MINNEAPOLIMEDIA SPORTS | MINNESOTA BIG 7: Boldy Scores Hat Trick as Wild Beat Toronto 5-2; Timberwolves Crush Dallas 133-94 for Fifth Straight Victory

The Wild extended their point streak to 10 games and recorded their seventh consecutive road victory, while the Timberwolves delivered a 39-point win without Anthony Edwards. The Vikings prepare for Sunday's meeting with Green Bay following Kirk Cousins' return, as Minnesota's four remaining major professional franchises continue their preseason and offseason preparations.

By MinneapoliMedia Sports Desk

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (November 13, 2026).

The Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Timberwolves combined for two convincing victories Thursday night, extending their respective winning streaks and strengthening their early-season positions in the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association.

Matt Boldy recorded his second hat trick of the season as the Wild defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at Scotiabank Arena, improving to 14-3-4 and extending their overall point streak to 10 games. Minnesota also recorded its seventh consecutive road victory, continuing a stretch that has placed the team among the Western Conference's leading contenders.

At Target Center, the Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks 133-94, securing their fifth consecutive victory despite the continued absence of injured star Anthony Edwards. Bones Hyland scored 24 points off the bench, LaMelo Ball contributed 22 points and nine assists, and Minnesota outscored Dallas 36-17 in the third quarter to turn a 15-point halftime lead into a 34-point advantage entering the final period.

The victories represented Minnesota's only two games among its seven major professional sports franchises Thursday. The Vikings continued preparations for Sunday's NFC North matchup against the Green Bay Packers, while the Minnesota Frost approached the opening of training camp. Minnesota United FC, the Minnesota Lynx and Minnesota Twins remained in their respective offseasons.

For the Wild and Timberwolves, the results provided further evidence of the consistency that has characterized their recent performances. Minnesota's hockey team recovered from a second-period deficit to win on the road, while its basketball team relied on balanced scoring and an effective defensive performance to overwhelm an opponent that entered the contest on a three-game winning streak.

WILD RECOVER FROM SECOND-PERIOD DEFICIT AS BOLDY COMPLETES HAT TRICK

The Wild entered Thursday's game in Toronto seeking to extend a nine-game point streak and maintain their strong record away from home. They accomplished both objectives, although the 5-2 final score concealed a contest that remained competitive through the first two periods.

Boldy opened the scoring at 17:53 of the first period after intercepting a pass and combining with Kirill Kaprizov before beating Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz. The goal gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Toronto responded early in the second period. Auston Matthews tied the game at 4:05 after receiving a pass from Zack MacEwen and converting a short breakaway opportunity against Jesper Wallstedt. MacEwen then gave the Maple Leafs a 2-1 advantage at 6:59, scoring from the left faceoff circle.

The two goals exposed problems in Minnesota's defensive coverage and transitions, areas that head coach John Hynes subsequently addressed. Toronto had been able to generate opportunities when the Wild failed to maintain defensive positioning, and Minnesota needed to regain control before the deficit increased.

Boldy tied the game at 9:55 of the second period with his second goal, converting a power-play opportunity after receiving the puck from Quinn Hughes. Kaprizov also assisted, giving him two assists through the first 40 minutes.

The teams entered the final period tied 2-2, but Minnesota established control early in the third.

Boldy completed his hat trick at 3:59 after Ryan Hartman delivered a banked drop pass that created an opportunity from the right faceoff circle. Boldy's shot beat Stolarz and restored Minnesota's lead.

Michael McCarron extended the advantage to 4-2 at 7:34, collecting a rebound from a Blake Coleman shot and finishing from close range. Danila Yurov added an empty-net goal at 19:03 to complete the scoring.

Wallstedt stopped 26 of Toronto's 28 shots, finishing with a .929 save percentage. Stolarz made 21 saves for the Maple Leafs, who fell to 8-11-2 after suffering their fifth consecutive defeat.

