Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen (1) watches the puck while defenseman Jake Sanderson (85) guards the net and Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno (17) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) attempts a goal while Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, center right, saves the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
The Ottawa Senators celebrate their goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen (1) watches the puck while defenseman Jake Sanderson (85) guards the net and Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno (17) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (85) takes a hit from Minnesota Wild center Devin Shore, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) saves the puck after Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig (71) shot on goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Josh Norris broke a tie on a power play with 7:18 left, Leevi Merilainen made 30 saves in his fifth NHL game and the Ottawa Senators beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Sunday night.
Ottawa has won seven of its past nine games, while the Wild have lost five of their past seven. The Senators won in Minnesota for the first time since 2016.Â
With starter Linus Ullmark and backup Anton Forsberg out with injuries, the Senators have been relying on Merilainen and Mads Sogaard since before the NHL holiday break.
Frederick Gaudreau opened the scoring for Minnesota late in the first period. Ridly Greig tied it early in the second.
Claude Giroux added an empty-netter.
Takeaways
Senators: A team that finds itself surprisingly in a playoff position after missing the postseason the past six seasons topped a Western Conference contender in Minnesota. Norris has been a big part of the Senators' surge and now ranks second on the team with 14 goals.
Wild: A lower-body injury kept Kirill Kaprizov out of his second straight game, but Joel Eriksson Ek returned after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. The Wild are 17-5-4 with Eriksson Ek in the lineup and 5-6-0 without him.
Key moment
The Wild killed one penalty midway through the third, but Jared Spurgeon went to the box seconds later on a holding call. Norris scored on the power play.
Up next
The Senators’ nine-game trip continues Thursday at Dallas night. The Wild host Nashville on Tuesday night.
___
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