- A Wild fan scored from center ice at the preseason opener and won season tickets
- A green board covered the net with only a puck-sized slot left at the bottom
- Read below for the video and how Minnesota’s night against Chicago ended
A Minnesota Wild fan walked to center ice on Saturday night, took one shot, and left with season tickets.
It happened during a break in the Wild’s preseason opener against the Blackhawks at Grand Casino Arena. Minnesota’s Shoot for Seasons contest dropped a green board over the entire net face and left a slot at the bottom barely wider than a puck. He lined up at the red line in jeans, sneakers and a green Joel Eriksson Ek throwback sweater, and he threaded it.
Watch him drill it from center ice:
He ditched the stick, sprinted at the glass with both arms up, then wheeled back toward the logo and screamed. As we put it when we posted the clip, based on his celly, the right guy definitely won.
Minnesota’s account made it official a few minutes later, calling him “our newest season ticket member” and pointing everyone else toward the ticket page:
As for the actual hockey, the Wild needed overtime. Tyler Pitlick scored at 3:58 of the extra period for a 3-2 win, with his shot from the slot going in off the stick of Chicago defenseman Dylan Anhorn.
Rieger Lorenz opened the scoring at 7:56 of the first, going five-hole on Arvid Soderblom on a breakaway. He finished with a goal and an assist.
Check out the first Wild goal of the preseason:
Nico Sturm tied it 2-2 at 14:06 of the third, banging one home in the crease off a pass from Olli Maatta. Calvin Pickard made 14 saves, and Daemon Hunt picked up two assists.
Both teams were playing their first game of the preseason. Nobody in the building topped the guy in the Eriksson Ek jersey.
