The Minnesota Wild suffered a 7-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, and Alex Goligoski's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the third bothered head coach Dean Evason so much that he specifically called it out after the game.

“Momentum was clearly in our direction, and then obviously they get a power play,” Evason said, via Kayla Douglas of theScore. “They didn't score, but they gained momentum from it, they had a lot of good touches on it, and then we were behind the eight ball, obviously. … It can't happen, can't take (a) stupid – really stupid – bad penalty. (Goligoski) knows it, we addressed it, but it can't happen. Can't happen in Game 2, and it can't happen going forward.”

The Wild had scored two goals to cut a 4-1 game to 4-3 before Alex Goligoski took the penalty that bothered Dean Evason so much. Goligoski admitted that his penalty hurt the Wild's chance to come back and win the game.

Article Continues Below
More Minnesota Wild News
Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) leads the team to the bench after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period in game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center.
Wild rumors: Minnesota looking to trade Marco Rossi amid contract demandsColin Gallant ·
Christian Dvorak (Montreal Canadiens) with question marks around him, Canadiens, NHL Free agency, Free agent, Christian Dvorak
3 best Christian Dvorak destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyBryan Logan ·
Brent Burns with questions marks around him, Brent burns, Hurricanes, free agent, NHL free agency
3 best Brent Burns destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyBryan Logan ·
Gustav-Nyquist-destinations-in-2025-NHL-free-agency
3 Best Gustav Nyquist destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyRB Hayek ·
Andrei Kuzmenko with Kings logo and question marks around him, Kings, Free agent, NHL Free agency, Andrei Kuzmenko
3 best Andrei Kuzmenko destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyBryan Logan ·
Brock Nelson with NY Islanders, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins logos around him
3 best Brock Nelson destinations in 2025 NHL free agencyChristopher Hennessy ·

The Wild won their first game of the season over the Florida Panthers, before this loss to the Maple Leafs. The Wild sit at 1-1-0 on the season so far, and their next game will come on the road on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Goligoski is playing because of the injury to captain Jared Spurgeon. The absence looms large, as the Wild blue line struggled mightily against the Maple Leafs.

Spurgeon is week-to-week with an upper body injury he suffered in the preseason. The Wild will look to bounce back against the Canadiens, likely without Jared Spurgeon once again.