If Ryan Hartman had bad memories of the Ottawa Senators’ home rink, it’s understandable.
Last season, Hartman’s on-ice altercation with Senators’ Tim Stützle ended with the Minnesota Wild veteran suspended for the better part of a month.
But after Saturday, Canada’s capital city is a happier place for Hartman, who posted his second consecutive two-goal game in Minnesota’s 4-1 win over the Senators.
Jesper Wallstedt had 33 saves for the Wild, who swept their two-game season series with Ottawa. Jonas Brodin added a first-period goal as Minnesota built a lead and kept the Senators’ offense at bay. Jake Middleton added a third-period goal — just his second of the season.
It was the third win in the past four games for the Wild, who have clinched a playoff spot and are all but certain to open the postseason in Dallas versus the Stars in two weeks.
But the third period may have been a costly one for the team’s blue line.
Within a few shifts of each other, Wild captain Jared Spurgeon and veteran big man Zach Bogosian both left the game due to injury. The Wild played much of the final frame with just four defenseman available, although Spurgeon returned with under five minutes remaining, looking like he had gotten fresh stitches.
Outshot throughout the game, Minnesota had puck-luck on its side to take a two-goal lead into the first intermission. Brodin’s long-range shot was stopped by Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark, only to have the rebound carom off an Senators defender’s skate and into the net. It was the first goal since Dec. 2 for Brodin, who missed much of January and February with an injury.
The Wild doubled the lead when a fumbled puck at the defensive blue line sprung Hartman with Mats Zuccarello on a 2-on-0 rush, which they converted. Zuccarello also set up Hartman’s second-period goal, which happened in part when two Senators defenders collided, leaving the front of the net unobstructed.
It could have been worse for Ottawa, as Ullmark stopped breakaways by Joel Eriksson Ek and Quinn Hughes. He could not stop Middleton, who sailed unimpeded from the blue line to the top of the crease before ripping a rising shot past the Senators goalie. Ullmark finished with 19 saves in the loss.
Ottawa forward Drake Batherson, whose sister Mae plays for the Minnesota Frost, ruined Wallstedt’s bid for a fifth shutout of the season with a little over three minutes left in the game.
The Wild’s current two-game road trip concludes on Sunday with a noon Central start in Detroit versus the Red Wings.
Briefly
Saturday’s game was the 900th career regular season appearance for Wild veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko.