Wild top Bruins again 3-2, hand Boston fourth straight loss

The Wild have finally cleaned up the debris from their early-season slump that culminated in a seven-game losing streak and coaching change.

They're on a 10-3 tear since John Hynes took over behind the bench for Dean Evason and have climbed only two points back of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

In other words, the Wild are playing their best hockey of the season, period.

And now they get some much-needed rest before their restoration project resumes.

"The break's coming at a great time for us," Hynes said.

This past week was hectic: a four-game, six-night blitz that started on the road and finished at home. But when all is said and done, the stretch might be remembered as a turning point.

After an overtime thriller at Boston on Tuesday, the Wild also won the rematch 3-2 on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center to sweep the Bruins for the second time in three seasons despite still missing four regulars due to injury.

They'll bring a three-game winning streak into their next game Wednesday vs. Detroit in St. Paul after a three-day hiatus for the holidays. Overall, the Wild (15-13-4) have won six of their past seven games.

"This has been a grind," said Marcus Foligno, whose third-period goal was upgraded from insurance tally to game-winner after Boston's Morgan Geekie buried a behind-the-net feed with 6 minutes, 7 seconds to go. "We're trying to catch up in the standings, so it's like extra, extra work, and then mentally a little bit of fatigue. So to be going into the break with another win is huge, and the consistency we've been getting has been nice.

"It makes the eggnog taste a little bit better come the Christmas holidays, and we've just got to keep it rolling when we come back."

A chance at history is waiting on the other side of this timeout.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 19 shots during his 550th win in his 998th career game to move two victories away from passing Patrick Roy for the second-most all-time.

"I just try to go one at a time," Fleury said, "one game at a time and enjoy these games, not think too far ahead, and hopefully it comes at some point."

The week started with an unsuccessful comeback at Pittsburgh on Monday, but the Wild recalibrated on Tuesday against the Bruins with their most impressive win of the season — and also Fleury's sharpest performance.

"Kirill [Kaprizov] scores in overtime, and we all go to Flower," Foligno said. "You know what's on the line. We want to be part of milestones, and I know he got a large chunk of his wins with other teams, but it's about now and the present, and we want to celebrate and make sure he's passing Patty Roy pretty soon."

After again prevailing 4-3 in overtime on Thursday vs. Montreal, the Wild skated in the first period like their rigorous schedule was catching up to them.

They fell behind at 2:37 on a one-timer from David Pastrnak on the power play (1-for-2) and lacked the gusto that led to their emotional victories days earlier.

"I don't think it was a lack of energy," Foligno said. "We just were really sloppy and didn't make any good plays."

But that wasn't the case in the second period: the Wild outshot Boston 19-6 en route to a 2-1 advantage.

"You're just standing there," Fleury said. "Toes get so cold. But can't complain."

Joel Eriksson Ek was credited with the equalizer on the power play (1-for-5) at 5:57, an own goal off Boston's Brandon Carlo.

Then at 7:22, Kaprizov skated into the slot to one-time an Alex Goligoski pass by Boston goalie Linus Ullmark, who totaled 32 saves. Kaprizov's 31 points are the most on the Wild, the seven he added during the week (including four goals) surpassing the injured Mats Zuccarello's 28.

Before Foligno roofed in a redirect 3:10 into the third, Zach Bogosian saved a goal by blocking a Brad Marchand attempt in the crease.

"It was kind of just a reactive play," Bogosian said. "My stick happened to be in the right area at the right time."

The same can be said for the Wild, who are turning around their season even though they're without top defensemen Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon as well as scorers Ryan Hartman and Zuccarello.

"Sometimes the most important thing on a break is that you want guys [to] want to be coming back to the rink after it," Hynes said. "I think that's where our group's at."