The victory improved Minnesota's record to 14-3-4 and extended its point streak to 10 games, during which the Wild have gone 8-0-2. Minnesota has not lost in regulation since its October 22 game against Calgary.

The Wild's seven consecutive road victories also matched the second-longest road winning streak in franchise history.

BOLDY'S SCORING AND KAPRIZOV'S PLAYMAKING DRIVE MINNESOTA'S OFFENSE

Boldy's performance was his second hat trick of the 2026-27 season and the sixth of his NHL career. The three goals came in different circumstances, reflecting his ability to capitalize on opportunities during even-strength play and on the power play.

His first goal resulted from an offensive exchange with Kaprizov, his second came on a one-timer during a man advantage, and his third followed Hartman's pass early in the final period.

The hat trick moved Boldy closer to the franchise's career leaders in three-goal games. Marian Gaborik holds Minnesota's record with nine, followed by Kaprizov with seven.

Kaprizov finished Thursday's contest with three assists, extending his personal point streak to 10 games. He has recorded six goals and 12 assists during that period, contributing substantially to Minnesota's recent offensive production.

Hughes also extended his point streak to 10 games with an assist on Boldy's power-play goal. According to the NHL, Hughes became the ninth defenseman in league history to record three separate point streaks of at least 10 games.

The individual performances have supported a broader improvement in Minnesota's consistency. The Wild have continued producing offense while receiving dependable goaltending and contributions from several forward combinations.

The third period against Toronto also demonstrated the importance of defensive adjustments. After allowing two goals in the second, Minnesota prevented the Maple Leafs from scoring again and added three unanswered goals to secure the victory.

ERIKSSON EK LEAVES GAME WITH INJURY

The Wild's victory was accompanied by concern over center Joel Eriksson Ek, who left the contest during the second period following a collision with Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe.

Eriksson Ek did not return.

Hynes indicated afterward that he did not initially believe the injury was serious, although the team expected to have a clearer assessment Friday.

His availability for Minnesota's next game had not been confirmed in the reporting reviewed for this article.

Eriksson Ek plays an important role in the Wild's forward rotation, including faceoffs, defensive responsibilities and assignments against opposing scoring lines. His absence would require adjustments to Minnesota's lineup and potentially increase the responsibilities of other centers.

Hartman assumed additional duties during Thursday's game, and the coaching staff will need to evaluate its available options before Saturday's meeting with the Boston Bruins.

The Wild travel to Boston on November 14 seeking their eighth consecutive road victory and an extension of their 10-game point streak.

TIMBERWOLVES DEFEAT DALLAS BY 39 POINTS AS HYLAND AND BALL LEAD OFFENSE

The Minnesota Timberwolves continued their strong start to the NBA season Thursday with a 133-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at Target Center, producing their largest winning margin of the 2026-27 campaign.

Minnesota improved to 9-3 and extended its winning streak to five games. The victory was also the Timberwolves' seventh consecutive win over Dallas.

The result was particularly significant because Minnesota continued to play without Anthony Edwards, who underwent knee surgery in late October.

Rather than depending on one player to replace Edwards' offensive production, the Timberwolves distributed scoring responsibilities throughout their rotation. Five players scored at least 14 points, and Minnesota's bench provided important contributions.

Hyland led the team with 24 points in 23 minutes, making five of six three-point attempts and adding eight assists. Ball finished with 22 points, six three-pointers and a season-high nine assists.

Ayo Dosunmu scored 18 points, Jaden McDaniels contributed 16 points and nine rebounds, and Jonathan Kuminga added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Minnesota's offensive efficiency established an early advantage. The Timberwolves shot approximately 61% from the field during the first half, with Ball scoring 16 points before the break.

Dallas struggled to contain Minnesota's perimeter shooting and ball movement, while the Timberwolves repeatedly created opportunities through passes into the paint and open shots from beyond the arc.

Minnesota led 67-52 at halftime, leaving Dallas within reach despite the Timberwolves' offensive success.

The third quarter removed any realistic possibility of a Mavericks comeback.

