The Minnesota Wild won their fourth game in a row on Friday, edging the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 via a lengthy shootout.
The most interesting part - beyond one seemingly fringe team hurting another bubble squad’s playoff chances - is that the Wild are riding the work of another goalie who is enjoying unexpectedly effective work. With Josh Harding’s health in question, it’s been Darcy Kuemper who is stepping up for the Wild.
Kuemper, 23, won his (and the Wild’s) fourth game in a row extending back past the Olympic break. His teammates provided the effusive praise.
Prosser on Kuemper: "he was a machine." Fontaine on Kuemper: "unreal. That's a win for him." #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 1, 2014
In this four-game winning streak (two before the break, two after), the Saskatoon native has only allowed four goals.
The Wild now sit sixth in the West with 73 points in 61 games played (21 left). The Vancouver Canucks find themselves in ninth with 66 points in 62 games played (20 remaining).