RECAP: Jeff Skinner, an 18-year-old rookie from Markham, Ontario, scored the only shootout goal and the Carolina Hurricanes swept a two-game NHL Premier series with a 2-1 victory over the Wild tonight at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki.
The Wild got one point for taking the game into overtime.
Andrew Brunette gave Minnesota its second 1-0 first-period lead against the Hurricanes in two nights, flipping a backhanded rebound over goalie Cam Ward. But Carolina tied the score early in the second period when Tuomu Ruutu got in front of the net and knocked in a pass from Jussi Jokinen after the Hurricanes' Skinner had beaten goalie Niklas Backstrom to a loose puck.
MEANING: After losing nine of their first 12 games last season, the Wild wanted Finland to provide a springboard to a start strong. Instead, they actually have fewer points after two games than in 2009-10, when they lost their opener at Columbus before beating Anaheim in overtime at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild almost won tonight's game in overtime, but Martin Havlat's breakaway shot caromed off the goal pipe in the final seconds.
ETC.: The arena was sold out with 13,465 fans, and the crowd was vocal tonight, unlike the previous night when attendance was about 1,000 below capacity and the atmosphere was relatively quiet. The difference: Two of Helsinki's top pro teams were playing across town Thursday night.
UP NEXT: vs. Oilers, 7 p.m. Thursday, at Xcel Energy Center, FSN-North TV and WCCO-830 radio.
