Liam Ohgren scored his first-ever NHL goal, helping the Minnesota Wild secure a 6-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. This win ensured that the Sharks would have the highest chance of winning the NHL draft lottery.
Ohgren, who was drafted in the first round in 2022, had a memorable second game in his NHL career after making his debut the previous night in Las Vegas. He not only contributed with an assist in the first period but also scored late in the second period, seizing an opportunity created by Jonas Brodin’s shot to extend the Wild’s lead to 3-1.
“It was a special moment for me,” Ohgren shared. “The timing couldn’t have been better because my brother and dad are leaving today, so I’m glad I could do that.”
Kirill Kaprizov added two goals in the final minute of the second period for the Wild, who were already eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the week. Matt Boldy, Declan Chisholm, and Marcus Johansson also contributed goals for Minnesota.
Jesper Wallstedt, with 27 saves, secured his second NHL career win, impressing Wild coach John Hynes with his performance and competitiveness.
On the Sharks’ side, Jan Rutta and Mario Ferraro scored goals, and Mikael Granlund extended his points streak to 11 games with two assists. San Jose’s home season concluded with just 11 wins in 41 games, and they faced a challenging 69-goal deficit at the Shark Tank, marking one of the worst home performances in NHL history.
Despite the disappointment, Sharks forward Nico Sturm emphasized the importance of reflection and improvement for the next season, aiming to avoid a similar situation.
The primary focus of the final home game was on draft lottery positioning, and with this loss, the Sharks secured the top spot for the lottery.
