EditorsNote: Adds how many shots Stalock faced in graf 7; other minor edits
Minnesota's Victor Rask scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and goalie Alex Stalock made 26 saves as the Wild won for the first time this season, beating the host Ottawa Senators 2-0 on Monday afternoon.
Rask forced a turnover from the left circle, skated in and roofed a close shot from the bottom of the circle over Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson's right shoulder for a 1-0 lead with 10:37 left in the final period.
Right winger Jordan Greenway collected the assist on Rask's first goal this season.
Zach Parise tallied a scrambling empty-net goal with 2:19 remaining for his second goal to seal the club's first victory in five games and seventh straight over Ottawa.
Mikko Koivu contributed the only helper on Parise's goal.
Making his first start, Stalock notched his sixth career shutout and first since the 2017-18 season.
He appeared in relief against Pittsburgh on Saturday, recording 10 saves on 11 shots.
Anderson made 33 saves on 34 shots and fell to 1-3-0 this season.
Minnesota was 0-for-6 on the power play while the Senators were 0-for-5.
The Canadian Thanksgiving Day matinee in the nation's capital between the two struggling clubs started off with little fireworks, with each team registering just one shot in the first 6:44.
Minnesota went on the first of its two first-period power plays at 7:14 after Vladislav Namestnikov's tripping penalty, but Stalock kept it scoreless with a sprawling save on a putback attempt by Namestnikov with 10:28 remaining just as the man advantage ended.
The second period became a testy one when Ottawa's Bobby Ryan and Minnesota's Luke Kunin fought briefly after Kunin's good scoring chance in close, and additional roughing penalties were soon handed out.
Through two scoreless periods, Minnesota finally appeared to find its defensive game that had been lacking in its first four contests -- all regulation losses.
Minnesota's defense, usually an excellent unit under the guidance of coach Bruce Boudreau, limited the Senators to 19 shots through the first 40 minutes of play, and Stalock had to make few challenging saves.
Minnesota plays in Toronto against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday while Ottawa travels to face the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
--Field Level Media
