The former Wild forward Jordan Greenway returned to Minnesota for the first time and set up the Sabres game-tying goal with 35.8 seconds left.
ST. PAUL - The Wild traded Jordan Greenway to the Buffalo Sabres last year in March for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 fifth-round pick. The 2023 second-round pick has turned into Riley Heidt.
Tonight marked Greenway's first game back in Minnesota and boy did the power forward make an impact. Greenway has been used this season in tons of different spots and mainly has been in the top six. He has even played some center for the Sabres.
In 42 games for Buffalo, Greenway has eight goals and 18 points but recently has picked it up. In his last eight games, Greenway has four goals and seven points.
The Wild gave Greenway a video tribute after the first whistle in the first period.
"That’s a little weird, right? I was just excited to get the goal and tie it up," Greenway said on being booed after the game-tying goal despite the cheers during the tribute video. "The tribute video, the fans showed a tremendous amount of … they made it special for me and it was really nice to come back to it."
Greenway, 27, spent six seasons in Minnesota where he notched 38 goals 119 points, and 478 hits in 317 games for the Wild.
The 6-foot-6 forward was on the ice with under 45 seconds left hoping to tie the game. Greenway caused a bunch of traffic in front of Filip Gustavsson and later pushed home the loose puck. The goal was later changed to Dylan Cozens who got his stick on it before it went in.
"Thompson made a good play up top to get the puck down there and I was kind of alone, or I felt like I was alone in front of the net," Greenway said on the goal. "The puck was just laying there and I just kept skating and prayed, I guess."
The Sabres eventually scored in overtime to beat the Wild and end their four-game winning streak. It would've been their second time this season being three games over .500 if they had won but tonight that didn't happen and now the Wild fall to 25-24-5 on the year.
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