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Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on to beat the Wild 4-2

Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on to beat the Wild 4-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (41) watches the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Bo Groulx scored twice and the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night.

Morgan Rielly also scored and Matthew Knies added an empty-net goal for Toronto as Minnesota pushed to rally from a three-goal deficit after two periods.

Anthony Stolarz made 36 saves for the Maple Leafs, who have a win and a shootout loss in two games since losing captain Auston Matthews for the season with a knee injury.

Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice for the Wild. Jesper Wallstedt made 22 saves.

In a four-day span, the Wild earned just one point from three home games against non-playoff teams from the East — a shootout loss to the Flyers on Thursday and regulation defeats against the New York Rangers Saturday and Maple Leafs on Sunday.

After a scoreless first period, Toronto scored two quick goals to take charge early in the second. First, Rielly scored on a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Wallstedt over the shoulder at 1:07. Just 68 seconds later, Groulx made it 2-0 when he tipped in a shot from the point by Troy Stecher.

The Maple Leafs extended the lead to 3-0 at 8:18 of the second when Groulx intercepted a clearing attempt at the Wild blue line and fired a shot through traffic that beat a screened Wallstedt.

Early in the third, Tarasenko scored twice in 23 seconds to pull the Wild to within a goal. First, he redirected a cross-ice pass from Mats Zuccarello past Stolarz at the left post at 4:51 of the third. Then, he won a battle along the left boards, skated in and beat Stolarz with a wrist shot. Both goals were assisted by Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman, who Tarasenko joined on the Wild’s top line to start the third.

Minnesota pushed hard for the tying goal, putting 17 shots on net in the period, but Stolarz held firm until Knies’ empty-netter with 37 seconds left iced the win.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Wild: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on to beat the Wild 4-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Benoit-Olivier Groulx, left, celebrates with centre Daokta Joshua (81) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on to beat the Wild 4-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt blocks a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on to beat the Wild 4-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (41) blocks a shot while pressured by Minnesota Wild right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Groulx scores twice as Maple Leafs hold on to beat the Wild 4-2 | iNFOnews.ca
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, right, gives up a goal to Toronto Maple Leafs centre Bo Groulx during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

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The Associated Press

Patrick Donnelly

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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