In Game 1, the 3rd-seeded ’14-’15 Wild scored three goals in the second period as they held a 4-2 lead going into the third. However, the 6th-seeded ’12-’13 Wild staged a comeback in the third. They scored four goals in the third period as the ’14-’15 Wild scored just one as the game ended regulation tied 5-5. Each team then posted 11 shots on goal in the overtime, but neither could find a way to score. So, the game went into a second overtime where Mikko Koivu potted the game-winner just three minutes and change into the period for the ’12-’13 Wild. The ’12-’13 Wild wouldn’t need overtime to win Game 2, despite being outshot 50-32. Devin Setoguchi scored twice and defenseman Jonas Brodin and forwards Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Matt Cullen all notched multi-point games in the win. The ’14-’15 Wild got on the board in the series with a 3-2 win in Game 3 as Zach Parise scored two goals, including a PP marker in the second period.
After a goal from each team in the third period of Game 4, the game went into overtime tied 1-1, but Jason Pominville scored just 18 seconds in to tie the series up 2-2 for the ’14-’15 Wild. Then, in Game 6, a PP goal from Parise in the third period gave the ’12-’13 Wild a 2-1 lead, which would be the final. With their backs up against the wall now, the ’14-’15 Wild scored three goals in the third period to lead them to a 5-2 win. Koivu, defenseman Mathew Dumba and forwards Nino Niederreiter, Kyle Brodziak and Chris Stewart all posted two points in the win. Then, in Game 7, the ’14-’15 Wild held a 2-0 lead after the first period thanks a goal each from Brodziak and Jason Zucker. Zucker then notched a goal on the PP early in the third to give them a 3-0 lead. Parise scored on the PP halfway through the period to get the ’12-’13 Wild on the board. Then, Koivu scored with just a little more than one minute left in regulation to make it a one-goal game. However, under a minute left, the ’12-’13 Wild took a penalty and, with their goaltender pulled, allowed an empty-netter to seal their defeat in Game 7 and in the series.
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’12-’13 Wild | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| ’14-’15 Wild | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’12-’13 MIN – 6 ’14-’15 MIN – 5 (OT) (1-0 ’12-’13 MIN)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Mikko Koivu (’12-’13 MIN) – 2 G 2 A 4 P +3 6 S
2nd Star: LW – Zach Parise (’12-’13 MIN) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +3 4 S
3rd Star: D – Jonas Brodin (’12-’13 MIN) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +5 3 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’12-’13 Wild | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 5 |
| ’14-’15 Wild | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’12-’13 MIN – 5 ’14-’15 MIN – 3 (2-0 ’12-’13 MIN)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’12-’13 MIN) – W 3.00 GAA .940 SV% (47 SV’s)
2nd Star: RW – Devin Setoguchi (’12-’13 MIN) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 8 S
3rd Star: RW – Pierre-Marc Bouchard (’12-’13 MIN) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 2 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’14-’15 Wild | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | 3 |
| ’12-’13 Wild | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’14-’15 MIN – 3 ’12-’13 MIN – 2 (2-1 ’12-’13 MIN)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – Zach Parise (’14-’15 MIN) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +2 8 S
2nd Star: G – Devan Dubnyk (’14-’15 MIN) – W 2.00 GAA .951 SV% (39 SV’s)
3rd Star: C – Mikko Koivu (’14-’15 MIN) – 1 G 0 A 1 P +2 8 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’14-’15 Wild | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| ’12-’13 Wild | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’14-’15 MIN – 2 ’12-’13 MIN – 1 (OT) (2-2)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: G – Devan Dubnyk (’14-’15 MIN) – W 1.00 GAA .976 SV% (40 SV’s)
2nd Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’12-’13 MIN) – OTL 2.00 GAA .953 SV% (41 SV’s)
3rd Star: RW – Jason Pominville (’14-’15 MIN) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 6 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’12-’13 Wild | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 2 |
| ’14-’15 Wild | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’12-’13 MIN – 2 ’14-’15 MIN – 1 (3-2 ’12-’13 MIN)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’12-’13 MIN) – W 1.00 GAA .975 SV% (39 SV’s)
2nd Star: G – Devan Dubnyk (’14-’15 MIN) – L 2.00 GAA .939 SV% (31 SV’s)
3rd Star: RW – Devin Setoguchi (’12-’13 MIN) – 1 G 0 A 1 P +1 4 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’14-’15 Wild | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 5 |
| ’12-’13 Wild | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’14-’15 MIN – 5 ’12-’13 MIN – 2 (3-3)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: RW – Nino Niederreiter (’14-’15 MIN) – 2 G 0 A 2 P Even 4 S
2nd Star: D – Matt Dumba (’14-’15 MIN) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +1 2 S
3rd Star: C – Kyle Brodziak (’14-’15 MIN) – 0 G 2 A 2 P +2 1 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’12-’13 Wild | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | 2 |
| ’14-’15 Wild | 2 | 0 | 2 | — | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’14-’15 MIN – 4 ’12-’13 MIN – 2 (4-3 ’14-’15 MIN)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – Jason Zucker (’14-’15 MIN) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +3 3 S
2nd Star: C – Kyle Brodziak (’14-’15 MIN) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +3 5 S
3rd Star: G – Niklas Backstrom (’12-’13 MIN) – L 3.00 GAA .935 SV% (43 SV’s)
That wraps up the First Round of the 2015 Minnesota Wild Qualifying Tournament! The Semifinal Round takes place tomorrow!
