ST. PAUL, Minn. — It was a bit of a do-or-die situation — and the Wild did it.
Jason Zucker’s goal 2:15 into overtime gave the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of their Western Conference playoff series.
“At that point, you’re not aiming. You’re just trying to get it on net,” Zucker told Bob Sansevere after the game. “I just tried going to the net. That’s kind of been my thing all year — just going to the net.”
Before the start of the overtime period, Wild winger Devin Setoguchi told his teammates that “we’re not leaving the ice without a win,” according to the Star Tribune.
Zach Parise scored the go-ahead goal in the third period on a centering pass from Charlie Coyle, and it looked like the Wild were going to get a win in regulation against the high-powered Blackhawks.
But Chicago’s Duncan Keith tied the score, 2-2, with a little more than three minutes left, which then led to OT.
Keith admitted that Minnesota was “the hungrier team” and “they deserved to win.”
Game 1 of the series also went into OT, with Chicago winning, 2-1.
With the win, Minnesota now trails the series, two games to one, with Game 4 Tuesday night in St. Paul.
“2-1 is a lot better than 3-0,” a relieved Parise told KARE-11 news.
“This was a huge win for us, with that said — we’re going to be facing a more desperate team next game,” Wild coach Mike Yeo said. “I felt we took what we learned from Game 2 and brought it — as far as what it takes in playoff hockey against a good team.”
“It was awesome,” Coyle told KARE-11. “Obviously that was a huge game. Momentum is swinging our way … that’s what home ice is all about.”
Pierre-Marc Bouchard got the Wild on the board with 90 seconds to go in the first period, to tie the game at 1-1.
That was a response to Johnny Oduya’s goal midway through the first period, which gave Chicago a 1-0 lead.
Josh Harding, making his third-consective postseason start, stopped 25 of 27 Chicago shots for the win.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Xcel Energy Center.
