Marcus Foligno has first hat trick as Wild top Maple Leafs

Sarah McLellan, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan 19, 2026

Published in Hockey

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The injured Minnesota Wild certainly aren’t intimidated by the improbable.

They ended the Maple Leafs’ seven-game win streak at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena in a 6-3 rout Monday while still missing five regulars.

Marcus Foligno netted his first career hat trick, Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist and Ryan Hartman also scored. Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes were the playmakers, finishing with two assists apiece. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves.

These were the same players that stepped up in the 5-4 overtime victory at Buffalo two days earlier when the Wild started this road swing with three of their top-five scorers in Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson and veteran defensemen Jonas Brodin and Zach Bogosian hurt.

Since then, Foligno has four goals and Tarasenko three. Hartman has chipped in two goals and an assist while assuming the No. 1 center position between Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. Kaprizov is up to five assists on the trip, while Hughes has factored in three goals and scored one himself.

Gustavsson, who was starting consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 14-16, earned his 99th career victory in in his 200th game.

How it happened

Again, the Wild started on time, taking advantage of an early power play when sharp passing from Hughes to Kaprizov to Hartman found Tarasenko in front for a wide-open wrister only 4 minutes, 45 seconds into the first period.

Later, the Wild pounced on a Toronto turnover to keep the puck in the offensive zone, and Kaprizov one-timed the puck to Zuccarello, who forwarded it to Hartman for a shot under goalie Joseph Woll’s left pad at 10:29.

A high stick by captain Jared Spurgeon on the Leafs’ John Tavares led to a four-minute power play for Toronto, and the Wild looked like they could be in trouble after Tavares drained a one-timer only 18 seconds into the PP.

Turning point

Unlike the second period against the Sabres when the Wild fell behind 4-3 after blowing a 3-1 lead, they scored three to run away from the Leafs.

They got through the rest of Toronto’s power play (the penalty kill went 3 for 4) before widening their cushion when Foligno deflected in a Brock Faber shot at 6:53.

Tarasenko split the Leafs defense for a breakaway set up by Hughes at 8:24 for his second two-goal game of the season.

Then Foligno added his second of the night on the power play with 46 seconds left in the second, another tip of a Faber shot; the Wild power play was 2 for 3.

Woll exited after the second period, leaving with 24 saves. Dennis Hildeby made nine stops in relief.

Toronto got two goals back in the third, the first a puck that pinballed in front of Gustavsson before caroming in off Nick Robertson at 6:27. With 4:58 to go, Auston Matthews capitalized on a breakaway for his 11th goal in his past 12 games.

After Tarasenko’s attempt at the empty net and his own hat trick missed, he handed off to Foligno, who skated in his third goal. Of Foligno’s six goals this season, five have come in the past four games.

Key stat

After 10 Wild players factored into the offense vs. Buffalo, nine had at least a point against the Leafs.

What it means

This is the blueprint for how the Wild can thrive (and not just survive) while their key players are on the mend.

They’re getting timely contributions from their veterans: Tarasenko’s shot has been clutch, while Hartman and Foligno are playing their strongest hockey of the season. The leadership of Kaprizov and Hughes is also apparent, the two threading passes and creating opportunities like only they can with their skill and savviness. In net, Gustavsson is steady, and that’s a competitiveness that sets the tone for the entire team.

The Wild are their best when they’re healthy, but they continue to prove that expectations shouldn’t change when they’re shorthanded.

Up next

This trip concludes on Tuesday in Montreal against the Canadiens, who defeated Ottawa 6-5 in overtime in their last game.

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