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National Hockey League
Minnesota 2, Chicago 1
When: 9:30 PM ET, Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Referees: Frederick L'Ecuyer, Francois St. Laurent
Linesmen: Derek Nansen, Bryan Pancich
Attendance: 17230

Marcus Foligno and Jacob Lucchini scored and Vinni Lettieri had two assists as the visiting Minnesota Wild edged the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Filip Gustavsson stopped 20 shots to help the Wild snap a two-game losing streak.

Petr Mrazek made 23 saves and Nick Foligno, Marcus' brother, scored for Chicago, which matched its season-worst skid with a fifth straight defeat.

Lettieri swooped in to corral a Lukas Reichel turnover and found Marcus Foligno in front of the net for the tiebreaking goal at 10:07 of the third period.

The Wild have won 11 straight games against the Blackhawks in a streak that dates to February 2020.

Chicago had its chances down the stretch. Gustavsson stopped Boris Katchouk on a breakaway midway through the third, and Lettieri blocked a Colin Blackwell shot along the goal line with the heel of his skate with 3:32 to play.

Lucchini opened the scoring at 12:27 of the first period, beating Mrazek with a slap shot that glanced off the inside of the near post before caroming off the net camera.

Lucchini, who logged just three shots in his previous eight games since joining the Wild in December, waited a stretch before his first goal in a Minnesota uniform became official. The play initially was ruled a no-goal in real time before the horn sounded seconds later.

The Blackhawks tied the game with a goal from Nick Foligno at 13:44 of the second period. Streaking through the left circle and into the slot, Nick Foligno took a Philipp Kurashev pass and wristed it past a scrambling Gustavsson.

Mrazek denied Kirill Kaprizov on a breakaway attempt moments before.

Mrazek was slow to return to his feet following a collision with Marcus Foligno on a drive to the net 5:43 into the game. Mrazek proved to be all right as Chicago went to the power play following an interference call.

Less than a minute earlier, Nick Foligno contributed what stood as the Blackhawks' lone shot on goal of the period on a long chip-in attempt. Zachary Sanford hit the post midway through the first, but Chicago remained off the scoreboard.

Minnesota outshot Chicago 11-1 through one period and 19-10 through two.

Chicago has been outscored 20-6 over the past seven games, going 1-6-0 in that span.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   Chicago
Vinni Lettieri 2 Points Nick Foligno 1
Marcus Foligno 1 Goals Nick Foligno 1
Vinni Lettieri 2 Assists Philipp Kurashev 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Filip Gustavsson .952 Save Percentage Petr Mrazek .920
Filip Gustavsson 20 Saves Petr Mrazek 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Minnesota 25 2 0-2 2-2 9 25
Chicago 21 1 0-2 2-2 9 32
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against NY Rangers. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .071 after a win and .351 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Pittsburgh. The Wild have a W/L % of .545 after a win and .357 after a loss.