Wild Surrender Three Goals in Second Period Loss to Maple Leafs

Minnesota drops third straight game despite two-goal effort from Vladimir Tarasenko.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:16am

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The Minnesota Wild fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Sunday night. Vladimir Tarasenko scored a pair of goals for the Wild, but they surrendered three goals in the second period and ultimately fell short against the Maple Leafs.

Why it matters

The loss is the third straight for the Wild, who are currently in a tight race for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. Their inability to hold a lead in the second period proved costly against a strong Maple Leafs team.

The details

In addition to Tarasenko's two goals, Mats Zucarello and Ryan Hartman each recorded a pair of assists for the Wild. Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 22 saves on 25 shots in the losing effort. The Wild now sit at 38-18-12 on the season.

  • The game took place on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • The Wild will visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, March 18, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

The players

Vladimir Tarasenko

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who scored two goals in the loss to the Maple Leafs.

Mats Zucarello

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who recorded two assists in the game.

Ryan Hartman

A forward for the Minnesota Wild who also recorded two assists in the loss.

Jesper Wallstedt

The goaltender for the Minnesota Wild who made 22 saves on 25 shots.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The opposing team that defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2.

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The takeaway

The Wild's inability to hold a lead in the second period proved costly against a strong Maple Leafs team, and the loss is their third straight. They will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in a key Western Conference matchup.