Wild beat skidding Kraken 5-2 for 4th straight win, setting up showdown with Stars

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist, and the Minnesota Wild twice benefited from replay reviews Tuesday night in a 5-2 victory over the skidding Seattle Kraken.

Marcus Johansson also had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who won their fourth straight game and swept the season series from Seattle. Marcus Foligno scored the tying goal early in the second, and Joel Eriksson Ek added an empty-net goal and two assists.

After a shaky start, Jesper Wallstedt made 25 saves to earn the win.

Minnesota trails Dallas by two points for second place in the Central Division and Western Conference heading into their showdown Thursday in Texas. Each team has four regular-season games remaining before they square off in a first-round playoff series, with home-ice advantage still up for grabs.

Brandon Montour and Adam Larsson scored in the first period for Seattle, which has lost six in a row.

Two goals were reviewed in this one — and both decisions went Minnesota's way.

The first came on Boldy’s first-period goal. The play was originally ruled no goal as it appeared Boldy batted in the puck with a high stick. But video review overturned the call, and Boldy’s 42nd of the season tied it at 1.

In the second, Seattle appeared to tie the game on a shot by Jaden Schwartz — but the goal was reviewed and overturned. Officials ruled former Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau held Wallstedt’s glove hand down with his stick, preventing him from making the save.

Johansson’s third-period goal made it 4-2 and was the 200th of his career. Johansson took a perfect pass from Boldy right on the doorstep to beat Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, who finished with 24 saves.

Kraken: Host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

Wild: At the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

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

Seattle Kraken's Brandon Montour (62) dives for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Minnesota Wild's Marcus Foligno (17) controls the puck against the Seattle Kraken during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Seattle Kraken's Jaden Schwartz (17) controls the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Minnesota Wild's Marcus Foligno (17) and Seattle Kraken's Jamie Oleksiak (24) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Minnesota Wild fans celebrate a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers said Tuesday night an MRI on Jacob deGrom's right knee showed no issues, a few hours after the two-time Cy Young Award winner indicated everything checked out OK after his most recent start.

DeGrom experienced some mild knee discomfort before he pitched Monday night against Seattle, and was limited to 78 pitches over five innings because the Rangers didn't want to push the 37-year-old right-hander too hard. He allowed only one hit in his 250th career start, a first-inning homer to Cal Raleigh in the Rangers' 2-1 win. He struck out six and walked one before leaving with the game tied 1-1.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after a 3-2 victory over the Mariners on Tuesday night that deGrom's MRI was clear. It wasn't immediately known whether deGrom would take his next turn in the rotation.

Before Tuesday's game, deGrom was moving around in the clubhouse and on the field with no apparent limp and without any protective gear on the knee. He indicated while chatting with reporters that he felt fine, after saying Monday that his knee was “a little tender, but I think we'll be OK.”

DeGrom went 4 2/3 innings while throwing 78 pitches on March 31 at Baltimore in an 8-5 Rangers win in his only other outing this season. He was scheduled to make his first start three days before that at Philadelphia but was a late scratch because of neck stiffness.

He was voted the AL Comeback Player of the Year last season, going 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA, after returning late in the 2024 season from a second major reconstruction surgery on his pitching elbow.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom reacts after pitching to the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 6, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom throws a pitch to the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, April 6, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom throws a pitch to the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 6, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)