The Minnesota Wild dominated the Anaheim Ducks for 43 minutes, but surrendered two third period goals to fall 2-1 Tuesday at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Wild were in complete control of the game with a 22-7 shots on goal advantage through two periods, 13 minutes of power play time, a one minute and 30 second 5-on-3 advantage and a five-minute power play. The Wild failed to capitalize on nearly all it.
"It was disappointing not to get that win," Mike Yeo said. "It was there for us. We did a lot of really good things through two periods. We weren't able to put a stranglehold on the game."
Devin Setoguchi got the Wild on the board with a power play at the 18 minute mark of the opening period, but the team's other nine minutes of power play time - which included a one and 30 second 5-on-3 advantage and five-minute major - was more deflating than uplifting.
"Our power play has got to be better," Setoguchi said. "It starts with the 10 guys that play it."
The Wild (13-10-2) thought it had a goal less than three minutes into the game when Torrey Mitchell sent a backhand shot over Jonas Hiller's shoulder and off the cross bar. The puck bounced and rolled near the goal line. It appeared to cross the line at one point, but the official review - which went to the Toronto office - was determined to be a no goal.
"I just turned and looked and no one was playing any more so I figured it went in," Mitchell said.
The Ducks (19-3-3) evened the game three minutes and six seconds into the third period when enforcer Patrick Maroon found himself with an open net behind Niklas Backstrom following a big carom off the end boards.
"They got the one off the boards early in the third and then we were kind of on our heels from there," Setoguchi said.
Luca Sbisa eventually put the Ducks ahead for good with three minutes and four seconds remaining in the game with a wrist shot from the point that glanced off the side of Backstrom's mask and shoulder.
The Wild had opportunities to put the Ducks away, but could not do it. A lackluster five minute power play following a vicious hit by Corey Perry on Jason Zucker may have turned the game around.
"After that point, I would it is fair to say we were a different team," Mike Yeo said. "We looked like a team that went from going for the throat to all of a sudden being a little bit weary of what we were losing."
Perry, as several have stated, targeted Zucker's head, made initial point of contact to his head, hit him away from the play and caused an injury - all the checkmarks for the league's discipline office to issue a suspension.
Yeo said after the game that he would not have an update on Zucker until tomorrow. He also said that he had not seen the replay enough to comment while being emotional immediately after the game.
Following the morning skate, Viktor Fasth was expected to be the starting the goaltender, but midday he was unable to play and the Ducks scrambled to call Jeff Deslauriers up from its minor league affiliate. The Ducks signed former University of St. Thomas goaltender Zach Sikich to a try out contract during warmups. He was relieved of the Ducks bench when Deslauriers arrived during the first period.
Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau would not comment on the condition of his goaltender even though he found at in the early afternoon that Fasth was not feeling right to play. The team is calling his absence and upper body injury.
Prior to the game the Wild made two roster moves. Mikael Granlund, who was scratched in four of the last eight games, was sent down to the Houston Aeros. Also, the team traded Matt Kassian to the Ottawa Senators for a sixth round draft pick. Kassian was sent down to Houston earlier in the season after being scratched the team's first 13 games.
Three Stars
No. 3 – Devin Setoguchi. The Wild forward scored a goal.
No. 2 – Luca Sbisa. The Ducks defenseman scored the game-winning goal.
No. 1 – Jonas Hiller. The Ducks goaltender stopped 30 shots.
Boxscore
Anaheim……0 0 2 – 2
Minnesota…..1 0 0 – 1
First Period – 1, Minnesota, Setoguchi 6 (Cullen, Gilbert), 18:00 (pp). Penalties – Koivu, Min (tripping), 2:55; McMillan, Ana (charging), 9:08; Koivu, Ana (hooking) 9:38; Maroon, Ana, major (fighting), 14:08; Konopka, Min, major (fighting), 14:08; Sbisa, Ana (high sticking), 16:15.
Second Period – None. Penalties – Getzlaf, Ana (hooking), :45; Perry, Ana, major (interference; served by Maroon), 4:21; Perry, Ana, misconduct (game), 4:21.
Third Period – 2, Anaheim, Maroon 2 (Lydman, McMillan), 3:06. 3, Anaheim, Sbisa 1 (Selanne, Winnik), 16:56. Penalties – Brodziak, Min (interference), 9:23; Rupp, Min (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:34; Allen, Ana (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:34; Suter, Min (slashing), 18:50.
Shots on goal – Anaheim 3-4-14 21. Minnesota 8-14-9 31.
Goalies – Anaheim, Hiller (30-31). Minnesota, Backstrom (19-21). A – 18,802. Referees – Marc Joannette, Jean Hebert. Linesmen – Brad Kovachik, Ryan Galloway.
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