Takeaways: Marcus Foligno has first hat trick as Wild top Maple Leafs 6-3

The injured Wild certainly aren’t intimidated by the improbable.

They ended the Maple Leafs’ seven-game win streak at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena in a 6-3 rout Monday, Jan. 19, while still missing five regulars.

“That’s what happens with this team: Guys go down, but we seem always to have guys fill the void and fill the hole, and it’s special,” Marcus Foligno told reporters in Toronto. “It’s a special group, and I’m just happy I’m able to help as part of the leadership group and collect some wins when we have certain guys out.”

Foligno netted his first career hat trick with family and friends in attendance, including his dad Mike.

But Foligno didn’t copy the goal celebration made famous by his dad during his NHL career by leaping into the boards.

“I’m more in shock that I got a hat trick let [alone] one goal,” Foligno said. “So, I wasn’t thinking about the whole extracurricular stuff at that time. But it’s special to get one in front of him, for sure.”

Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist on Foligno’s third into an empty net, passing up a chance at his own hat trick. Ryan Hartman also scored, while Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes were the playmakers, finishing with two assists apiece. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves.

Since then, Foligno has four goals and Tarasenko three. Hartman has chipped in two goals and an assist while assuming the No. 1 center position between Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. Kaprizov is up to five assists on the trip, while Hughes has factored in three goals and scored one himself.

Gustavsson, who was starting consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 14-16, earned his 99th career victory in in his 200th game.

Again, the Wild started on time, taking advantage of an early power play when sharp passing from Hughes to Kaprizov to Hartman found Tarasenko in front for a wide-open wrister only 4 minutes, 45 seconds into the first period.

Later, the Wild pounced on a Toronto turnover to keep the puck in the offensive zone, and Kaprizov one-timed the puck to Zuccarello, who forwarded it to Hartman for a shot under goalie Joseph Woll’s left pad at 10:29. Hartman is on a season-high four-game point streak and has five goals in his last seven games.

A high stick by captain Jared Spurgeon on the Leafs’ John Tavares led to a four-minute power play for Toronto, and the Wild looked like they could be in trouble after Tavares drained a one-timer only 18 seconds into the PP.

They got through the rest of Toronto’s power play (the penalty kill went 3-for-4) before widening their cushion when Foligno deflected in a Brock Faber shot at 6:53.

“That’s impossible to save,” Faber said of Foligno’s redirect.

Tarasenko split the Leafs defense for a breakaway set up by Hughes at 8:24 for his second two-goal game of the season.

Then Foligno added his second of the night on the power play with 46 seconds left in the second, another tip of a Faber shot; the Wild power play was 2-for-3.

Woll exited after the second period, leaving with 24 saves. Dennis Hildeby made eight stops in relief.

After Tarasenko’s attempt at the empty net and his own hat trick missed, he handed off to Foligno, who skated in his third goal.

“He was in a better spot,” said Tarasenko, the two-time Stanley Cup champion who’s in his first season with the Wild after an offseason trade from Detroit. “I took my chance before, missed the net, and he was wide open. I learned after this is his first career hat trick and very happy for him. He’s awesome person.

“He invited me over for dinner when I came by myself, my first couple of weeks in Minnesota, so I get the chance to know him, his wife, his kids, and he’s a very nice person.”

Foligno was an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick against Buffalo, the winger scoring and fighting in defense of Hughes.

He has “way more” Gordie Howe hat tricks than hat tricks, with his last coming in juniors.

“So, I was just like he’s got a couple hat tricks, so he can give [up] this one.”

Of Foligno’s six goals this season, five have come in the past four games.

“It’s not about how you start. It’s about how you’re finishing,” he said. “So, getting through some injuries and just stuff like that and just finding my game at a good time. Yeah, it wasn’t a great start. A lot of just weird play and couldn’t get my rhythm in my game going. Not that scoring touches it, but I just feel a lot better now.”

BOXSCORE: Wild 6, Toronto 3

NHL standings

Hughes became the fastest player in Wild history to reach 20 points, getting there in 18th game after being traded from Vancouver last month to surpass the previous record held by Cliff Ronning (20 games).

“He makes everyone better around him, right?” Foligno said. “That’s what elite players do. It’s special. He calms the game down. He explodes the game for us. It doesn’t matter what type of line is out there: Guys get open because of his skill, his vision, and hockey IQ. Lucky to have him.”

This is the blueprint for how the Wild can thrive (and not just survive) while their key players are on the mend.

They’re getting timely contributions from their veterans: Tarasenko’s shot has been clutch, while Hartman and Foligno are playing their strongest hockey of the season. The leadership of Kaprizov and Hughes is also apparent, the two threading passes and creating opportunities like only they can with their skill and savviness. In net, Gustavsson is steady, and that’s a competitiveness that sets the tone for the entire team.

The Wild are their best when they’re healthy, but they continue to prove that expectations shouldn’t change when they’re shorthanded.