Jason Zucker delivers game-winning power-play goal in Sabres victory

On a Sunday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Ottawa Senators took on the Minnesota Wild, emerging triumphant with a score of 3-1. This match marked a significant success for the Senators, as it was their first win in Minnesota since 2016. With this victory, the Senators have demonstrated a newfound competitiveness, winning seven out of their last nine games and placing themselves uniquely in playoff discussions, despite not qualifying for the postseason in the previous six seasons. Notably, it has been a challenging period for Minnesota, who have suffered five losses in their last seven games, contrasting sharply with Ottawa's recent success. Key players included Josh Norris, who scored the pivotal power-play goal to break the tie with just over seven minutes left on the clock. His goal emphasized the importance of special teams in tightly contested matches, particularly following a successful penalty kill by the Wild moments earlier. The Senators were led offensively by Norris, who has now earned the status of being second on the team with 14 goals this season. The game captured a thrilling back-and-forth dynamic, beginning with Frederick Gaudreau's opening tally for the Wild late in the first period. However, Ridly Greig quickly leveled the score early in the second period, setting the stage for a fierce contest. Claude Giroux later added an empty-netter which sealed the victory for Ottawa. Ottawa’s reliance on their young goaltender Leevi Merilainen has grown, given that their starters Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg are currently sidelined due to injuries. On the Minnesota side, the situation is more complex. They were missing star Kirill Kaprizov due to a lower-body injury while welcoming back Joel Eriksson Ek, who had been sidelined for 11 games. Despite a season record of 17-5-4 with Eriksson Ek in the lineup, the recent trend without him shows vulnerability, as they continue to struggle with consistency. The Senators, on the other hand, are utilizing this success to build momentum as they prepare for an upcoming nine-game trip that will test their depth and determination.