Minnesota Wild: 2014-15 Turning Points

Oct 27, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing

(63) scores his first career goal on Minnesota Wild goalie

(35) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. New York Rangers won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

October 27th: Wild blow 3-0 3rd Period lead, lose to Rangers 5-4

The Wild started the season 4-2-0 and had played well enough where they could have won all six. They went to Manhattan to take on the New York Rangers and the game could not have been going any better. Nate Prosser, Matt Cooke and Jason Pominville all scored in the second period, and the Wild held the Rangers to only eight shots through the first two periods to stake themselves to a 3-0 lead. Then, all hell broke loose.

Kevin Klein and Rick Nash both scored in the first five minutes of the third period for the Rangers to draw within one. Less than a minute later, Jason Zucker scored what seemed to be a stabilizing goal for the Wild. Unfortunately, the Rangers beat Darcy Kuemper three more times in the period to steal the game 5-4. Per the Associated Press account of the game:

"Despite recording only eight shots through 40 minutes, New York stormed back against Darcy Kuemper and the Wild, scoring five goals in the third period for a 5-4 victory Monday night. Only one other time — Jan. 4, 1956, against Detroit — has New York come back from a 3-0 hole in the third period to win. The last time the Rangers rallied from any three-goal deficit in the third period to win was Dec. 27, 1992, against Boston."

Anytime you become a dubious footnote in one of the “Original Six” team’s history, it is not good. More importantly, although the defense deserved much of the blame, it was the first time Kuemper really started to show some cracks in his game. What seemed like an unfortunate blip on the radar at the time would soon represent a trend for the team.

Next: The Mumps