Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist, Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 24 shots and the Minnesota Wild jumped on the Arizona Coyotes early in a 5-1 victory Friday night.
The Wild had a lackluster performance two nights earlier in a loss to Vegas, but were all over the Coyotes from the start in the opener of the two-game series.
Click to Gallery
Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist, Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 24 shots and the Minnesota Wild jumped on the Arizona Coyotes early in a 5-1 victory Friday night.
Jordan Greenway scored early in the second period and had an assist for the Wild. Kevin Fiala also scored, and rookie Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Foligno had two assists each.
The Wild lost 5-1 to Vegas on Wednesday night despite having nine more shots, but took advantage of their opportunities in a dominating first period against Arizona.
Greenway took advantage of an Arizona defensive breakdown five minutes into the second period and beat Raanta between the pads on a breakaway.
UP NEXT
Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer (36) shields Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise from the puck during the second period during an NHL hockey game Friday, March 5, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRick Scuteri)
Zuccarello scored on Minnesota's second shot of the game, and Brad Hunt and Nick Bjugstad also had goals in the first period.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen makes a save against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 5, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRick Scuteri)
Jordan Greenway scored early in the second period and had an assist for the Wild. Kevin Fiala also scored, and rookie Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Foligno had two assists each.
The Coyotes followed up a 3-2 win at Los Angeles on Wednesday night with a clunker. Arizona had numerous defensive breakdowns to dig a big hole early and came to life offensively too late.
Clayton Keller scored for Arizona and Antti Raanta had 22 saves.
Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) checks Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRick Scuteri)
The Wild lost 5-1 to Vegas on Wednesday night despite having nine more shots, but took advantage of their opportunities in a dominating first period against Arizona.
Zuccarello scored 4 1/2 minutes in, one-timing a pass from Kaprizov right off a faceoff win the Coyotes' end.
Hunt scored his first goal of the season late in the period on a shot from near the blue that squeezed under Raanta's stick arm. Bjugstad scored 1:09 later to make it 3-0, one-timing into an open net after Kaprizov pulled Raanta out of position and backhanded a pass from behind the goal.
Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse (67) shields Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno from the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 5, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRick Scuteri)
Greenway took advantage of an Arizona defensive breakdown five minutes into the second period and beat Raanta between the pads on a breakaway.
Keller finally got the Coyotes on the board early in the third period, one-timing a cross-ice pass from Jordan Oesterle over Kahkonen's glove.
Fiala sealed it with his seventh goal after the Coyotes turned it over in their own end.
Minnesota Wild Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrates with teammates Kirill Kaprizov (97), Victor Rask (49), Matt Dumba (24) and Jared Spurgeon (46) after scoring a goal against the Arizona Coyotes in the first period during an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRick Scuteri)
UP NEXT
Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper is expected to start Saturday against Minnesota after missing three games with a lower-body injury.
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 5, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRick Scuteri)
Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer (36) shields Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise from the puck during the second period during an NHL hockey game Friday, March 5, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP PhotoRick Scuteri)