Canucks, 2 vs. Wild 1 OT

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune

You can see the disappointment in the body language of Kim Johnsson and Niklas Backstrom after the game winning goal in overtime by Henrik Sedin. This was an essential game that the needed to gain the two points, and game after game in these must wins and got to get situations, the Wild have failed to secure the two points. After a scoreless first period, the second period looking like it was going to end scoreless too, when on the powerplay Antti Miettinen took a suspect hooking penalty as Ryan Kesler got past Eric Belanger on the point and deep into the Minnesota zone. And with 1:02 left in the second period, Pavol Demitra scored on the powerplay (his 300th goal, and 3 goal vs. the Wild) as the puck deflected into the net past Backstrom off of Johnsson. The Wild tied the game when Andrew Brunette made a pass to Gaborik, who was moving toward the front of Roberto Luongo, and scored. The Wild had a strong third period, as they didn't allow the Canucks any shots, and had the opportunity to put the game away when Sami Salo took a delay of game penalty as he shot the puck over the glass with 26.8 seconds in the powerplay, but nothing amounted from the powerplay as the two teams were still tied at 1 at the end of regulation. With a lengthy 4-on-3 powerplay in overtime (1:28) and numerous opportunities afterward, the Wild were able to generate good scoring chances, but weren't able to put the puck past Luongo. And with exactly one minute left in the overtime session, Henrik Sedin was able to score to give the Canucks the win and the Northwest division lead. The Wild played a solid 60 minutes of hockey, and outshot the Canucks 39-19, but it just wasn't good enough to get the job done.

Mathematically, the Wild are still capable of making the playoffs, but realistically (and I think the players are coming to terms with this) they are out. With just FIVE games left (OMG) to have any hope of making the playoffs, they'll need to win all five games...and when was the last time that the Wild had more than two wins in a row, hell, when was the last time that the Wild had back to back wins?

Notes:

• Scratches: Kurtis Foster, Brent Burns, Peter Olvecky, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Colton Gillies, and Derek Boogaard
• The Wild went 0-for-5 on the powerplay
• The Canucks scored 2 goals on their last 3 shots.
  
• Stats from the night: Zidlicky TOI 31:38, Johnsson TOI 30:56
• In the 6 games since Gaborik's return, he has 5 goals and 8 points.
  
• At the beginning of the game the fan sitting next to me was pointing out Canucks players to his date, and he said, "Did you know that the Canucks have biological twins on their team? Yeah, the Sundin twins, Mats and Henrik." Yes, it's true the fan next to me actually said this, and me being a polite little girl didn't correct him in front of his date.

UP NEXT: Friday vs. Calgary Flames, 7:00pm CT