Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and an assist, including the game-winning score early in the third period, and the Minnesota Wild capped a successful season-opening road trip with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
Eriksson Ek ripped a quick wrist shot past Ryan Miller's glove side off a pass from Jordan Greenway 1:53 into the third for his second goal of the season.
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Joel Eriksson Ek had a goal and an assist, including the game-winning score early in the third period, and the Minnesota Wild capped a successful season-opening road trip with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
Nicolas Deslauriers and Cam Fowler scored for Anaheim, and Ryan Miller stopped 29 shots.
Deslauriers and Fowler scored less than four minutes apart in the second to tie it at 2-all. Deslauriers took advantage of a rebound near the Minnesota net for his second goal of the season at 8:58. Fowler then knotted it with a snap shot from the right circle at 12:21, after being set up with a cross-ice pass from Carter Rowney.
Ducks: Rowney had two assists and has three points (all assists) in the past two games.
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Ryan Hartman and Nick Bonino also scored for Minnesota, which has won three of its first four games. Kaapo Kahkonen made 22 saves.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen stops a shot by the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoAlex Gallardo)
Nicolas Deslauriers and Cam Fowler scored for Anaheim, and Ryan Miller stopped 29 shots.
Hartman opened the scoring at 13:51 of the first period with the first short-handed goal of his eight-year NHL career. The defenseman scored on a breakaway after forcing a turnover in the neutral zone.
Bonino extended the Wild's lead to two goals at 5:50 of the second when he won the faceoff during a power play and buried a wrist shot past Miller. It is Bonino's first goal with Minnesota after being acquired in an offseason trade with Nashville.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Mille, left, blocks a a shot against Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoAlex Gallardo)
Deslauriers and Fowler scored less than four minutes apart in the second to tie it at 2-all. Deslauriers took advantage of a rebound near the Minnesota net for his second goal of the season at 8:58. Fowler then knotted it with a snap shot from the right circle at 12:21, after being set up with a cross-ice pass from Carter Rowney.
ICE CHIPS
Wild: D Ian Cole made his Minnesota debut after being acquired in a trade on Tuesday and saw 17:31 of ice time. ... Kirill Kaprizov recorded the second assist on Eriksson Ek's goal. He leads rookies in assists (four) and points (five)
Minnesota Wild left wing Ryan Hartman, left, celebrates scoring with left wing Jordan Greenway against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoAlex Gallardo)
Ducks: Rowney had two assists and has three points (all assists) in the past two games.
WHAT'S NEXT
Wild: Have their home opener against the San Jose Sharks on Friday.
Ducks: Host the Colorado Avalanche for two games starting Friday.
Anaheim Ducks center Sam Steel, left, shields Minnesota Wild goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen as the puck sails wide of the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoAlex Gallardo)
More AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller (30) eyes the puck as Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) and Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) look for a rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP PhotoAlex Gallardo)