THIRD-QUARTER RUN PUTS GAME BEYOND DALLAS

Minnesota opened the second half with a 17-4 run, extending its advantage to 84-56.

Ball helped direct the offense during the surge, including an alley-oop pass to Rudy Gobert that reflected the Timberwolves' ability to create scoring opportunities near the basket.

The offensive performance was accompanied by improved defensive execution.

Minnesota held Dallas to 17 points in the third quarter while scoring 36, extending its lead to 103-69 entering the fourth.

The 34-point advantage allowed the Timberwolves to manage the final period without relying on their primary scorers for extended minutes.

Minnesota's lead eventually reached 44 points before Dallas reduced the deficit to the final 39-point margin.

The third-quarter performance was especially important because the Mavericks had entered Thursday's game following three consecutive victories.

Dallas was unable to maintain its offensive production against Minnesota's defensive pressure and finished the game shooting approximately 37% from the field.

Zaccharie Risacher led the Mavericks with 22 points off the bench. Naji Marshall scored 13, Cooper Flagg added 12 and Kyrie Irving finished with 10.

Flagg had scored 43 points against Indiana in his previous game but was held to five successful field goals in 12 attempts against Minnesota.

The contrast reflected the Timberwolves' success in limiting Dallas' leading offensive options and preventing the Mavericks from establishing a consistent scoring rhythm.

MINNESOTA'S DEPTH BECOMES CENTRAL DURING EDWARDS' ABSENCE

The Timberwolves' fifth consecutive victory has increased attention on their ability to maintain offensive production without Edwards.

Edwards provides scoring, shot creation and the ability to generate offense late in possessions. His absence requires other players to assume responsibilities that would ordinarily fall to one of Minnesota's leading offensive threats.

Thursday's performance demonstrated how that production can be distributed.

Ball directed the offense while providing perimeter scoring. Hyland supplied points and assists from the bench. Dosunmu, McDaniels and Kuminga contributed additional scoring, reducing Minnesota's dependence on any single player.

The Timberwolves also benefited from their defensive performance, particularly during the third quarter, when Dallas managed only 17 points.

The combination of balanced scoring and defensive consistency has helped Minnesota establish a 9-3 record despite its injury concerns.

The challenge will be sustaining that performance against opponents with different defensive systems and offensive strengths.

Minnesota returns to Target Center on Saturday, November 14, to face the Chicago Bulls, seeking a sixth consecutive victory.

The matchup will provide another assessment of the team's ability to maintain its current form while Edwards remains unavailable.

VIKINGS PREPARE FOR GREEN BAY FOLLOWING KIRK COUSINS' RETURN

The Minnesota Vikings enter Friday preparing for Sunday's NFC North meeting with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, with the team's quarterback situation receiving particular attention following the return of Kirk Cousins.

Minnesota reacquired Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders on November 10 after a difficult offensive performance in Monday's 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The Vikings entered the week with a 6-2 record but faced questions about their ability to sustain offensive production during the second half of the season.

Cousins previously played for Minnesota from 2018 through 2023, establishing himself as one of the franchise's most productive quarterbacks during that period.

His return gives the Vikings an experienced passer familiar with the organization, although the roster and offensive arrangements have changed since his departure.

The trade followed a performance against Buffalo in which Carson Wentz completed eight of 25 passes for 81 yards, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Minnesota struggled to move the ball consistently and was unable to generate enough offense to challenge the Bills.

The quarterback position has consequently become an important issue as the Vikings prepare for a divisional opponent.

Cousins' previous experience may assist his transition, but the coaching staff must still determine how he fits within the current offensive system and establish the lineup for Sunday's game.

The supplied material also identifies injury concerns involving several Vikings players, including Blake Cashman, T.J. Hockenson and Jauan Jennings. Their availability requires confirmation through the team's official injury designations.

Minnesota and Green Bay are scheduled to meet at noon Central Time on November 15.

The game will provide an important test of the Vikings' ability to respond to Monday's defeat and maintain their position in the NFC playoff race.

