Wild shut out Penguins, 5-0, get two goals from Matt Boldy

Sarah McLellan, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Nov 21, 2025

Published in Hockey

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A loss to the Penguins last month was the Wild at their worst.

The rematch showed their best.

Backed by a three-goal first period, the Wild routed host Pittsburgh, 5-0, Friday night at PPG Paints Arena for their season-high fourth straight win.

Matt Boldy scored twice during a three-point effort, while Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek picked up a goal and assist apiece. Brock Faber had two assists.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 19 shots for his second shutout, moving into a four-way tie for the NHL lead alongside teammate Jesper Wallstedt.

The Wild have gone seven consecutive games without losing in regulation and are 8-1-1 since falling to the Penguins, 4-1, on Oct. 30.

How it happened

This was Pittsburgh’s first game since playing last weekend in Sweden, and the Wild capitalized on the Penguins’ rusty return.

Boldy collected a Faber rebound and patiently backhanded it by goalie Arturs Silovs 3 minutes, 57 seconds into the first period to mark the 11th straight game the Wild have opened the scoring.

During the waning seconds of a four-minute power play after Jake Middleton was high-sticked, Eriksson Ek tipped in a Zeev Buium shot at 9:39; the power play finished 1 for 3, while Pittsburgh went 0 for 2.

Then 2:03 after Eriksson Ek’s goal, Marcus Johansson buried a cross-zone pass from Jonas Brodin.

Turning point

Despite a cushy lead, the Wild didn’t sit back in the second period.

On Middleton’s first shift back after getting clipped near his left eye, his shot was redirected in by Kaprizov at 1:09.

The Penguins called a timeout and pulled Silovs, who exited with six saves on 10 shots. Sergei Murashov made nine stops in relief, giving up another goal to Boldy, who redirected in a Kaprizov feed with 2:14 left in the second.

The goal was Boldy’s team-leading 13th, and the winger is up to 10 points during a six-game point streak; he also has eight goals in his past eight games.

Key stat

Despite playing most of the first period down a defenseman in Middleton, the Wild allowed a season-low three shots. Back in action, though, was veteran Zach Bogosian after he missed 16 games due to a shot block.

Gustavsson, who was drafted by Pittsburgh but traded to Ottawa before he debuted in the NHL, faced only nine shots through two periods. This was his 13th career shutout.

What it means

Although the Penguins weren’t as sharp as their last game against the Wild, this victory was still a resounding endorsement on the Wild’s progress.

On the road and in a building where they haven’t had much success in recent seasons, the Wild were ready from the get-go, and that business-like demeanor didn’t waver.

They’re rolling, their 8-1-1 run in November tops in NHL, and that they’re doing this without roster regulars is another nod to how much they’ve settled into their style.

Not only are forwards Ryan Hartman, Marco Rossi and Vladimir Tarasenko still on the mend, but Vinnie Hinostroza left early after he was hit along the boards and his left leg got caught behind him.

Up next

The Wild will avoid reigning league MVP Connor Hellebuyck during their Sunday matinee against the Jets in Winnipeg because the goaltender is having knee surgery and will be out the next four to six weeks.