Wild win in Winnipeg

In Winnipeg, the Jets continued to stall a bit as they lost, 3-2, to the visiting Minnesota Wild.

The Wild struck for two goals in a 26-second span to grab a 3-2 win.

Jason Zucker scored to tie the game, 2-2, with 1:27 left in regulation.

Joel Eriksson Ek scored game-winner for Wild in Winnipeg – file photo by Lewis Bleiman

Joel Eriksson Ek scored the game-winner 26 seconds later.

“I think we played pretty well and [goalie Devan Dubnyk] was making some great saves for us,” Eriksson Ek said. “We battled through and Zucker did a great goal for us and we just had a good bounce.”

Devan Dubnyk made  30 saves in the win.

“I think the way we played tonight, the guys battled,” Minnesota defenseman Brad Hunt said. “No matter what the score was, we battled the whole game. It’s a great job at the end. We didn’t quit. We stuck with it. I think when you’re on a little bit of a run like this, you get the team confidence where you feel no matter what you’re going to come out on top. The guys did just a great job.”

Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele scored for Winnipeg.

“It’s hard for us right now,” Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler said. “We spend a lot of the game not necessarily playing well, but doing enough to keep them kind of out of the danger zones and the wheels fall off at the end.”

The Wild have won four straight and are one point clear for the first wild card spot.

The Jets have lost five of their six matches.

Kevin Hayes made his debut with the Jets in the game.

“Definitely a lot of emotions out there at the beginning, I was nervous,” Hayes said. “After the first couple shifts, I felt pretty good. My linemates played good, got trapped in the D zone sometimes, but overall it was a pretty good night. It was a lot of fun.”

[WATCH: All Wild vs. Jets highlights]

Connor Hellebuyck made 36 saves in the loss.

“It’s obviously not a good finish,” Laine said. “That can’t happen. I think we played some good hockey until the tying goal. After that, we let it go for a bit, they scored two. That was kind of the turning point of this game. We can’t let it happen.”