Matt Boldy Hat Trick Powers Wild Past Leafs 5-2 in NHL Thursday Night Action

Matt Boldy scored his sixth career hat trick on Thursday night, November 12, 2026, as the Minnesota Wild rallied to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2, headlining an 11-game NHL slate packed with comebacks, milestones and streaks ending across the league. Boldy's go-ahead goal came 3 minutes 59 seconds into the third period, Kirill Kaprizov set up three goals, and Jesper Wallstedt made 26 saves to earn his league-leading 13th win. Toronto lost its fifth straight game and its seventh in eight, while Montreal scored five unanswered goals to stun Boston 5-2 and top the Atlantic Division.

Key Points

• Matt Boldy scored his sixth career hat trick, with the go-ahead goal 3:59 into the third period, as Minnesota beat Toronto 5-2.
• Kirill Kaprizov recorded three assists and Jesper Wallstedt made 26 saves for his league-leading 13th win.
• Toronto lost its fifth straight game and its seventh in eight, deepening the Maple Leafs' slide.
• Montreal scored five straight goals to beat Boston 5-2, snapping the Bruins' seven-game home winning streak and extending the Canadiens' point streak to 12 games.
• Florida rallied from 4-1 down to beat Detroit 5-4, Winnipeg routed Dallas 8-3, and St. Louis won 1-0 in an eight-round shootout.

What Happened

The Wild trailed early in Toronto before taking control in the second half. Boldy completed his hat trick with the goal that put Minnesota ahead for good early in the third period, and the visitors pulled away to a 5-2 win. Kaprizov set up three goals, and Wallstedt was steady when Toronto pressed. The defeat was Toronto's fifth in a row and its seventh in eight games, a run that has turned a promising start into a genuine worry for the Maple Leafs.

In Boston, the Canadiens fell behind before answering with five consecutive goals to beat the Bruins 5-2 at TD Garden. The result ended Boston's seven-game home winning streak and its four-game winning streak overall. Jacob Fowler made 30 saves for Montreal, which extended its point streak to 12 games at 9-0-3 and moved to the top of the Atlantic Division.

Florida produced the night's biggest comeback, rallying from 4-1 down to beat Detroit 5-4. Anton Lundell scored the winner with 2:40 left, and Sam Reinhart scored his 200th goal as a Panther. Winnipeg routed Dallas 8-3 for a fifth straight win after a nine-game losing streak, with Mark Scheifele and Dawson Mercer scoring twice each in the second period. St. Louis edged Utah 1-0 in an eight-round shootout, with Joel Hofer stopping 29 shots plus four in the shootout and Connor McMichael scoring the winner in round eight.

Elsewhere, Ottawa beat Colorado 4-3 in overtime on Shane Pinto's winner, Chicago beat Buffalo 3-2 in overtime on Ryan Donato's winner to end a six-game losing streak, and Carolina beat Seattle 4-1 in Helsinki in the NHL Global Series, with Sebastian Aho scoring twice before his home crowd. Tampa Bay beat Columbus 3-1, with Jake Guentzel scoring the winner in his 700th NHL game, while New Jersey beat Washington 5-2 and the Islanders beat Los Angeles 5-2.

Background and Context

Thursday's 11-game slate put several of the league's hottest teams to the test. Minnesota has been one of the season's most consistent sides, and the win in Toronto underlined how much of its attack runs through Boldy and Kaprizov, with Wallstedt giving the team a reliable last line of defence. Toronto, by contrast, has watched a promising season slide into five straight defeats.

Boston had turned TD Garden into a fortress, winning seven straight at home and four in a row overall before Montreal arrived. The Canadiens had quietly built one of the league's longest point streaks, and their five-goal answer was the clearest sign yet that they are a genuine force in the Atlantic. Winnipeg's rout of Dallas was just as striking: five straight wins after nine straight losses, one of the sharpest reversals of the season. For a full roundup of recent NHL action, see our report on the Predators' 4-1 win over the Hurricanes and the Wild's 4-2 win in Philadelphia.

Matt Boldy Hat Trick Headlines NHL Thursday Results

Boldy's sixth career hat trick was the headline performance of the night, and the timing made it matter even more. His go-ahead goal early in the third period broke open a tight game in Toronto and set Minnesota on the way to a 5-2 win. It showed why the Wild lean on him in big moments. Kaprizov's three assists were the other half of the story, and behind them Wallstedt's 26 saves and league-leading 13th win gave the Wild the platform to play on the front foot.

Reactions

The results left two very different moods in the Atlantic Division. In Montreal, the five-goal rally confirmed a team playing with belief, now on a 12-game point streak and top of the division. In Boston, the end of a seven-game home winning streak was a reminder that even the league's strongest home record can be broken by a team in form. In Toronto, a fifth straight loss left a team searching for answers; in Winnipeg, a fifth straight win has turned the Jets' season around.

Why It Matters

Thursday's results shuffled the standings in both conferences. Montreal's win put the Canadiens on top of the Atlantic Division and confirmed their 12-game point streak as one of the season's best runs. Toronto's slide is now impossible to ignore: five straight losses and seven defeats in eight games have turned early-season optimism into real pressure. Minnesota's win kept the Wild among the league's pacesetters, Winnipeg's fifth straight win is one of the season's great turnarounds, and Florida's rally from 4-1 down showed why the Panthers remain a threat even when they fall behind.

What Happens Next

Toronto must stop the slide in its next game to steady a season that has suddenly turned. Montreal will try to protect its place at the top of the Atlantic and extend a point streak that now stands at 12 games. Minnesota will look to build on Boldy's hat trick and Wallstedt's strong form, while Winnipeg will aim to stretch its winning run to six after the rout of Dallas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score between the Wild and the Maple Leafs?
Minnesota won 5-2 on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Boldy scored a hat trick and Kaprizov had three assists.

How many career hat tricks does Matt Boldy have?
Six. Thursday's hat trick against Toronto was the sixth of his NHL career, with the go-ahead goal coming 3:59 into the third period.

Who won between the Canadiens and the Bruins?
Montreal won 5-2 at TD Garden, scoring five straight goals to snap Boston's seven-game home streak and extend its point streak to 12 games.

What happened in the Jets vs. Stars game?
Winnipeg routed Dallas 8-3 for a fifth straight win. Mark Scheifele and Dawson Mercer scored twice each in the second period.

Where was the Hurricanes vs. Kraken game played?
In Helsinki, Finland, in the NHL Global Series. Carolina won 4-1, with Sebastian Aho scoring twice before his home crowd.