Wild Beat Flyers 4-2, Lead West
Minnesota scored twice early and held on in Philadelphia, extending its strong start to the season.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Hockey
The Minnesota Wild defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Tuesday, scoring twice before the game was five minutes old and leading 3-0 after 21 minutes. The win followed a 5-1 victory at Washington on Sunday.
Why it matters
Minnesota has scored first in 12 of its 17 games this season and is 9-0-3 when it does so, a pattern that has helped it top the Western Conference. The team's road success also positions it well during an upcoming stretch of away games.
Minnesota is 9-0-3 when scoring first and 7-3-2 on the road this season, with Boldy and McCarron scoring 31 seconds apart in the second period in Philadelphia. The Flyers held an 11-4 edge in shots on goal over the final 20 minutes, though Minnesota held its lead.
The players
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul that competes in the National Hockey League's Western Conference.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey franchise that competes in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.
The details
Boldy and McCarron scored 31 seconds apart in the second period, and Minnesota killed penalties effectively, including a blocked shot by McCarron, to protect the lead. Philadelphia outshot Minnesota 11-4 in the final 20 minutes but could not close the gap.
Timeline
Sunday: Minnesota won 5-1 at Washington.
Tuesday: Minnesota won 4-2 at Philadelphia.
Next week: Minnesota begins a road trip in Montreal, Toronto and Boston.
Season Trajectory
Minnesota's early lead in the Western Conference standings, built on a 12-of-17 record of scoring first, puts it in position to contend for a top seed. The upcoming Montreal, Toronto and Boston trip will test whether that strong road form holds against Eastern Conference opponents.
Fantasy managers tracking Minnesota's top scorers should note the team's road form, as the next three away games will show whether its scoring pace continues. Standings watchers can track how the Wild's early lead holds up through a demanding stretch of games.
The takeaway
Teams that score early often control the pace of a game, and Minnesota's 9-0-3 record when scoring first shows how much an early lead can shape results. Readers following the season should watch whether that pattern holds on the road trip ahead.
What happens next
Minnesota begins a road trip next week with games in Montreal, Toronto and Boston.
Further reading
For more on the league, see Hockey coverage across the Western Conference standings.
