Gillette let multiple leads slip away before eventually digging out of a two hole to pick up the win. The Wild took a 1-0 advantage on a goal by Steve Patafio at 10:19 in the first period. Gillette went down 4-2 after Missoula's Zach Paisley put the puck home at 3:15 in the second period. After knotting things up at 5-5 on a goal by Anders Nord at 6:26 in the third, the Wild got the game-winner from Boris Knyazev at 9:22 in the third period.
Matt Rose and Tyler Cavan provided the spark for Gillette, combining for two goals and five assists. Rose had one goal and three assists and Cavan also notched one goal and two assists.
The Wild put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill, and did not allow the Maulers to score on any of their five power plays. Gillette's offense rang up 39 shots on Missoula's net.
Gillette also got points from Patafio, who also registered one goal and one assist, Taylor Motsinger, who also finished with one goal and two assists, and Cavan, who also grabbed one goal and two assists. Tyler Johnson also scored for Gillette. In addition, Gillette received assists from Trent Dillinger, who had two.
The Maulers forced the Wild's goalies to work in net, taking 40 shots and forcing 35 saves.Sean Kelley made 23 stops and Brandon Kruckenberg made 12.
Missoula additionally got points from Paisley, who also racked up one goal and one assist. Missoula also got a goal from Jordan Wheatley as well. More assists for Missoula came viaTyler Zandhuisen, who had one and Brett Mathews, who had three.
Gillette incurred 14 minutes in penalty time with seven minors. Mckinlee Baum made 33 saves for Missoula on 39 shots. The Maulers incurred 14 minutes in penalty time with seven minors.