Nashville Predators’ Viktor Arvidsson, top right, of Sweden, celebrates a goal off Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk, right, by Nashville Predators’ Ryan Johansen, lower left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 25, 2019, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Ryan Donato’s bid to tie the game caromed off the crossbar, and the Minnesota Wild were stuck with another agonizing defeat.
Juuse Saros made 29 saves for his third shutout of the season and Ryan Johansen scored a short-handed goal as the Nashville Predators beat the Wild 1-0 Monday night.
With 1:30 to play and an extra skater on the ice, Donato found himself 1-on-1 with Saros in the left faceoff circle. His wrist shot beat the goalie but hit the crossbar, leaving Donato inches from scoring the game-tying goal.
“That sort of epitomizes the way it was going, and the season,” Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Getting chances to score and not burying them.”
Minnesota is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games and 2-8-4 in its last 14 home games. The Wild, who remain two points out of the last playoff spot in the West with five games to play, have scored just four goals in their last four games.