WILD 3, SENATORS 2

The Ottawa Senators’ strong effort on Saturday afternoon was totally pointless thanks to a costly error.

Points are paramount in the battle for a playoff spot in the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, but the Senators let at least one slip away in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild at the Grand Casino Arena.

A failed backhanded clearing attempt by Ottawa’s Tyler Kleven with the score tied 2-2 in the final minute resulted in a turnover to Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson, and he set up Joel Eriksson Ek for the winner with 23.1 seconds left in the game.

Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens scored on the power play, but the Senators couldn’t cash in with an even-strength effort for the fourth time in the past five games. They had plenty of chances, but Wild goalie Jesper Wa

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