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The Minnesota Wild defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Thursday night, with Joel Eriksson Ek scoring the game-winning goal with just 4.4 seconds remaining in the third period. Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman also scored for the Wild, while Matthew Tkachuk tallied a goal and an assist for the short-handed Panthers.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Wild, who are trying to solidify their position in the Central Division playoff race. The Panthers, meanwhile, are struggling to keep their postseason hopes alive in the Eastern Conference.

The details

Foligno scored early in the second period to give the Wild a 1-0 lead, but Tkachuk tied it up for the Panthers later in the frame. Hartman put Minnesota back on top in the third period, only for Ekblad to equalize with just over a minute left. However, Eriksson Ek’s late heroics secured the victory for the Wild. Jesper Wallstedt made 18 saves in goal for Minnesota, while Daniil Tarasov stopped 47 shots for Florida.

The game was played on Thursday, March 27, 2026.Foligno scored his eighth goal of the season a couple minutes into the second period.Eriksson Ek scored the game-winning goal with just 4.4 seconds left in the third period.

The players

Joel Eriksson Ek

The Minnesota Wild forward scored the game-winning goal with 4.4 seconds left in regulation.

Marcus Foligno

The Minnesota Wild forward scored the team’s first goal in the second period.

Matthew Tkachuk

The Florida Panthers forward scored a goal and recorded an assist in the game.

Jesper Wallstedt

The Minnesota Wild goaltender made 18 saves to earn the victory.

Daniil Tarasov

The Florida Panthers goaltender stopped 47 shots in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game was a close, hard-fought battle between two teams fighting for playoff positioning. The Wild’s late-game heroics and strong goaltending performance were crucial in securing the victory, which could prove important as they look to solidify their spot in the Central Division standings.