Walker and Blake Lead Hurricanes Past Wild
RALEIGH, N.C. — Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each recorded a goal and an assist, helping the Carolina Hurricanes edge the Minnesota Wild 4–3 at Lenovo Center on Thursday night.
Key Performers
- Jackson Blake – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Sean Walker – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers – 1 goal each
- Frederik Andersen – 21 saves
- Matt Boldy (Minnesota) – 2 goals
- Filip Gustavsson – 23 saves
Coach Reactions
“Blake is probably the one who deserves the most credit tonight. One goal was entirely his effort, and the other came from a great pass,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour.
“They’re a high-pressure team. At times we handled it well, but there were stretches when the other good team showed its skill,” said Minnesota coach John Hynes.
Game Summary
Boldy opened the scoring at 5:34 in the first period, marking his 300th NHL appearance. Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski disrupted a play involving Kirill Kaprizov, leaving the puck loose in the crease for Boldy to finish past Andersen.
The teams exchanged several quick goals during a frantic 4-on-4 sequence, with Carolina ultimately maintaining the edge to secure its second straight win and third in the last four games. Minnesota’s two-game win streak ended with the loss.
Team Records
- Carolina Hurricanes: 9–4–0
- Minnesota Wild: 5–7–3
Author’s summary: Carolina edged Minnesota 4–3 behind goals from Blake and Walker, continuing their strong stretch while ending Minnesota’s brief winning run.