Wild's Jacob Middleton: Scores game-winning goal Thursday
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Middleton netted a goal in a 6-1 win over Nashville on Thursday.
Middleton's marker, which came midway through the first period, put Minnesota up 2-0 and proved to be the game-winner. That gives him four goals and 10 points in 21 contests this year. Middleton's offensive contributions have trickled in throughout the campaign -- he hasn't had a scoring streak of more than two games in 2023-24.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Strong effort despite loss
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Middleton scored on his only shot and blocked four shots in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs to wrap up the Global Series in Sweden.
Middleton added some excitement in Stockholm with his go-ahead goal in the third period, but the Leafs turned the tables and ended up victorious. While it's unreasonable to expect the second-pairing defenseman to maintain his gaudy shooting percentage (18.8), Middleton should have no trouble establishing new career highs offensively. He's up to three goals and six assists through 17 games, putting him six points shy of matching his output from 79 contests a year ago.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Scores for second straight game
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Middleton found the back of the net in a 5-3 loss to New Jersey on Thursday.
It was Middleton's second straight game with a marker, which makes this the first goal-scoring streak of his career. He's up to two goals and seven points in 10 contests this season. Middleton has never been much of an offensive threat -- his career high in points is 15 -- and it seems unlikely the 27-year-old will maintain this level of production.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Nets first goal
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Middleton scored a goal on his lone shot in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Devils.
Middleton cut Minnesota's deficit to 4-3 late in the third period, setting up in the slot before sliding a wrist shot past Vitek Vanecek. While the goal was his first of the season, the 27-year-old Middleton has offered decent offensive production early in the year, tallying six points in nine games after he recorded just 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 79 contests last season. Middleton should continue to work in an expanded role on Minnesota's second pairing with both Jared Spurgeon (upper body) and Alex Goligoski (lower body) on long-term injured reserve.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Earns helper against Habs
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Middleton recorded an assist versus Montreal on Tuesday.
Middleton has helpers in back-to-back games, something he did just twice last season. The Alberta native put up a career-best 15 points last season and probably shouldn't be expected to produce much more than that this year.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Nets opening goal Monday
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Middleton scored a goal in Minnesota's 5-1 victory over Seattle on Monday.
Middleton snapped his 46-game goal-scoring slump. The 27-year-old isn't a major offensive contributor with three goals and 15 points in 71 outings this season. Middleton did set the tone Monday though, by opening the scoring late in the first period.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Returning Sunday
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Middleton (illness) will return to the lineup Sunday against the Capitals, per Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Middleton has missed Minneosta's last two contests with an illness. He'll return to a top-paring role alongside Jared Spurgeon. The 27-year-old Middleton has a career high of 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) and a plus-14 rating through 66 games this season.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Not playing Saturday
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Middleton (illness) will not play Saturday versus Boston, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports.
Middleton will miss his second straight game Saturday but could return Sunday versus Washington.The 27-year-old blueliner has two goals, 11 assists, 68 PIM. 95 hits and 124 blocked shots in 66 games.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Out Wednesday
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Middleton (illness) won't be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against St. Louis, per Joe Smith of The Athletic.
Middleton has been doing well recently, with three assists and a plus-6 rating over his last three outings. He has two goals and 13 points in 66 contests in 2022-23. With Middleton not playing Wednesday, Calen Addison will dress for the first time since March 2.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Logs assist and fight Sunday
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Middleton posted an assist, five PIM and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Coyotes.
Middleton got the assist early, setting up a Mats Zuccarello tally in the first period. In the third, Middleton dropped the gloves with Coyotes winger Lawson Crouse in the fourth fight of the contest. Over his last three games, Middleton has three helpers, but the 27-year-old typically won't produce at such a noticeable rate. He's at 13 points (one shy of his career high) with 124 blocked shots, 95 hits, 71 shots on net, 68 PIM and a plus-14 rating through 66 appearances this season.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Dishes two helpers in win
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Middleton posted two assists and a plus-3 rating in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Jets.
