For the Minnesota Wild, Tuesday night in Ottawa seemed to have some resemblance to the game in St. Paul back in November when Kirill Kaprizov notched his first goal of the season a few minutes into overtime.
Slow play at times, exciting plays when needed, you remember?
However, this time around, it wasn’t enough as the Minnesota Wild (31-14-3) dropped tonight’s game 4-3.
Coming off an absolutely incredible game against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, the Wild opened the game in Ottawa on their heels. Minnesota quickly gave away the first period to a team that’s been playing mediocre hockey the past several weeks.
Two easy(ish) goals gave the Senators a two-score lead heading into the second frame, where fortunately for the Wild, it looked a smidge different…
Starting off the goal scoring for the Wild was No. 22, Kevin Fiala, who in perfect fashion scored on 2/22/2022. If he hadn’t have scored it would’ve been a tough post to write knowing he’d never get another chance to score in a game like this.
2️⃣2️⃣ scores on 2/22/22! 🤯
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) February 23, 2022
Fiala puts the #mnwild on the board! pic.twitter.com/uMbkC8vesp
Following Fiala, the young Minnesota captain Jared Spurgeon tossed — nay SNIPED — a goal passed Forsberg to tie the game up just about halfway through the period.
Unfortunately, however, Talbot would be beat yet again by Senator winger Tim Stutzle, giving the Canadian team a one-goal lead heading into the second intermission.
Every single team in this league should never feel comfortable leading the Minnesota Wild going into the final frame.
Seriously, it’s like the Wild take the super serum that Steve Rogers took in the MCU to become Captain America and we just come into the new period looking entirely different.
Down one early in the third, defensemen Jon Merrill came in unassisted and knocked one home to tie the game up.
Glove side, right side!
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) February 23, 2022
Jon Merrill ties it in Ottawa! #mnwild pic.twitter.com/2hHWjScUpX
Back-and-forth hockey then continued to be played, complete with unnecessary hits left and right (specifically speaking a horribly missed boarding call on Kaprizov) . A late goal broke the tie for Ottawa thanks to defensemen Chabot who tallied two goals on the night.
With just under four minutes remaining, Jordan Greenway got called for tripping which put the Wild down a man. Thankfully, the Wild were able to be aggressive and kill the power play however, it wouldn’t be enough as the super serum was ineffective tonight, giving the home team the ‘W’
A tough loss tonight in Ottawa. However it’s to regroup and prepare for Thursday’s challenging matchup against Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs..