The Wild had to climb out of a two-goal hole and then rally again late in regulation to force overtime, but this adversity seemed to be just what the team needed to record its first win of the season – momentum the group hopes to carry into its next test Saturday at Xcel Energy Center against the Hurricanes.
![The Minnesota Wild's Matt Dumba (24) looks over at the Wild bench after scoring his second goal of the game and celebrating with teammates. The Wild beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/VE3QOG3S6NTRCG6GF5LX6STQJA.jpg?&w=1080)
"It was great for us to come back," winger Jason Zucker said. "It showed a lot from our older guys, our leadership, to get that goal at the end and come back and be able to have a comeback win."
Whether or not the Wild uses the same lineup that helped it to a 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks Thursday is unclear.
Forward Joel Eriksson Ek was on the ice Friday and then left practice. Coach Bruce Boudreau said Eriksson Ek is sore, and he wasn't sure if Eriksson Ek would be available to suit up against Carolina.
Eriksson Ek started Thursday's game next to Zucker and center Eric Staal but then was moved to the third line to start the second. He centered Nino Niederreiter and Charlie Coyle, while Jordan Greenway shifted from center to wing on the Staal-Zucker line, and the changes seemed to suit the Wild.
Staal and Zucker combined for three goals and six points, with Zucker posting a career-high 10 shots – one of which clinched the win in the extra period on a breakaway.
"It's an awful lot easier to sleep when you win no matter if you have to do it in almost impossible fashion or not," Boudreau said. "I thought there was so many good things to take out of that game that it makes you feel better going into [Saturday]."
Projected lineup:
