Tuesday’s matchup between the Wild and Ducks in Anaheim would have been a playoff game if this were late April.
Minnesota, sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot heading into the night, would be visiting the NHL-best Ducks, who currently hold the Western Conference’s No. 1-seed.
Perhaps the Wild wish it was April, because it would mean Minnesota would have a one game lead over Anaheim after downing the Ducks 4-2 late Tuesday.
Zach Parise had one of the more impressive goals of Minnesota’s season in the third period, tipping in a Marco Scandella shot from the blue line out of midair for his 16th goal of the campaign.
Marco Scandella and Mikael Granlund had two points each for Minnesota as well, with Jason Pominville opening the scoring with his 21st of the season.
The Ducks were just a shade off all night, ringing the post twice in the third period, but Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper also got in front of 31 Anaheim shots for his sixth win of the season.
The regulation loss is just the second of the season for Anaheim at home.
Minnesota is back in action Thursday, and a little closer to home – the team visits the Avalanche in Colorado at 8 p.m.
