for the first time and rallied past Colorado with a hastily revamped roster.
Wild battles through adversity to overcome Avalanche in overtime
While just getting through the night unscathed might have been a moral victory, the Wild earned more –- two much-needed points in the standings, a template for how to slow down the Avalanche and some swagger for its trip to Denver.
Wild puts Dumba on IR; Foligno sits out because of COVID protocols
Kyle Rau, Gerald Mayhew and Luke Johnson were activated from the taxi squad in time for Sunday night's victory over the Avalanche.
Colorado shreds Wild 5-1 in first of four games between rivals
The Avalanche got a jump on the Wild early and did not look back, limiting Minnesota to a season-low 20 shots. "They're the class of the league," Zach Parise said.
Talbot declares himself 'ready to go' after injury; could start Sunday vs. Avs
Cam Talbot was hurt Jan. 22 in the Wild's home opener vs. San Jose, leaving the game ahead of the second period with a lower-body injury that Talbot called a fluke.
Dumba injured late in lopsided loss to Avalanche
Matt Dumba got his left skate tied up with teammate Jordan Greenway's right skate, and Dumba's right leg bent underneath him as he fell.
Wild using seven defensemen vs. Avalanche in Kevin Fiala's absence
The Wild will take a by-committee approach tonight to filling winger Fiala's spot while he starts to serve a three-game suspension for boarding.
Sturm ' just starting to scratch the surface' in Wild lineup
After spending most of last season in the minors, ex-Clarkson star Nico Sturm has been in a key role for the Wild this season.
Wild's Fiala suspended three games, will miss tough test vs. Avs
Kevin Fiala was penalized for boarding Kings defenseman Matt Roy during Thursday night's game, and the Wild forward will miss three games vs. Colorado.
Wild's grit leads to goals in home victory over Kings
After dropping back-to-back games at home, the Wild rebounded Thursday night with a fast start leading to a 5-3 win over Los Angeles at Xcel Energy Center.
Johansson key to Wild's offense in win over Kings
Marcus Johansson contributed to a three-goal outburst in the first period, and rediscovered his chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov in Thursday's slump-busting, 5-3 win.
Wild breaks up best line ahead of rematch vs. Kings
After two straight losses, Wild coach Dean Evason decided it was time for a change to try and spur his offense.
Wild rally thwarted by Kings this time in 2-1 loss
Joel Eriksson Ek tied the score early in the third period, but Carl Grundstrom put the Kings back in front only four minutes later.
Wild's power play malfunctions again in loss to Kings
Overall, the power play is 2-for-30 this season and ranks 29th in the NHL at 6.7 percent after going 0-for-3 against Los Angeles.
Wild lies low on days between back-to-back games
Optional morning skates precede games as team works out how best to prepare.
Sturm returns, Talbot still out as Wild meets Kings
Wild coach Dean Evason says starting goalie Cam Talbot will miss his second consecutive game and is day-to-day.
Wild is still up-and-down in competitive West Division
Despite a winning record, "We play in spurts right now," center Nick Bonino says.
Wild falls 5-3 to Sharks as Brent Burns scores decisive goal
Burns scored with less than two minutes to play as Wild split their two-game series with San Jose.
Wild rookie Kaprizov practices as hard as he plays
Said left winger Marcus Foligno: "He loves the game. You can just tell."
