Field Level Media
19 Jan 2020, 10:55 GMT+10
Jason Zucker scored his first goal since returning from injury and added two assists as the Minnesota Wild stomped the visiting Dallas Stars 7-0 on Saturday night.
Zucker fractured his fibula during a Dec. 15 game against the Chicago Blackhawks, blocking a slap shot from Brent Seabrook. He had surgery and returned to the ice Jan. 12 against the Vancouver Canucks, but had been held off the scoreboard.
Zucker put the puck in the net Thursday in a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning but the goal was overturned.
The Wild were already off to a superb start, leading 2-0 after the first period with goals from defensemen Jared Spurgeon and Carson Soucy. Soucy, tied among NHL rookies in plus-minus rating, hadn't scored in eight games.
Zucker kicked off the second period with a power-play goal at the 3:38 mark. Just 33 seconds later, Ryan Donato skated in with a nifty pass from Ryan Hartman and dished a backhand over Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin.
The goal chased Khudobin out of the Stars' net, as he allowed four goals on 17 shots, in favor of Ben Bishop, who allowed three goals on 15 shots. Mats Zuccarello got one past Bishop late in the second for a two-point night.
The Stars never seemed to solve the Wild's solid forecheck. They failed to capitalize on a second-period power play, and center Tyler Seguin whiffed on a chance with a net left empty by a scrambling Alex Stalock.
Mattias Janmark had the Stars' best chance of the third, trying to sneak a wrister past Stalock. The goaltender turned away all 27 shots by the Stars.
Zach Parise and Hartman rounded out the scoring in the third, each tallying on the power play to keep the Wild's man-advantage performance perfect in three opportunities. Parise notched his fourth over the last three games, while Hartman scored for the first time in 12 games.
The night spoiled a return to the roster by Stars blueliner Stephen Johns. The loss was his first game back after a 22-month absence due to post-traumatic headaches.
Johns made his presence known with a few big hits, a blocked shot and a couple of slap shots.
The Stars take their bruises home to Texas for the All-Star break, while Seguin heads to St. Louis for the NHL festivities.
The Wild have two home games left before the break, Monday against the Florida Panthers and Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Detroit Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Detroit Star.
More InformationDUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has started sending some weapons to Ukraine again, just a week after the Pentagon told officials...
ECAULT BEACH, France: On clear days, the white cliffs of the United Kingdom, are visible from northern France, where men, women, and...
ATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
(Photo credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images) The Detroit Tigers will head into the All-Star break with the best record in the majors,...
(Photo credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images) Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes and Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal...
(Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images) Randy Arozarena had three hits, including a two-run homer, and scored four runs as the...
(Photo credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images) Matthew Boyd allowed four hits in eight outstanding innings to reach double-digit victories...
(Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images) Longtime Cardinals left tackle Luis Sharpe, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has died...