A youthful Wild lineup on Wednesday night overcame a three-goal hole and rallied for a 4-3 overtime win against St. Louis in what could have been the final opportunity for roster hopefuls to make their case.
Adam Beckman's overtime goal completes Wild's big preseason comeback vs. Blues
Adam Beckman scored 2 minutes, 19 seconds into overtime to complete a Gordie Howe hat trick, and give the Wild a 4-3 win after falling behind by three goals.
October 7, 2021 at 3:50AM
The team is expected to rely on a more veteran look for its last two preseason games, starting Thursday against Chicago in St. Paul.
Adam Beckman scored 2 minutes, 19 seconds into overtime to complete a Gordie Howe hat trick after assisting on Nico Sturm's game-tying goal at 19:45 of the third period and fighting the Blues' Nathan Walker in the first.
"[Dmitry Kulikov] made a great play leaving it for me, and I just kind of threw it on net," said Beckman, who has four goals in three preseason games. "So, it was kind of a gift for me and it's a great play by him and [Marco Rossi]."
Beckman, one of the prospects vying for a spot, was bloodied from the fight and left the game before returning in the second. He received a couple of stitches on his nose.
"He got hit hard," coach Dean Evason said. "His response was fantastic. Just kept playing."
All three St. Louis goals (Mackenzie MacEachern at 2:04; Walker at 4:30 and Robert Bortuzzo at 5:19) came on four shots in the first period. Victor Rask started the comeback on the power play 7:11 into the second before Brandon Duhaime scored with 3:53 left in the third. Kaapo Kahkonen made 17 saves.
The group of Marcus Johansson, Marco Rossi and Ryan Hartman produced the first goal and the game-winner vs. the St. Louis Blues.
