Shorthanded Wild earn another point in 2-1 OT loss at Winnipeg

The Wild entered Sunday’s game at Winnipeg shorthanded, missing injured center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jared Spurgeon.

It ended shorthanded, as well, with the Wild starting overtime on the wrong end of a four-on-three advantage that rather quickly resulted in the game-winning goal in the Jets 2-1 victory at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg.

Late in regulation, Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian was forced to hold the stick of Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele, who was at the crease waiting to pounce on a rebound for the potential game-winner.

That penalty might have earned the Wild (1-0-2) their third point in three games, but it put them behind the 8 ball for overtime, and it took just 51 seconds before wing Kyle Conner one-timed a shot past Filip Gustavsson to win it for the Jets.

The assist, of course, was from Scheifele, who had scored the Jets’ last four goals before Connor’s game-winner. He now has four goals and two assists in three games for the 3-0 Jets.

In his second start of the season, Filip Gustavsson stopped 33 of 34 shots in regulation, his second sharp performance in as many games. He stopped 31 of 33 shots in the Wild’s 3-2 victory over Columbus in the season opener.

Jake Middleton scored in the first period for the Wild, who were playing their first road game, the first of seven that will take them through the end of the month. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 26 of 27 shots for Winnipeg.

Eriksson Ek suffered a broken nose in Saturday’s shootout loss to Seattle, and Spurgeon a lower body injury. Neither traveled to Winnipeg with the team, but the Wild said Eriksson Ek is likely to play on Tuesday in St. Louis.

The Wild took a quick 1-0 lead when Middleton took a pass from Marco Rossi at the right point and fired a quick wrist shot on net that beat Hellebuyck high to his stick side with just more than 4 minutes off the clock.

Minnesota was less than 3 seconds away from entering the first intermission with that lead intact, but a faceoff in the Wild zone with 2.9 seconds left in the frame resulted in the Jets’ first goal.

The Jets pulled Hellebuyck for an extra attacker but only two Winnipeg players touched the puck. Adam Lowry beat Matt Boldy on the faceoff was managed to tip the puck toward Scheifele, who one-timed it off the far post and past Gustavsson to tie the game 1-1 with seven-tenths of a second left.

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