Wild foil Ducks' spoiler attempt with final-minute comeback, overtime win

ST. PAUL, Minn. – With an opportunity to play spoiler, the Anaheim Ducks nearly held the Minnesota Wild on the doorstep of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Minnesota barreled forward to flip the tables on Anaheim in the final minute.

The Wild scored with 20 seconds to play to force overtime and clinch a playoff berth, and Minnesota went on to finish the job with an overtime flourish, 3-2, and lock the Ducks into a losing record for the season.

With one game to play, Anaheim (35-37-9, 79 points) will finish below .500 for the seventh straight season. The Ducks close their season against the Presidents Trophy winners in Winnipeg tomorrow.

How the Ducks Scored:

Alex Killorn tied the game in the first period, as he whacked the puck off the stick of a Minnesota defender in front and behind the goaltender. It was Killorn’s 19th goal of the season, besting his goal total from his first season in Anaheim.

This season is the second in Ducks history with five players hitting the 20-goal plateau, matching the 2006-07 Stanley Cup Champion Ducks. If Killorn can find No. 20 in Winnipeg tomorrow, Anaheim will hit a franchise high for 20-goal scorers in a single season.

Sam Colangelo put the Ducks ahead in the third period, as he finished off a two-on-one rush with Mason McTavish for his 10th goal of the season. Colangelo, who has played 31 games in parts of three call-ups from AHL San Diego, has scored nine goals in his last 19 games.

How the Ducks Lost:

After Lukáš Dostál - 37 saves - survived a second-period barrage and the Ducks grabbed the lead in the third period, Anaheim looked in position to hold the fort and take the win. However, just as they did against Colorado on Sunday, the Ducks slipped at the wrong moments to fall in defeat.

Once Minnesota pulled its goaltender, the Wild flipped up the pressure. Drew Helleson had the attempt for one last, likely game-ending clear up the boards from behind the net, but Mats Zucharello cut off Leo Carlsson low on the boards to take the puck. With the Ducks along the perimeter, Zucharello was able to feed the middle, and Minnesota crashed the crease for Joel Eriksson Ek’s game-tying marker with 20 seconds to play.

Minnesota clinched a Western Conference wild card spot with the overtime point, and with that job done, the Wild brought in Marc-Andre Fleury, who will retire after the playoffs, cold off the bench to jump into net for his final regular season action.

Anaheim got its only power play of the game as a four-on-three in overtime, but Fleury turned away both Ducks shots.

With 18 seconds left in overtime, Matt Boldy scored the game-winner for Fleury’s 575th and final NHL win, 3-2.

Game Notes:

• College free agent Tim Washe signed a one-year entry level contract with Anaheim yesterday and made his NHL debut in Minnesota on Tuesday. Washe, the captain of 2025 national champion Western Michigan, played a team-low 6:24 with one shot and one hit.

• The Ducks’ league-worst power play (11.8%) is scoreless on its last 14 power plays in its last seven games. Anaheim has just two power play goals on its last 37 attempts and three goals on its last 47 attempts.

• Anaheim defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Oliver Kylington and forward Brett Leason were the healthy scratches.

• Goaltender John Gibson missed his sixth straight game with a lower-body injury and did not travel with the team.