Wild’s top line responds to coach Dean Evason’s latest challenge
WASHINGTON — A night after benching Jujhar Khaira for committed a couple of bad turnovers in the Wild’s end during a 6-2 loss at Philadelphia, the winger was a healthy scratch for Friday’s game against the Capitals.
Khaira essentially didn’t play after passing the puck to the opponent twice in one shift, and head coach Dean Evason was asked before a 6 p.m. puck drop at Capital One Arena if that was the reason he didn’t play Friday.
“Nope,” Evason said. “Because we’d sit the whole team.”
The Wild entered the second of back-to-back games with losses in three of their previous four games (1-2-1), and Evason saved most of his pregame ire for the top line of Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman and Mats Zuccarello. After combining for 10 points in a comeback victory over Edmonton on Tuesday, they were a combined minus-7 against the Flyers.
“They were really bad last night,” Evason said. “They were awful.”
The trio combined for 10 shots on goal, none of which found the net, and, officially, five giveaways. One of those turnovers erased some vital momentum after the Wild pulled within 3-2 early in the third period.
Before that game, Evason acknowledged that the coaching staff had discussed breaking up the line, at least temporarily, and the line responded by exploding in a 7-4 victory over Edmonton on Tuesday. Hartman had a hat trick and two assists, Kaprizov three assists and Zuccarello a goal and assist.
The line didn’t come close to repeating that on Friday against the Capitals, but it did a lot of things well. Hartman tied the game on a steal and breakaway 1:16 into the third period, and Evason felt like the line responded to his challenge.
“I did,” he said. “Maybe there’s a couple (turnovers) but we made a conscious effort to not turn the puck over, to get pucks deep, and that line in particular did that,” he said.
Hunt debuts
Without Khaira, the Wild were left to play with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, meaning Daemon Hunt made his NHL debut. He was recalled for emergency purposes before the three-game trip that ends Sunday in New Jersey and played 4 minutes, 12 seconds.
“A lot of emotions, but definitely a bit relieved,” he said afterward. “Like, the stress of just am I going to play? Am I not going to play? A lot of excitement, obviously.”
Hunt was on the ice when future hall of famer Alex Ovechkin appeared to score his 825th career goal, but the Wild challenged for offsides and it was determined Ovechkin lost the puck on his entry and crossed the blue line before the puck.
“It was surreal,” Hunt said. “Growing up and, like, watching Ovi every day of my life. Especially in warmups, looking across and seeing him there, like it’s really special.
“I really just tried to enjoy the game as much as I could. But it was pretty awesome seeing Ovi over there.”
Briefly
With just 11 forwards, the Wild essentially rotated Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson on extra shifts. They each played more than 21 minutes. … The Wild are short because they’re without injured core players Jared Spurgeon, Matt Boldy, Alex Goligoski and Freddy Gaudreau. Evason said Wednesday that Boldy (upper body) is the closest to returning.
