Wild drop 2-1 decision to Boston in OT

In St Paul Sunday night, it was playoff-themed hockey even if it is the regular season.

The visiting Boston Bruins got a goal from Brad Marchand just 28 seconds into overtime to edge the Minnesota Wild, 2-1.

The win pushed the Bruins a bit closer to the Tampa Bay Lighting in the Atlantic Division race.

“It all has to go right. Guys have to make plays and you have to start with the puck a lot of times, which we were able to get it back tonight,” Marchand said. “You need a lot of things to go right, but sometimes you benefit from plays, sometimes you don’t. I think this year, I’ve been playing with a lot of guys who are making good plays and I’m benefitting from that.”

Tuukka Rask made 24 saves to get the win as Boston trails the Bolts by just two points; they improved to 47-17-10.

David Pastrnak scored ion regulation and Patrice Bergeron had two assists in his return to the lineup from a broken foot; he missed 13 games.

“I felt good. It’s always getting the legs and the timing and the execution back,” Bergeron said. “I felt like it was getting better as the game went on. I started kind of one shift at a time and I felt better from one to another. It’s a great feeling just to be around with the guys and be on the ice and to battle with them first and foremost. It’s a lot of fun.”

Mikko Koivu scored midway through the third period to get the Wild even and force the extra session.

The loser’s point gave the Wild a three-point clearance of the Colorado Avalanche for third place in the Central Division.

“We get three out of four points against two of the best teams in the league, and add L.A. into that mix, we’ve gone 3-0-2 in the last five. I think we’re holding our own,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We’re not getting anywhere fast, getting a point here and a point there, but I think we’re going in the right direction.”

The Wild are 6-2-2 in their last 10 matches.

[WATCH: All Bruins vs. Wild highlights]

Alex Stalock made 26 saves in the hard luck loss.

“Yeah. We have to, right? It’s nice to know where we are and how many points we have. I’ll wake up tomorrow and I’ll check the standings again. It’s going to be tight the rest of the way. We have to win games,” Stalock said after the game.

Minnesota dropped to 42-24-9.