Meri Christmas: Leevi Merilainen Makes 30 Saves As Ottawa Senators Win 3-1 in Minnesota

Josh Norris' third-period power play goal broke a 1-1 tie as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Sunday night. Rookie Leevi Merilainen was outstanding, stopping 30 of 31 shots for the victory

But he got by with a little help from his friends.

No, those weren't the bells of Christmas you heard in Minnesota. It was the ringing of the posts behind Merilainen, who enjoyed some good fortune on Sunday with four pucks clanging off either the post or crossbar.

With under three minutes to go in the first period, the Wild got the scoring started when Frederick Gaudreau scored his seventh goal of the year, tipping home a point shot from Declan Chisholm to make it 1-0.

That lead didn’t hold up for long. In the second minute of the middle frame, Travis Hamonic’s point shot missed the right post, but Ridly Greig picked it up near the left post, pulled the puck out front, and shoveled it home.

It remained that way until the midway point of the third when the Sens got back-to-back power-play chances and capitalized on the second one. Drake Batherson drew the penalty, then helped set up the winner. He saucered a pass back to Jake Sanderson at the point, and Sanderson slid it to Norris for the game-winner.

The Wild eventually pulled former Sens goalie Filip Gustavsson to push for the equalizer. But Claude Giroux knocked down a crossing pass and, with a defender draped all over him, shot it the length of the ice for the dagger.

A fine road victory, and it's pretty clear that Merilainen is this club’s new No. 3 option, at least for the time being.

The Sens are off until Thursday when they'll be in Dallas to face the Stars.