Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Wild couldn’t hold on Tuesday night, surrendering three goals in the third period and falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 at Benchmark International Arena.
Minnesota showed plenty of life through two periods, getting goals from Mats Zuccarello, Brock Faber, and Vladimir Tarasenko to keep the game competitive. But Tampa Bay turned up the heat in the final frame, and the Wild simply had no answer.
Erik Cernak delivered the decisive blow with under three minutes remaining in regulation, giving the Lightning a lead they would not surrender. Tampa Bay then added a pair of empty-net goals in the closing moments to seal the lopsided final.
The loss drops Minnesota to 3-6 in their last nine games, though the Wild continue to hold third place in the Central Division with 92 points on the season.
There’s no time to dwell on the result, however, as Minnesota hits the road again Thursday night to face the Florida Panthers — a team that edged the Wild earlier this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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