Brad Marchand scores 2, including decisive OT goal, in Panthers 4-3 win over Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Brad Marchand scored twice, with his second coming 3 minutes into overtime, and the Florida Panthers won their third-straight road game with a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Sam Reinhart had a goal and assist, Sam Bennett also scored, and the Panthers improved to 5-2 in their past seven. Reinhart's goal was his 25th of the season, marking the sixth straight year and seventh time overall he's scored that many.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 shots for his 207th career road win, and he moved into third on the NHL list behind only Martin Brodeur (310) and Marc-Andre Fleury (246). Bobrovsky began the day tied with Ed Belfour.

Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy had a goal and assist each, while Joel Eriksson Ek also scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson stopped 30 shots in dropping to 9-2-4 in his past 13.

Marchand, who also added an assist, decided the game in being set up by Carter Verhaeghe on a 2-on-1 break. Verhaeghe gained control of the puck after Boldy was unable to control a pass from Quinn Hughes in the Florida end.

Boldy, in his first game after missing four with an upper-body injury, put the Wild ahead 3-2 with a short-handed goal with 7:51 left in regulation. Bennett, however, tied it 62 seconds later on the same Panthers’ power play.

Florida improved to 15-0-3 in games decided by one goal this season.

Kaprizov extended his points streak to five games, in which he’s combined for three goals and nine assists.

Minnesota’s John Hynes, who is from Rhode Island, coached his 800th career game, becoming the NHL’s fourth U.S.-born coach to reach that plateau.

Panthers: At Chicago on Sunday night.

Wild: Host Chicago on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett, left, trips over Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) controls the puck with Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett (9) right behind him during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Minnesota Wild's Danila Yurov (22) and Florida Panthers' A.J. Greer (10) fall over each other during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand, right, trips while racing Minnesota Wild's Jake Middleton, left, to the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Florida Panthers' Sam Reinhart (13) controls the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Kira Kimura and Ryoma Kimata led a Japanese gold and silver medal grab in men’s big air on Saturday, underlining the growing dominance of their country in snowboarding at the Winter Olympics.

The 21-year-old Kimura edged his fellow countryman with a blistering last run, scoring a final’s best 90.50 to surge to the top of the table. He finished with 179.50 points from his best two jumps.

Defending champion Su Yiming of China took bronze, pushing 17-year-old American Oliver Martin off the podium.

Kimura was all smiles when he held up his gold medal with one hand and a plush doll of the Olympics and Paralympic mascots, the stoats Tina and Milo, with his other hand.

The 23-year-old Kimata, who won the big air world championship last year, touched down on his final run when he had a chance to snatch victory from Kimura. He finished with 171.50 points.

Both were competing in their first Olympics, and neither shied away from the moment, laying down the best jumps after spinning at dizzying speeds through the Alpine night.

Kimura’s best previous results were three second-placed finishes at World Cup events. He was 11th in big air at the 2025 world championship.

Japan has emerged over the past decade-plus as a force in halfpipe, winning five medals, with four by men, in the last three Olympics.

But it had only parlayed that into one bronze in women’s big air in 2022, with no medals in slopestyle.

Now Kimura and Kimata have given Japan its first Olympic gold and silver in big air, and more could be to come. The pair will also compete in slopestyle, while Ayumu Hirano will seek to defend his halfpipe gold.

Japan had four riders in the final, the most of any country, followed by three New Zealanders, Su of China, and an Aussie, showing the strength of the Pacific Rim.

Big air consists of one single jump off a huge ramp, where the rider varies spins, flips and holds of the board. The Livigno ramp peaks at over 40 meters (yards), sending the riders soaring down a landing slope that is lit by floodlights for the nighttime event.

Riders jump three times. Their top two jumps are combined for a final score while the worst jump is dropped.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Japan's Kira Kimura, left, celebrates with China's Su Yiming during the men's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Japan's Kira Kimura celebrates winning the men's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

From left, silver medalist Japan's Ryoma Kimata, gold medalist Japan's Kira Kimura and bronze medalist China's Su Yiming stand after the men's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Japan's Kira Kimura reacts during the men's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Japan's Kira Kimura reacts during the men's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)