03/15/26 09:26:00
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03/15 21:24 CDT Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on and beat the Wild 4-2
Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on and beat the Wild 4-2
By PATRICK DONNELLY
Associated Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) --- Bo Groulx scored twice and the Toronto Maple Leafs
held on for a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night.
Morgan Rielly also scored and Matthew Knies added an empty-net goal for Toronto
as Minnesota pushed to rally from a three-goal deficit after two periods.
Anthony Stolarz made 36 saves for the Maple Leafs, who have a win and a
shootout loss in two games since losing captain Auston Matthews for the season
with a knee injury.
Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice for the Wild. Jesper Wallstedt made 22 saves.
In a four-day span, the Wild earned just one point from three home games
against non-playoff teams from the East --- a shootout loss to the Flyers on
Thursday and regulation defeats against the New York Rangers Saturday and Maple
Leafs on Sunday.
After a scoreless first period, Toronto scored two quick goals to take charge
early in the second. First, Rielly scored on a wrist shot from the left circle
that beat Wallstedt over the shoulder at 1:07. Just 68 seconds later, Groulx
made it 2-0 when he tipped in a shot from the point by Troy Stecher.
The Maple Leafs extended the lead to 3-0 at 8:18 of the second when Groulx
intercepted a clearing attempt at the Wild blue line and fired a shot through
traffic that beat a screened Wallstedt.
Early in the third, Tarasenko scored twice in 23 seconds to pull the Wild to
within a goal. First, he redirected a cross-ice pass from Mats Zuccarello past
Stolarz at the left post at 4:51 of the third. Then, he won a battle along the
left boards, skated in and beat Stolarz with a wrist shot. Both goals were
assisted by Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman, who Tarasenko joined on the Wild's top
line to start the third.
Minnesota pushed hard for the tying goal, putting 17 shots on net in the
period, but Stolarz held firm until Knies' empty-netter with 37 seconds left
iced the win.
Up next
Maple Leafs: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Wild: At Chicago on Tuesday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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