Minnetonka’s Brink stands out as Wild get dumped by Flyers 6-2

PHILADELPHIA — The Wild’s slow start was just one of their many issues in their game against the Flyers. They carried their streak of slow starts into the second period, prompting a reset in the third. However, despite their efforts, they were defeated 6-2 by the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. This loss once again followed a feel-good win, leaving the Wild with a 3-3-1 record two weeks into the season. Their next game is on Friday against the Capitals in Washington.

Bobby Brink, a former Minnetonka standout, scored his first NHL goal, which also became the game-winner. He then scored his second goal of the game. Goaltender Carter Hart of the Flyers made 26 saves, bouncing back after allowing five goals earlier in the game.

The Wild’s slow start was not unexpected. In fact, it has become a recurring trend in their first seven games of the season. While they have managed to recover in some instances, such as their previous game against the Oilers, where they turned a first-minute goal against them into a 7-4 victory, they often struggle to catch up after falling behind.

However, this time their performance was particularly concerning. The Wild seemed off from the beginning, with their passes and shots consistently missing their intended targets. The Flyers dominated the game, controlling the puck for the majority of the time.

The Flyers scored their first goal at 13 minutes and 57 seconds of the first period, courtesy of Travis Konecny’s glove-side shot that caught goalie Filip Gustavsson off-guard. This lead remained throughout the first period and carried over into the second.

During the second period, the Wild struggled to generate scoring opportunities, managing only one shot on goal in nearly 20 minutes of play. In contrast, the Flyers scored more goals than the Wild had shots on goal.

While Vinni Lettieri was serving a holding penalty, Sean Couturier capitalized on a rebound, scoring on Gustavsson’s left side. Then, during a penalty by Jake Middleton, the Flyers scored twice on the power play, with Bobby Brink recording his first NHL goal in his 16th game. Brink, a second-round draft pick by the Flyers in 2019, also has two assists this season in six games.

The Wild’s power play went 0-for-2, while the Flyers scored on two out of their three power play opportunities.

The Wild finally broke through Hart’s defense 3 minutes and 5 seconds into the third period, with Dakota Mermis scoring his third NHL goal in three games. Shortly after, at 4 minutes and 30 seconds, Marcus Foligno scored to bring the Wild within one goal.

Unfortunately, this spark of hope was short-lived. Two shifts after Foligno’s goal, the Flyers responded when Cam Atkinson took advantage of a turnover by Kirill Kaprizov and set up Owen Tippett for a breakaway goal at 6 minutes and 34 seconds.

This goal opened the floodgates for the Flyers. Bobby Brink scored again with a redirect at 11 minutes and 2 seconds, followed by Travis Sanheim’s wrist shot goal.

Gustavsson made a total of 29 saves but fell to a 2-2-1 record. Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start in the Wild’s next game against the Capitals. The team’s trip concludes on Sunday with a game against the New Jersey Devils.

The Wild have been dealing with injuries throughout the season and embarked on this trip without Frederick Gaudreau due to an upper-body injury he sustained in the second game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 14. Gaudreau joins captain Jared Spurgeon (upper body), forward Matt Boldy (upper body), and defenseman Alex Goligoski (lower body) on the injured list. There is no set timeline for Gaudreau’s return, but Boldy and Spurgeon are making progress in their recovery and are expected to resume practice next week.