Matt Boldy was the catalyst for the Minnesota Wild in their season-opening win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night, scoring a goal and adding two assists in the 3-2 victory. The 23-year-old star sent the fans at Xcel Energy Center home happy,

Joel Eriksson Ek had a feeling since last spring that his young teammate, Matt Boldy, would take a leap forward this year as an offensive playmaker. Only one game has passed, but so far Eriksson Ek's prediction is looking good.

Matt Boldy scored the 2024-25 season’s first goal for the Wild in the first period, and he also assisted on goals by Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello. The Wild probably won’t know they’re no longer in danger of repeating last year’s woeful start that sabotaged the season until they’ve made it out safely – or not.

Matt Boldy scored a goal and tallied two assists, and the Minnesota Wild held on for a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night in St. Paul, Minn., in the opener for both teams.

It was Dean Evason’s debut as Blue Jackets coach. The former Wild coach was hired July 22, replacing Pascal Vincent. Evason was 147-77-27 in five seasons with Minnesota and 8-15 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before being fired Nov. 27, 2023.