Wild get three quick goals to start game, beat Kraken 4-0

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Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman, right, celebrates his goal with center Vinnie Hinostroza during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) reacts to Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy’s (12) goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, center, defends his net against the Seattle Kraken during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) defends his net against the Seattle Kraken during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Minnesota Wild right wing Justin Brazeau, center and Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson, right, compete for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Minnesota Wild left wing Liam Ohgren (28) celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) defends his net against the Minnesota Wild during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, right, skates with the puck alongside Minnesota Wild center Vinnie Hinostroza during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Seattle Kraken center John Hayden, front, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber compete for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

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Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy, right, celebrates his goal with teammates as Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

By MIKE COOK

ST. PAUL, MInn. (AP) — Ryan Hartman, Matt Boldy and Liam Ohgren scored 1 minute, 42 seconds apart early in the first period and the Minnesota Wild beat the Seattle Kraken 4-0 on Wednesday night.

Filip Gustavsson made 34 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, Boldy added an empty-net goal, and Minnesota moved within two points of third-place Colorado in the Central Division.

Gustavsson is 4-1-1 in his last six home games with a 1.48 goals-against average, a .949 save percentage and two shutouts.

Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 shots for Seattle.

Hartman scored from the slot 2:47 into the game, Boldy scored from almost the same spot at 3:59 and Ohgren completed a 2-on-1 with Frederick Gaudreau 30 seconds later for a 3-0 lead. The three goals in the opening 4:29 is the fastest to start a game in the NHL this season.

Prior to the outburst, the Wild had not scored a first-period goal in seven games, since March 4 in Seattle.

Takeaways

Kraken: Playing its fourth game in six days, Seattle outshot Minnesota 34-28, but lost in regulation for just the second time in seven games.

Wild: Center Marco Rossi, third on the team with 21 goals, left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury after being hit by a Boldy shot. He’s one of three Wild players to have played every game this season.

Key moment

Boldy’s goals were his first in 12 games. His 23 goals are tied with Kirill Kaprizov, who’s missed all but three games since Dec. 23, for the team lead.

Key stat

Seattle is 0-11 in the second game of the back-to-back contests this season. The Kraken won 6-2 in Chicago on Tuesday.

Up next

Both teams play Saturday: the Kraken are in Edmonton and the Wild are home against Buffalo.

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