April 9, 2025, Joel Eriksson Ek made an explosive return to the Minnesota Wild lineup, scoring four goals in an 8-7 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After missing 21 games due to a lower-body injury, Eriksson Ek wasted no time making an impact, netting his first goal in the second period to give the Wild a 3-2 lead. He then scored three consecutive goals—two on the power play and one at even strength—spanning the end of the second period and the start of the third, pushing Minnesota’s lead to 7-4. His four-goal performance marked a career high and was the second instance in Wild history of a player scoring four or more goals in a single game, following Marian Gaborik’s five-goal outing in 2007. Kirill Kaprizov sealed the win with an overtime goal, but Eriksson Ek’s remarkable night stole the show, helping the Wild secure two crucial points in their playoff push.
@Minnesota Wild
