Alex Stalock leads Wild to Game 1 win over Vancouver
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In just his second career playoff start, Alex Stalock posted a 28-save shutout to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 3-0 win and 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series vs. Vancouver in Edmonton.
***Click the video box above to watch postgame reaction, courtesy of NHL Public Relations***
Jared Spurgeon, an Edmonton native, scored twice for the Wild, one an empty-netter, and Kevin Fiala also scored. The Wild produced a pair of power-play goals and stymied Canucks shooters.
Minnesota outshot Vancouver 30-27, and the Canucks mustered just four shots on goal in the third period and none on a late power play, their first of the game.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Tuesday at 9:30 p.m Central.
Vancouver Canucks' Brandon Sutter (20) takes a shot on Minnesota Wild goaltender Alex Stalock (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey playoff game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in Edmonton, Alberta.[(Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)]
The Wild haven’t won a playoff series since 2015, which was also the last year the Canucks were in the playoffs.
Vancouver (36-27-6) was the seventh seed in the Western Conference, while Minnesota (35-27-7) was 10th.