Tarasenko Scores Go-Ahead Goal, Johansson Nets 200th as Wild Beat Kraken 5-2 for Fourth Straight Win

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild trailed twice on Tuesday night, needed a pair of video reviews to break their way, and still walked out of Grand Casino Arena with a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Vladimir Tarasenko's goal in the second period put Minnesota ahead for good, and Marcus Johansson added the 200th goal of his career in the third.

The win was Minnesota's fourth straight and completed a sweep of the season series with Seattle, according to the Associated Press. With four games left, it also kept the Wild two points behind Dallas for second place in the Central Division heading into a Thursday showdown in Texas.

Seattle Strikes First, Twice

The Kraken, playing the second night of a back-to-back, came out sharp in front of 19,089. Brandon Montour opened the scoring at 10:23 of the first period with a one-timer, his 11th goal of the season, from Kaapo Kakko and Jaden Schwartz.

Minnesota answered at 11:57, though it took a while to become official. Matt Boldy's goal was initially waved off, but replay showed the puck had come off Joey Daccord's arm, hit Boldy's chest and bounced off his stick into the net, the Star Tribune reported. The goal stood, Boldy's 42nd of the season, which ties for the fourth-most in a single Wild season.

Adam Larsson restored Seattle's lead 73 seconds later, scoring at 13:10 from Chandler Stephenson. Marcus Foligno, meanwhile, dropped the gloves with Jamie Oleksiak in the first period after a hit on Ryker Evans, according to the Star Tribune.

The Second Review and the Go-Ahead Goal

Foligno tied the game 38 seconds into the second period, assisted by Yakov Trenin, and finished one assist short of a Gordie Howe hat trick.

Seattle thought it had scored again in the second period when Jaden Schwartz beat Wallstedt, but the goal was overturned on a coach's challenge. Officials ruled that former Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau, playing his first game back in St. Paul since being traded to Seattle, had held down Jesper Wallstedt's glove hand with his stick, according to the AP and the Star Tribune.

The go-ahead goal came at 12:46 of the second, seconds after Minnesota's only power play expired, when Tarasenko tapped in a rebound for his 23rd of the season, from Ryan Hartman and Jared Spurgeon. The assist was Spurgeon's 314th, tying Ryan Suter for the most by a defenseman in franchise history, the Star Tribune noted. Hartman extended a career-best point streak to seven games.

Johansson's Milestone

Johansson made it 4-2 at 6:49 of the third period, taking a pass from Boldy on the doorstep and beating Daccord for the 200th goal of his NHL career. Joel Eriksson Ek finished it with an empty-net goal with 2:43 left, adding two assists for a three-point night.

Wallstedt settled in after a shaky start and finished with 25 saves for his 17th win, a franchise record for a rookie goaltender, according to the Star Tribune. Daccord made 24 saves for Seattle, which went 0-for-3 on the power play. Minnesota outshot the Kraken 29-27, according to ESPN.

Playoff Picture

Seattle has now lost 10 of its last 11, according to NHL.com, and FOX 13 Seattle noted that Minnesota also handed the Kraken the final loss of a six-game skid back in December. Still, the Star Tribune observed that Seattle, a long shot for the postseason, did not play like one, especially on the back end of a back-to-back. Johansson and Boldy each finished with a goal and an assist, and Eriksson Ek was in on three of the five Minnesota goals.

For Seattle, the loss was a sixth straight, matching a season high, and it left the Kraken eight points out of the final playoff spot in the West, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

For Minnesota, the stakes are about seeding. A Colorado win locked in a first-round series between the Wild and the Stars, the Star Tribune reported, so the race now is for home ice. Boldy has four goals in his last four games, the depth is producing, and the Wild have found their footing at the right time.

Thursday's game in Dallas opens a three-game road trip. It is a regular-season game with a playoff preview built in, and the winner gains a real edge in the fight for second place.

Photo Credit: Elijah Scott/Undrafted