ST. PAUL, Minn. — Joel Eriksson Ek scored with 23.1 seconds remaining to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Eriksson Ek buried a one-timer from the right circle after a cross-ice pass by Marcus Johansson to stun the Senators, who had rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie it.
Tyler Pitlick and Ryan Hartman also scored for Minnesota, while Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves.
Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist for the Senators. Dylan Cozens also scored, and Leevi Merilainen stopped 22 shots.
After a scoreless first period, Pitlick scored off a deflection that trickled between Merilainen's legs to put the Wild in front.
Hartman converted a crisp pass from Johansson at the left post on the power play to make it 2-0.
Ottawa then went on a 5-on-3 power play as the Wild were whistled for two minor penalties 24 seconds apart. Six seconds after the first penalty expired, a diving Stutzle beat Wallstedt on a rebound.
The Senators tied it early in the third with another power-play goal after a slashing call against the Wild's Kirill Kaprizov. Cozens fired a wrist shot from the high slot that beat a screened Wallsted over the right shoulder.
