It took just four games after a four-month layoff for the Minnesota Wild’s season to come to another crashing halt, this time for good as the Vancouver Canucks scored 11 seconds into overtime to eliminate Minnesota in the NHL’s best-of-five qualifying series.
Minnesota had leads of 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3 over the course of the night, but Vancouver found ways to battle back every time, including the game-tying goal by Bo Horvat deep in the third period.
Almost as soon as the puck dropped in overtime, the Canucks won it on a shot from the point by Christopher Tanev.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms3L_X6pN4U
“It was pretty disheartening for everyone,” said Zach Parise, via Wild.com. “Just the roller coaster of playoffs from Game 1, winning that game, and then all of a sudden, you find yourself trailing 2-1. Then again, leads tonight that we had until late in the game and they tie up. To lose 11 seconds in overtime, it was pretty shocking for everybody.
“Any time your season ends just like that, it’s … I don’t know the word for it. It’s not an enjoyable moment.”
The Wild now enters what will be an offseason of questions:
- What will the pandemic mean for the 2020-21 season?
- Was Saturday night Mikko Koivu’s final game?
- Will Zach Parise be traded before the start of next season?
- Who will be the Wild’s No. 1 goalie next season?
- Where will the Wild land in the NHL Draft Lottery?
The latter of the questions will eventually be determined. Since the Wild did not advance to the official Stanley Cup Playoffs, they will have a 12.5% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery.
The lottery will be held Monday at 5 p.m. on NBC Sports Network and NHL Network. It’s a one in eight chance for the Wild to get the top pick, but no matter what the Wild will be selecting in the top 10.
