There were plenty of storylines leading up to the Wild’s 3rd and final game on their season opening home stand of 2016. Rookie wunderkind Auston Matthews making his first ever trip to the X. What kind of legs would the Toronto Maple Leafs have after losing in OT last night to the Winnipeg Jets? Can the Wild continue their success on the PK? Could the Wild score first in a game for a change?
Like most games, some early parts of the first period were spent watching the teams sort of feel out each others game. The Wild managed to hold the Leafs without a shot on goal for the opening 6 minutes and change, but would end up losing that shot battle for the period by a wide margin of 11-5.