Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 3, Ducks 2

Wild.com's Dan Myers gives three takeaways from the Wild's 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Wednesday night:

1. Joel Eriksson Ek had a night.
The Swedish centerman continued his strong start to the 2020-21 season by tallying the game-winning goal 1:53 into the third period. He also assisted on the game's first goal for a two-point night.
It was the fourth multi-point game of Eriksson Ek's career.

Not always known for his offense, Eriksson Ek played the part of sniper in a big spot in the third period on Wednesday, taking in a pass from Jordan Greenway near the left circle and rifling a quick shot under the crossbar for his second goal in the first four games of the campaign.
Eriksson Ek's goal was the difference for Minnesota, which finished the road trip 3-1-0 and now comes back to the State of Hockey for a season-long six-game homestand starting Friday night against the San Jose Sharks.
2. The Wild's struggling power play finally connected.
It took nearly 3 1/2 games and an 0-for-18 start, but the Wild got on the board with the man advantage a few minutes into the second period on Wednesday.

The goal was simple enough. With its second unit on the ice, Eriksson Ek knocked down a loose puck right to Nick Bonino, who fired past Ryan Miller to make it 2-0 at 5:50.
Not only was it the Wild's first power-play goal, it was Bonino's first goal as a member of the club. It was his first power-play goal since Oct. 15, 2019, as 17 of his 18 goals last season season came at 5-on-5.
Eriksson Ek had the only assist on the goal and now has three points in four games.
3. Minnesota actually scored shorthanded first.
Late in the first period, Ryan Hartman -- the perfecter of the P.O.P., tallied his first career shorty to pace the Wild early.
The P.O.P., in this case, is for "pass off the pads," and it's something Hartman said is frequently on his mind when he leads a 2-on-1 rush.
This time, he came in all by himself after poking the puck past a Ducks defenseman holding the offensive zone. He fired a low shot that was clearly intended to leave himself a rebound.

It did.
After Ryan Miller stopped the initial shot with his left pad, Hartman strolled in, picked up the loose puck and beat Miller cleanly.
The unassisted goal was Hartman's first of the campaign.