Jordan Binnington might be having nightmares of Ryan Hartman at this point of the budding rivalry between the St. Louis goalie and Minnesota forward.
If you’ll recall, it was March 15 when Binnington sucker punched Hartman with his blocker, nearly leading to a rare goalie fight when Minnesota’s Marc-Andre Fleury skated the length of the ice and wanted to throw fists with Binnington.
Those fireworks were set off by Hartman bumping into Binnington after he scored a goal. Perhaps already heated by allowing three goals in less than two minutes before Hartman’s goal, Binnington was also seen taunting the Minnesota bench during that game.
Fast forward to Saturday night in St. Paul and Binnington got another helping of humble pie from Hartman and the Wild. In the first period with St. Louis on a power play, Hartman found himself with the puck and alone in the Blues zone when Binnington sped out of the crease in an attempt to stop Hartman, only to have the Wild forward dance around him for an easy goal.
Hartman celebrated by gesturing “no-no” with a wave of his right hand and index finger.
Hartman gets the last laugh! #MNWILD | #NHL pic.twitter.com/9GNyRmL5rP
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) April 9, 2023
Twenty seconds later Hartman stole a pass and found Sam Steel for Minnesota’s second shorthanded goal, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead while down a skater.
WE LOVE SHORT(Y) KINGS#MNWILD | #NHL pic.twitter.com/ih87DZ2bn4
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) April 9, 2023
“It’s not so much that, it’s us trying to get ourselves ready for playoffs,” Hartman told Bally Sports North’s Kevin Gorg when asked if Binnington and the Blues get him fired up to play.
Most importantly, the Wild beat the Blues 5-3 to set up what could be an incredible final five days of the NHL regular season. Minnesota (100 points) is two points behind Dallas and Colorado for the top spot in the Central Division.
The final games in the race for the division title:
- Sunday: Colorado at Anaheim
- Monday: Dallas at Detroit, Minnesota at Chicago
- Tuesday: Minnesota vs. Winnipeg, Colorado vs. Edmonton
- Wednesday: Dallas at St. Louis
- Thursday: Colorado vs. Winnipeg, Minnesota at Nashville
