BY NAZIA
On Saturday in St. Paul, the Minnesota Wild defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3–1 after giving up a game-tying goal in the final seconds of the third period.
There are only 10 games remaining for the Blackhawks in this meaningless season.
Ryan Reaves gave the Wild a 1–0 lead at 7:45 of the second period, ending a scoreless first period.
Wyatt Kaiser was about to collapse when Reaves stole the puck from him. Reaves attempted a wrap-around, but the puck rebounded off Jason Dickinson in front of goal and went in.
Only 75 seconds into the third period, Lukas Reichel rushed in on a 2-on-1 rush for the Blackhawks and fired a shot that beat Gustavsson on the far-side to knot the score at one.
With 1:11 remaining in the contest, Ryan Hartman's breakaway goal gave the Wild the advantage once again.
He made a couple of excellent dekes before slipping the puck past a scrambling Alex Stalock.
With 33 seconds left in the game, Frederick Gaudreau scored an empty-net goal for the Wild from almost the opposite side of the ice, bringing the final score to 3–1 for the Wild.
It was at least equal opportunity ineptitude because the officials erred in other rulings involving the Blackhawks as well, particularly a few roughing penalties administered to Joel Eriksson Ek.
Reichel scored a beautiful goal there. He possesses a great shooting, but in order for his goal production to really take off, he needs to shoot more:
Kaiser experienced the NCAA and NHL's various weight classes for the first time tonight. But, I agree with Richardson that Reaves' holding in this case was rather conventional.