Vinni Lettieri scored the deciding goal with less than seven minutes left, helping the Minnesota Wild secure a crucial 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
Mason Shaw, who hadn’t scored in over a year, and Matt Boldy also found the net for the Wild. Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves in goal for Minnesota, who are now six points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western Conference wild-card spot with eight games remaining.
Coach John Hynes emphasized the importance of earning the two points, acknowledging areas for improvement while praising the team’s resilience in securing the win.
Lettieri and Shaw, both part of the Wild’s fourth line alongside Jacob Lucchini, showcased their scoring prowess despite their limited opportunities compared to the top lines.
For the Senators, Drake Batherson and Jakob Chychrun contributed with power-play goals and an assist each, but their five-game winning streak was snapped. Ottawa coach Jacques Martin lamented his team’s errors leading to the Wild’s goals.
Shaw’s goal marked a significant moment in his journey back to form after recovering from a long injury layoff. Boldy’s early goal in the second period added to Minnesota’s lead, but Batherson’s goal reduced the deficit for Ottawa.
The Senators played shorthanded for the last two periods due to an injury to left wing Angus Crookshank, while Wild forward Ryan Hartman served the first game of his three-game suspension.
