Wild’s Zuccarello Sparks Playoff Hopes in Thrilling Overtime Win

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Minnesota Wild inched closer to a playoff berth with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night at Rogers Arena. Thanks to a decisive goal from Mats Zuccarello just 2:47 into overtime, the Wild lifted their points total to 95, placing them firmly in the race for the Western Conference wild card spots.

The enigmatic encounter not only showcased Zuccarello’s skills but also marked a significant turning point for the Wild, who now sit one point ahead of the St. Louis Blues while maintaining a five-point lead over the Calgary Flames. They will look to clinch a playoff spot Tuesday when they face the Anaheim Ducks at home; a single point in that game could solidify their postseason aspirations.

“We control our own destiny,” said defenseman Brock Faber, who logged a career-high 33:28 of ice time. “Now, it’s just on to the last one, and the biggest one of the year. It’s exciting.”

The Wild were not without challenges in Saturday’s contest. They trailed 2-0 heading into the final period after goals by Vancouver’s Marcus Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. However, a stunning comeback was ignited just 22 seconds into the third period when Faber scored off a rebound from Matt Boldy’s shot. Shortly after, Marcus Foligno tied the game with 6:46 remaining, redirecting a puck in front of the net.

“I’m just so proud of the boys because we come back,” Kirill Kaprizov remarked after the game. “All third period I felt we played in the offensive zone.”

Despite not initially having a promising start, the Wild showed resilience and grit, especially after a disappointing loss to Calgary just a day earlier. Coach John Hynes praised his team’s performance, stating, “We showed a lot of character tonight, coming back from a 2-0 deficit. It’s a crucial time of the year, and our guys stepped up.”

Both teams faced significant moments throughout the game, including injuries. Captain Jared Spurgeon missed the game due to discomfort after a recent injury, and defenseman Declan Chisholm, who had a rough encounter with Pettersson that resulted in a trip to the boards, returned after a brief absence in the second period. Fortunately, Chisholm’s condition had improved by the third.

Filip Gustavsson was solid in goal, stopping 12 shots in a second consecutive start. “He was great,” Hynes commented after the game. “He stepped in and made some crucial saves.”

With the Wild now in the hunt for a playoff spot, the team’s focus shifts to the Anaheim Ducks. “It’s now just one game left to clinch,” Zuccarello added. “We need to make sure we’re ready for that.”

As the regular season nears its conclusion, fans are eager to see if Minnesota will secure their playoff ambitions. The stakes are high, with the outcome of their final game against Anaheim holding significant implications for their postseason hopes.