In a thrilling matchup held in St. Paul, the Ottawa Senators triumphed over the Minnesota Wild with a final score of 3-1, marking their first victory in Minnesota since 2016. Josh Norris emerged as the hero of the night, breaking a tie with a power-play goal with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. This win adds to Ottawa's impressive run, as they have now secured victories in seven of their last nine games, positioning themselves surprisingly well in the playoff race after a six-season absence from postseason play.
Leevi Merilainen, in his fifth NHL appearance, showcased his skills by making 30 saves, stepping up in the absence of regular goaltenders Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg due to injuries. The Senators' offensive efforts were bolstered by contributions from Ridly Greig, who tied the game early in the second period, and Claude Giroux, who sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
On the other side, the Wild struggled to find their rhythm, suffering their fifth loss in the last seven games. Frederick Gaudreau opened the scoring for Minnesota, but the team could not maintain their lead. Kirill Kaprizov's continued absence due to injury was felt, although Joel Eriksson Ek made a return after missing 11 games. The Wild have shown a stark contrast in performance with and without Eriksson Ek, highlighting his importance to the team's success.
Looking ahead, the Senators will continue their nine-game road trip with a challenging matchup against the Dallas Stars, while the Wild prepare to host the Nashville Predators, seeking to turn their fortunes around.