MINNESOTA FROST APPROACH TRAINING CAMP

The Minnesota Frost are preparing for the opening of Professional Women's Hockey League training camp on November 18, beginning another phase of preparations for the 2026-27 season.

The supplied training camp information identifies a 30-player roster consisting of 17 forwards, nine defenders and four goaltenders.

The team is expected to conduct its camp at TRIA Rink in St. Paul, where coaches and management will evaluate roster combinations, special-teams assignments and player readiness.

The Frost enter the new season amid continued changes in the PWHL's structure and competitive environment.

Those developments place additional importance on roster decisions as established clubs prepare to compete against an expanded field.

The team's preseason preparations are expected to include games in Henderson, Nevada, against Las Vegas and Vancouver.

The supplied schedule identifies November 22 and 23 for those contests, although the dates should be confirmed against the league's official calendar before publication.

Minnesota's immediate focus is completing training camp evaluations and preparing a competitive roster for the regular season.

MINNESOTA UNITED BEGINS OFFSEASON AFTER MISSING PLAYOFFS

Minnesota United FC has entered its offseason following a 2026 campaign that ended without an MLS Cup Playoffs appearance.

The Loons concluded their regular season November 7 with a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, but results elsewhere prevented them from qualifying for the postseason.

The victory extended Minnesota's late-season winning streak to three matches, although the improvement came too late to overcome points lost earlier in the campaign.

The club's offseason will involve evaluating roster needs, assessing player development and identifying changes intended to improve consistency in 2027.

Minnesota's failure to qualify for the playoffs places particular attention on the team's performance across the full season rather than its closing results.

The front office must determine whether improvements are needed in attacking production, defensive organization or overall roster depth.

Those decisions will shape preparations for the next MLS campaign.

MINNESOTA LYNX TURN ATTENTION TO 2027

The Minnesota Lynx remain in their offseason following elimination from the 2026 WNBA playoffs.

The organization is preparing for another season with the objective of returning to championship contention.

Offseason planning includes evaluating the returning roster, identifying areas requiring improvement and considering opportunities for player development.

Minnesota's history of success has established substantial expectations for the franchise, making roster construction and personnel decisions important components of its preparations.

The Lynx will also need to account for developments across the WNBA as teams adjust their rosters and prepare for the next season.

Specific transactions and personnel changes will become clearer as the league's offseason progresses.

MINNESOTA TWINS EVALUATE ROSTER AFTER 77-85 SEASON

The Minnesota Twins are continuing their offseason preparations after completing the 2026 Major League Baseball season with a 77-85 record.

The club finished below .500 and now faces decisions about how to improve its roster before the 2027 campaign.

Minnesota's baseball operations department will evaluate returning players, organizational depth and potential personnel changes.

Those assessments will influence decisions involving free agency, trades and opportunities for players developing within the minor-league system.

The Twins must also determine how to improve consistency across a full major-league season.

The organization's winter decisions will help establish expectations for spring training and the coming year.

MINNESOTA BIG 7: FRIDAY'S OUTLOOK

Thursday's results strengthened the positions of Minnesota's two active winter professional teams.

The Wild improved to 14-3-4 with their seventh consecutive road victory and a 10-game point streak. Boldy's hat trick, Kaprizov's three assists and Wallstedt's 26 saves were central to the victory over Toronto.

The Timberwolves improved to 9-3 after defeating Dallas by 39 points, extending their winning streak to five games while continuing to operate without Edwards.

Both teams return to action Saturday, with the Wild visiting Boston and the Timberwolves hosting Chicago.

The Vikings face Green Bay on Sunday in a game that will draw attention to the team's quarterback situation and its response to the Buffalo defeat.

The Frost are preparing for training camp, while Minnesota United, the Lynx and the Twins continue their offseason evaluations.

For Minnesota sports followers, the most immediate developments concern whether the Wild and Timberwolves can extend their winning streaks and whether the Vikings can stabilize their offense before another important divisional contest.

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