The Minnesota Wild beat the visiting Nashville Predators, 5-3, on New Year's Eve. The Wild took the lead late in the second period and held on for their 23rd win of the season. More important than the result is how one play in the second period could affect both teams going forward.
Just a few minutes into the second period rookie Zachary L'Heureux took out Wild captain Jared Spurgeon with a slew foot. Spurgeon had both his legs taken out from under him and awkwardly crashed into the boards. Spurgeon eventually needed help getting off the ice and was ruled out with a lower-body injury.