Middleton was strong on both ends in this one, rounding out his line with two blocked shots and two hits. He snapped a six-game point drought with his first multi-point effort of the season, and the stay-at-home defenseman's up to a career-best 12 points this season.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Snaps slump with helper
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Middleton notched an assist and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Kings.
Middleton snapped an eight-game point drought with his first helper in February. The 27-year-old defenseman isn't expected to contribute much offense -- he's a physical presence first and foremost. For the season, he has nine points, 53 shots on goal, 84 hits, 103 blocked shots, 61 PIM and a plus-4 rating through 56 appearances.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Expected to be available Thursday
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Middleton (illness) is expected to be available for Thursday's game against Dallas, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Middleton missed Tuesday's contest against Winnipeg because of the illness. Minnesota bought up Andrej Sustr on Tuesday to serve as an extra defenseman, but the Wild reassigned him Wednesday. Middleton has two goals and six points in 33 contests this season.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Out with illness
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Middleton will sit out Tuesday's game against Winnipeg with a non-COVID illness, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Middleton did not make the trip with the Wild to Winnipeg for Tuesday's game. As a result, Minnesota brought up Andrej Sustr from AHL Iowa to serve as an extra. Alex Goligoski is projected to play alongside Jared Spurgeon on Tuesday.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: On 13-game point drought
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Middleton hasn't recorded a point in his last 13 games.
Middleton had a goal and four points in his first six contests this season, but his offensive production has completely dried up since. The 26-year-old defenseman has never been a significant offensive contributor in the NHL, so it's not surprising that he couldn't build off that hot start. He has made his mark in other ways though, recording 29 PIM, 35 blocks and 30 hits in 19 contests in 2022-23.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Contributing early
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Middleton is off to a solid start offensively this season with a goal and three points over four games.
That's quite an uptick given that Middleton recorded just 14 points in 66 games in 2021-22. This strong run isn't expected to last, though. He's not a major offensive force but provides value in other ways. The 26-year-old already has eight blocks and four hits, which are both categories he's expected to make significant contributions to throughout the season.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Staying in Minnesota
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Middleton signed a three-year contract worth $7.35 million with the Wild on Wednesday, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.
Middleton will officially stay with the Wild after he was brought in from the Sharks at the trade deadline in March. The physical defenseman had five points, 29 hits and 35 blocked shots in 21 regular-season contests with the Wild and added one assist in six playoff games. The 26-year-old will likely slot into a top-four role as a defensive presence in 2022-23.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Gets first goal for new team
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Middelton scored a goal on four shots, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Blues.
Middleton gave the Wild a 3-1 lead 18 seconds into the third period. It was his first point since he was traded from the Sharks at the deadline. The 26-year-old blueliner has added 17 hits, 17 blocked shots and nine PIM as a physical presence in the Wild's top four. He's at 10 points, 62 shots on net, 106 hits, 105 blocked shots, 78 PIM and a plus-5 rating in 54 contests overall.
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Wild's Jacob Middleton: Bolsters blue line
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Middleton was sent to Minnesota from San Jose on Monday in a swap for Kaapo Kahkonen and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Middleton joins a stacked defensive group that includes the likes of Matt Dumba, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. While the 26-year-old Middleton won't offer much in the way of fantasy value given his limited offensive upside, his presence will allow his defensive partner to jump into the play more often.
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Sharks' Jacob Middleton: Earns first career power-play point
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Middleton logged a power-play assist, three shots on goal, three blocked shots and four hits in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Kings.
Middleton saw some power-play time Thursday, which hasn't often been the case this season. He helped out on Nick Bonino's second-period marker. The assist snapped Middleton's 12-game point drought, but he has just nine points through 40 contests overall. The physical defenseman has added 80 hits, 73 blocked shots, 62 PIM and a plus-1 rating while taking on a top-four role for the first time in his career.
