Wild seal playoff berth in Marc-Andre Fleury's likely finale - ESPN

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Wild coach John Hynes sent retiring goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury out for overtime in what could well be the final game of his storied career, and Minnesota outlasted the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Tuesday night in the home team's regular-season finale.

Fleury, 40, made five saves, fending off a 4-on-3 power play, in the victory. The home crowd erupted when Hynes sent out Fleury, and the netminder was right in the middle of the celebratory mob on the ice after the game.

«It was fun just to go one more time out there and play the game I love,» an emotional Fleury said after the win. «It was cool.»

By forcing overtime against Anaheim, the Wild officially clinched their playoff spot; they will take on the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 1. Filip Gustavsson, who started Tuesday's contest in net, likely will start all games of that first-round series, with Fleury on the bench.

Though the Wild (45-30-7) certainly could go on a deep run this postseason, it is likely Fleury will end his career having won three Stanley Cups, a Vezina Trophy and a William M. Jennings Trophy. The 2003 No. 1 draft pick also has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Golden Knights.

«I had been sitting there for a few hours,» Fleury said of his preparation to enter the game if called upon. «And Hynsey let me go in, and I'm happy I got to play a bit more.»

The Wild needed some late drama just to get Fleury his overtime opportunity, as Joel Eriksson Ek scored the tying goal with 20.9 seconds left in regulation.

With an empty net for the extra attacker, Matt Boldy's pass across the slot set up Eriksson Ek at the edge of the crease. Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped the first try with his stick, but a second whack