Nick Bjugstad has hat trick against hometown team, Coyotes rout Wild 6-0
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Bjugstad, right, celebrates with right wing Jason Zucker (16) and defenseman Michael Kesselring (5) after scoring his third goal of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, during the second period, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Credit: AP/Craig Lassig
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nick Bjugstad had his second career hat trick, Connor Ingram made 38 saves for his fifth shutout of the season and the Arizona Coyotes routed the Minnesota Wild 6-0 on Saturday night.
Bjugstad, the Minneapolis native who starred at the University of Minnesota, snapped a 16-game goal drought. He had two goals in the first period and completed the hat trick in the second with his ninth goal of the season.
“It felt good, but it had been a while since I’d scored, so that first one felt really good,” Bjugstad said. “Sometimes it just goes in for you. This was one of those nights. I’m grateful for my linemates. We had good sustained offensive-zone time, and usually if you’re getting shots, you’ll get chances to score.”
Clayton Keller had two goals and an assist, and Alexander Kerfoot also scored for Arizona. Keller has goals in three straight games and has 19 points in 24 career games against the Wild. The Coyotes had lost four of five, all at home.
Forward Kirill Kaprizov and goalie Filip Gustavsson returned from injuries for Minnesota, but the Wild lost for the eighth time in nine games. They have been outscored 21-5 in losing four straight.
As a result, the players held a lengthy closed-door meeting before letting in reporters after the game.
“It’s embarrassing to lose like that at home,” forward Mats Zuccarello said. "I think everyone, every single guy in here feels the same way. It’s just not good enough. Giving too easy (of) goals. We battled hard, we create chances, but it’s too easy for them to score. We’re not playing near good enough.”
Arizona Coyotes center Alexander Kerfoot, top right, scores a goal with this shot past Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Credit: AP/Craig Lassig
Kaprizov, the team’s scoring leader with 34 points, missed seven games because of an upper-body injury and Gustavsson, the top netminder, missed seven games with a lower-body injury.
Gustavsson struggled in his return as did a defense still missing its top two defensemen in Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. Gustavsson allowed five goals on 18 shots before being pulled midway through the second period for Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury stopped 14 of 15 shots faced.
“For my part, of course the timing’s a little off, the game is way quicker than in practice, and getting that timing right is hard," Gustavsson said. "I tried my best; I wasn’t good enough today. That’s what happens.”
The Wild surged with 11 wins in 14 games after John Hynes replaced Dean Evason as head coach, but are 1-7-1 in their last nine games, while injuries have played a part.
Arizona Coyotes center Nick Bjugstad, bottom right, hits the puck past Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson to score as Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian (24) and Coyotes right wing Jason Zucker, top right, look on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Credit: AP/Craig Lassig
On the first game of a three-game trip, Arizona jumped on Minnesota quickly. Kerfoot scored five minutes in and the Coyotes scored three times in the first period. Two of the goals were on the power play.
“I think that’s the urgency we had," Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. "I think the boys had the right mindset. That was a really good start. After the first period, I think we played the right way. We had urgency defensively. We’re stingy defensively. I think we played a solid three periods.”
Arizona was 2 of 3 on the power play. Minnesota’s penalty kill entered the day 30th in the NHL and 32nd at home.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: At Calgary on Tuesday night.
Wild: Host the New York Islanders on Monday night.
