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Ryan Hartman scored twice to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.
Jonas Brodin and Jake Middleton also scored, while goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 33 saves for Minnesota (43-21-12).
Linus Ullmark stopped 19 shots for the Senators (39-27-10). Drake Batherson scored the lone goal.
Jake Sanderson returned to Ottawa’s lineup after missing 13 games with an upper body injury.
Minnesota raced to a 3-0 lead to start the third period and extended it midway through the period on a great effort by Quinn Hughes.
Hughes kept the puck in at the line, spun and found Middleton on the opposite side. Middleton fired through traffic for his second goal of the season.
Batherson spoiled Wallstedt’s shutout attempt with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Batherson then left the game, but returned after a brief absence.
Ullmark bailed the Senators out on a couple odd-man rushes, including a save on Hughes early in the third period.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark blocks a shot as Minnesota Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek looks for the rebound during third period action Saturday. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
Hartman scored his second of the game when Mats Zuccharello found him at the top of the slot to beat Ullmark glove side and take a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota led 2-0 after the first period. Brodin was the recipient of a fortunate bounce.
He fired a shot and the rebound deflected off the skate of Ottawa defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo and past Ullmark.
The Wild took advantage of a Jordan Spence turnover at the blueline, which led to Zuccarello dishing a pass to Hartman for his 21st of the season.
Despite Saturday’s loss, the Sens narrowly remain in possession of the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.
Up next
Senators: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
Wild: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.