The Winnipeg Jets thought they had the win sealed.
With less than two minutes to go and nursing a one-goal lead, Mark Scheifele scored into an empty net to give the Jets what they thought was the insurance marker.
But the Wild challenged and the goal was overturned because the play was offside, and Minnesota would find the equalizer moments later and win it on an overtime power play to stun the Jets 6-5 in a chaotic game in St. Paul Tuesday night.
Joel Eriksson Ek’s tied the game with just 59 seconds left and also got the winner on a three-on-one in OT to give him the hat trick.
The game started off well for the Jets as Kyle Connor scored twice in the first period but the Wild responded after each marker to make it 2-2 after one.
Josh Morrissey got the Jets’ first power play goal of the season in the second to give Winnipeg the lead for a third time, but for a third time the Wild had an answer as Mats Zuccarello was credited for his second of the game.
Pierre-Luc Dubois restored the lead for the Jets with a power play goal early in the third before Andrew Copp, elevated to the top line after captain Blake Wheeler tested positive for COVID-19, carried the puck up the ice on a two-on-one, roofing it over the shoulder of Cam Talbot to make it 5-3.
But the Wild were not done. Marcus Foligno scored Minnesota’s second power play marker of the game with just under five minutes to go to cut the lead to one.
It seemed the Jets had iced the game with an empty-netter from Mark Scheifele in the final moments, but the Wild challenged for offside and the goal was disallowed because Connor was just barely over the blue line before the puck.
The Wild would make good on their second chance to tie as a loose puck careened off multiple bodies and through the legs of Connor Hellebuyck, who had no chance on the play.
In overtime, the teams traded chances before Karill Kaprizov drew a penalty on Morrissey, but it was Winnipeg who had a great chance to end it on a shorthanded two-on-one. Adam Lowry made a great pass to Logan Stanley, but he was denied.
That sprung the Wild back the other way on a three-on-one, with Eriksson Ek tapping in the winner past Hellebuyck, who did not get much help on this night, making 38 saves as the Jets picked up their first point of the season. Talbot stopped 25 shots in the win.
The penalty kill continues to be a problem for the Jets, who allowed three power play goals to the Wild and have now surrendered seven in three games this season.
Winnipeg will now return to Canada for their home opener Thursday night against the Anaheim Ducks.