Minnesota and Nashville were tied 3-3 in overtime Sunday. The Wild entered the game eight points out of a playoff spot with four teams to jump over. A loser point wasn't going to cut it.
So, the Wild got control of the puck...and PULLED THE GOALIE. Marc-Andre Fleury skated to the bench. Matt Boldy netted the winner for Minnesota shortly thereafter.
Minnesota Coach John Hynes embraced great risk. If you pull the goalie in OT and get scored on, NHL rules mandate that the loser point is forfeited. This tactic was initiated by Sergei Fedorov, the former Detroit great currently coaching CSKA Moscow in the KHL. But KHL rules don't forfeit the loser point.
Good for Hynes and the Wild. It's exciting and gutsy, and it paid off. I hope this starts a trend. (I love the four-on-three power play. Lots of space, and your options are limited in a good way.)