ST PAUL, Minnesota — The Minnesota Wild clinched a playoff spot in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 with Joel Eriksson Ek scoring the tying goal with 20.9 seconds left in regulation and Matt Boldy winning with 17.9 seconds remaining in overtime.
The crowd erupted once more when the Wild sent retiring goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury out for overtime. Fleury made five saves and held off a 4-on-3 power play.
With an open net for the extra attacker, Boldy’s pass across the slot found Eriksson Ek at the edge of the crease. Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal stopped his first shot with his stick, but a second whack got the puck over the line for his 14th goal of the season.
Rookie Sam Colangelo scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period, Alex Killorn scored, and Dostal stopped 37 shots for the Ducks (35-37-9), who were eliminated from playoff contention 11 days ago.
Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild (45-30-7), who hold the first wild card spot and will face Vegas in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
The Wild were on the verge of a go-ahead goal when defenseman Jake Middleton, who had returned from a four-game absence due to an upper-body injury, was caught out of position near the boards, allowing the Ducks to get behind him for a 2-on-1.
Mason MacTavish forced Wild defenseman Jon Merrill to commit to covering him in the right circle before flicking a perfect pass across the slot to Colangelo, who beat Gustavsson with a backhand shot.
