Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek had a chance to win it on a shorthanded overtime breakaway, only to be slowed down by what he felt was an ‘obvious penalty.’

The Wild blew a 3-1 lead in the third, with the Flyers rallying to tie the game with two goals less than two minutes apart. 

Minnesota’s Mats Zuccarello picked up a minor penalty for tripping Flyers forward Cam Atkinson in the extra session, giving Philadelphia a 4-on-3 power play.

Eriksson Ek gave the Wild their best chance to win the game, intercepting a pass and heading in on a breakaway. Newly-acquired Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale attempted to keep up with the speedy winger. He grabbed a hold of Eriksson Ek’s jersey with his right glove, slowing with Wild forward down enough to poke the puck away. 

 

 

No call was made on the play. The Flyers headed back up ice and scored the game-winning goal just 18 seconds later, with one second remaining on the power play. 

 

After the game, Eriksson Ek was asked if he thought there should’ve been a penalty called. 

“I think it was kind of obvious, yeah,” Eriksson Ek replied. 

Wild head coach John Hynes agreed with his player’s assessment.

“Clear cut penalty. Reaches out, grabs his jersey, holds him,” Hynes said. “It’s disappointing that a call wasn’t made at that time.”

 

Wild goaltender Marc Andre Fleury is one win shy of taking sole possession of second place in all-time NHL goaltending wins.  He’s currently tied with Patrick Roy at 551.  Erikkson Ek nearly gave hin number 552. 

 

The Philadelphia Flyers won the game 3-2. Referees were Brandon Blandina (#39) and Steve Kozari (#40), with linesmen C.J. Murray (#68) and Brad Kovachik (#71).