Hunter Haight's first NHL goal sparks Wild in win over Ducks

Hunter Haight scored his first NHL goal and the Minnesota Wild held on for a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

Danila Yurov and Robby Fabbri also scored one goal apiece for Minnesota (46-24-12, 104 points), which wrapped up its regular season. The Wild will face the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 34 saves on 36 shots.

Mason McTavish scored two goals to lead Anaheim (42-33-6, 90 points), which also is headed to the postseason. The Ducks learned Monday night that they clinched a Western Conference playoff berth for the first time in eight years, but the Tuesday loss cost them any chance of winning the Pacific Division.

Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal allowed three goals on 20 shots. Anaheim closes the regular season Thursday against the Nashville Predators before opening the postseason against either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Edmonton Oilers.

The Ducks opened the scoring with a power-play goal 10:27 into the first period. McTavish handled the puck in the middle of the left circle and unleashed a wrist shot through traffic that beat Wallstedt.

Minnesota evened the score at 1-all with 3:18 remaining in the first period. After the Ducks committed a turnover in their defensive zone, Yurov got the puck in the right circle and took advantage by scoring on a wrist shot.

Haight put the Wild on top 2-1 midway through the second period. Nick Foligno handled the puck behind the net and passed it toward the slot for Haight, who fired a shot just inside the right post and into the net.

Haight, 22, grinned wide as teammates celebrated with him along the boards after his first goal, which came in the ninth game of his rookie campaign. The Wild selected Haight in the second round (No. 47 overall) of the 2022 draft.

Minnesota made it 3-1 with 6:57 remaining in the third period. Fabbri spotted a loose puck near the front of the crease and tapped it across the goal line.

Anaheim cut the deficit to 3-2 with 46 seconds to go. McTavish deflected a shot by Mikael Granlund for his second goal of the game and his 17th of the season.

--Field Level Media