ST. PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — Joel Eriksson Ek scored the decisive goal with 2:24 remaining to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon at Grand Casino Arena. Ryan Hartman and Tyler Pitlick also scored for the Wild, who improved to 18-14. Ottawa’s Tim Stützle and Dylan Cozens scored second- and third-period goals, respectively. Cozens finished with a goal and an assist for the Senators, who fell to 14-17. The game was tied 2-2 before Eriksson Ek’s late wrist shot beat Ottawa goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The teams combined for 13 penalties, including a fighting major between Minnesota’s Hartman and Ottawa’s Ridly Greig late in the second period. The Wild’s win probability was projected at 55.3% pregame.

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — Joel Eriksson Ek broke a third-period tie with 2 minutes and 24 seconds remaining, lifting the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon at Grand Casino Arena. The decisive play began with a turnover by Ottawa defenseman Tyler Kleven deep in his own zone. Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov pounced on the loose puck and fed Marcus Johansson, who quickly dished to a driving Eriksson Ek. The Wild center snapped a wrist shot past Ottawa goaltender Leevi Meriläinen for his seventh goal of the season, sending the home crowd of 18,106 into a frenzy. The goal capped a resilient effort by the Wild, who squandered a two-goal lead but recovered to snap Ottawa’s two-game winning streak. Minnesota improved to 18-14, while Ottawa fell to 14-17. The game’s most critical sequence, however, unfolded in the final minutes of the second period, a stretch that transformed the contest’s momentum and tone. Leading 2-0 on goals from Ryan Hartman and Tyler Pitlick, Minnesota appeared in control. But a double-minor penalty to Joel Eriksson Ek for slashing Dylan Cozens gave Ottawa an extended two-man advantage. The Senators’ power play, which had been frustrated by Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt and a relentless penalty kill, finally broke through. With just 1 minute and 23 seconds left in the period, Tim Stützle poked in a rebound during a chaotic net-front scramble. Assists went to Cozens and Drake Batherson, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 2-1 and injecting life into the Senators. The period’s fireworks were not over. As the horn sounded, a fierce fight erupted between Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman and Ottawa’s Ridly Greig, with both players receiving fighting majors. The scrum underscored the escalating physicality and set the stage for a tense, penalty-filled third period. Ottawa carried that momentum into the final frame. Just 45 seconds into a power play generated by a Kaprizov slashing penalty, Dylan Cozens wired a wrist shot from the high slot, beating Wallstedt cleanly to tie the game 2-2. Brady Tkachuk and Stützle assisted on Cozens’ 10th goal of the season. From there, the game became a tense, mistake-prone affair. Both teams traded chances and penalties, with Wallstedt and Meriläinen making key saves to preserve the tie. Wallstedt finished with 39 saves, while Meriläinen stopped 32 shots. Ottawa’s best chance to take the lead came midway through the third when a furious scramble in front of the Minnesota net saw multiple Senators whack at the puck, but Wallstedt and his defenders kept it out. The game was a physical, grinding affair from the outset, with the teams combining for 12 penalties. Ottawa’s Greig also took a delay of game penalty in the first period for shooting the puck over the glass, while Minnesota’s David Jiricek was called for holding and Daemon Hunt for high-sticking. The victory allowed Minnesota to keep pace in the competitive Central Division, while Ottawa’s road struggles continued. The Senators have lost nine of their last 12 games away from home. According to pregame projections by National Statistical, Minnesota was given a 55.30% probability to win, with a projected final score of 4-2. UP NEXT Senators: Visit the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Wild: Host the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Preview: Senators at Wild, Saturday, December 13, 2025 SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — The Minnesota Wild look to build on a decisive road win when they host the struggling Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon at Grand Casino Arena. The Wild (16-14-0) are returning home after a 4-1 victory at Seattle on Monday. Center Joel Eriksson Ek was dominant in that contest, scoring a goal and adding two assists while firing a season-high six shots on goal. Eriksson Ek has been a consistent offensive catalyst, recording points in three of his last five games. Minnesota has found success at home lately, going 3-0-1 in its last four at Grand Casino Arena, including shutout wins over Pittsburgh and Winnipeg. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who made 23 saves against the Kraken, is expected to start. Ottawa (13-16-0) arrives mired in a three-game losing skid, most recently a 4-3 home loss to New Jersey on Tuesday. Despite the team’s struggles, right wing Drake Batherson has been a bright spot. He scored both Ottawa goals in the defeat, giving him four goals and an assist over his last four games. Batherson leads the Senators with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in December. The Senators’ recent road trip was particularly difficult, with the team dropping five of seven games away from home. Their defensive play has been a concern, allowing three or more goals in eight of their last ten contests. This matchup pits Ottawa’s 28th-ranked penalty kill against a Minnesota power play that ranks 12th in the league. Special teams could prove decisive. Historically, the Wild have held the advantage, winning seven of the last ten meetings between the clubs. Following this game, Minnesota will host the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Ottawa continues a four-game road trip in Winnipeg on Monday. Expected Starting Goaltenders: Senators: Joonas Korpisalo (8-10-0, 3.24 GAA). Wild: Filip Gustavsson (12-9-0, 2.61 GAA). Injury Report: Ottawa will be without defenseman Thomas Chabot (upper body, week-to-week). Minnesota lists defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body, day-to-day) as questionable. The puck drops at 7 p.m. CST.