Despite a rally to tie the game at the end of the third period, the Wild fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night at the Xcel Energy Center, The Associated Press reports.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored for the Wild in the first period, but the Blue Jackets answered with two goals in the second period for a 2-1 lead going into the third.
The Wild’s Jason Pominville scored at 3:15 in the third period to tie up the game, but Columbus’ Mark Letestu and Cam Atkinson scored in a shootout to secure the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 victory.
The loss was third straight for the Wild. With 47 points, they are now only two points ahead of Red Wings, Stars and Blue Jackets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference.
The Wild next travel to Calgary Monday to take on the Flames.
