ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Joel Eriksson Ek scored with 23.1 seconds left to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Eriksson Ek scored with a one-touch shot from the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Marcus Johansson that stunned the Senators, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game.
Tyler Pitlick and Ryan Hartman also scored for Minnesota, and Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves.
Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist for the Senators. Dylan Cozens also scored and Levi Merilainen stopped 22 shots.
After a scoreless first period, Pitlick deflected a shot that went between Merilainen's legs to give the Wild the lead.
Hartman converted Johansson's crisp pass to the left post on the power play to make it 2–0.
Ottawa then went to a 5-on-3 power play as the Wild received two minor penalties 24 seconds apart. Six seconds after the first penalty expired, Stutzle jumped to beat Wallstedt on the rebound.
The Senators tied the game early in the third with another power-play goal after a sharp call on Wild player Kirill Kaprizov. Cozens fired a wrist shot from the top slot that struck Wallstead over the right shoulder.
Due to injuries, the Wild were without defenseman Jonas Brodin and forward Marcus Zuccarello. They were also awaiting the debut of defenseman Quinn Hughes, who was acquired Friday night in a trade with Vancouver.
Next
Senators: In Winnipeg on Monday.
Wild: Host Boston on Sunday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
