Joel Eriksson Ek's goal with 5 seconds left sends Wild past Panthers 3-2

Sarah McLellan, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Mar 26, 2026

Published in Hockey

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The Wild had everyone available for the first time this season, and their debut at full strength was a buzzer-beater over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

They eluded the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Thursday, March 26, at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on a goal by Joel Eriksson Ek with five seconds left for the Wild’s first win on their three-game road trip.

After Aaron Ekblad netted the 2-2 equalizer on a one-timer with 1:13 remaining in the third period, Eriksson Ek buried the rebound of a Brock Faber shot in the waning seconds to halt the Panthers’ comeback from being down 2-0.

Marcus Foligno, whose return emptied the Wild’s injury list, scored and celebrated with his brother Nick, who joined Marcus on an effective line with Yakov Trenin.

Ryan Hartman also capitalized, rookie Jesper Wallstedt turned aside 18 shots for his first victory since Jan. 31 and the Wild rebounded from a 6-3 loss at Tampa Bay two nights earlier with their first experiment with a healthy roster … although captain Jared Spurgeon left early with a towel pressed to his head after crashing face-first into the post during a collision with Wallstedt and Florida’s Noah Gregor in the third period.

Panthers goalie Daniil Tarasov racked up a whopping 46 saves, including a quick glove on Kirill Kaprizov in the third that kept the game close.

Danila Yurov exited the lineup with Marcus Foligno back in action after sitting out 12 games with a lower-body injury. The Wild also subbed in veteran Jeff Petry on defense for Zach Bogosian for Petry’s only second game since coming over in a trade from Florida, which has been hamstrung by injuries this season and is second-to-last in the Eastern Conference.

Tarasov was terrific in the first period, denying 19 shots by the Wild.

Right before the Wild’s first power play expired, Vladimir Tarasenko put a shot off the post, and Bobby Brink’s attempt at the carom bounced to Marcus Johansson, who was stopped by Tarasov’s outstretched pad.

The Panthers’ best chance was a breakaway for Matthew Tkachuck that Wallstedt kept out.

But the Wild’s execution was better in the second.

Only 2:47 into the period, the new-look fourth line previewed their M.O.

Trenin drove to the net and dished the puck to a crease-crashing Marcus Foligno for the put back. Marcus was at the middle of a group hug with his older brother Nick and Trenin after the two brothers finally got to suit up alongside each other since Marcus was hurt when Nick was acquired March 6 from Chicago. The brothers are the 130th pair to play together for the same NHL team and the first for the Wild.

Then with 1:35 left in the second, Hartman gobbled up a Florida turnover behind the net and lifted the puck into a mostly empty net with Tarasov sprawled.

Only 42 seconds into the third period, Tkachuk deflected the puck down and Wallstedt to start the Panthers’ rally.

Wallstedt remained in the game after Gregor and Spurgeon collided with him later in the third, but Spurgeon didn’t return. In his absence, the Wild relied mostly on Faber, Quinn Hughes, Jonas Brodin and Jake Middleton, with Petry taking an occasional shift, and the Wild were hemmed in their own zone late after Florida pulled the goalie for an extra attacker.

That pressure led to the Ekblad’s tying goal with 1:13 to go. But the Wild, who have played more overtime games than anyone else in the league, threw a curve ball and ended on time thanks to Eriksson Ek’s late game-winner.

Hughes, in his 500th game, logged a game-high 26:55.

Both power plays went 0-for-1.

The Wild finally had a full roster to choose from, but don’t be surprised if their lineup is in flux for the rest of the regular season.

After bringing in five players before the trade deadline, the Wild have a chance to test out different combinations, see who has chemistry and give their lines an opportunity to establish an identity that’ll stick for the playoffs.

Already, it looks like Marcus and Nick Foligno could click with Trenin: Their size and strength should make them a handful down low, as evidenced by the Wild’s first goal.

This trip concludes Saturday, March 28, at Boston.

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