Stalock backstops surging Wild to 2-0 win over Maple Leafs
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Alex Stalock started his extended stretch of action in the Minnesota net with his first NHL shutout in three seasons.
Blanking a Toronto team that tossed him aside less than two years ago made the feat that much sweeter.
Stalock stopped 28 shots for his fifth career shutout, using his first start during Devan Dubnyk’s absence to steer the Wild past the Maple Leafs 2-0 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.
Tyler Ennis scored late in the first period and Mikael Granlund added a goal midway through the third period for the Wild, whose first three wins on the streak were all in extra time. They handed the Maple Leafs their first blank slate in more than a year, since a 3-0 loss at Calgary on Nov. 30, 2016. Since losing 4-2 to the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Nov. 8, the Wild are 12-4-1 in their last 17 games for an NHL-leading 25 points over that span. This was their fifth straight win at home.