|
 Right winger Jason Pominville and left winger Chris Porter scored 40
seconds apart midway through the third period, lifting the Wild to a
5-2 win over the Rangers at Xcel Energy Center.
The backhanders by Pominville and Porter past New York goaltender
Henrik Lundqivst helped the Wild get a point in their season-high
ninth straight game (6-0-3). It is Minnesota's longest stretch since
getting points in 10 straight games Jan. 20-Feb. 14.
"I thought for two periods we were right there," Rangers coach Alain
Vigneault said. "Then they got that goal on their power play that
made it 3-1 and, obviously, after that we didn't manage the puck
real well and then they got quite a few looks in the last three,
four minutes."
Center Mikko Koivu scored his second goal of the game with 2:17
remaining and added an assist. Defenseman Ryan Suter notched two
assists and goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 21 saves for his 14th win.
"You always want to produce," said Koivu, who has seven points in
his last two games. "When you're out there for power plays and
things like that, you want to help the team with getting some
offense going and getting some momentum."
The Wild appeared set to enter the second intermission clinging to a
1-0 lead until the teams traded late goals to make it a 2-1 game
with 20 minutes to play.
Defenseman Matt Dumba's baseball swing at a rebound off the chest of
Lundqvist with 2:30 to go in the middle period gave Minnesota a 2-0
lead.
"I played (baseball) when I was little growing up," Dumba said.
"It's still a sport that I follow and play in the summer here and
there with my buddies. I don't really know if that has much to do
with it. I just got lucky tonight."
With just 8.9 seconds remaining in the period, Rangers right winger
Emerson Etem's pass from the left corner found center Dominic Moore
open in the slot and the center's wrist shot beat Dubnyk, snapping
his shutout streak of 165 minutes, 23 seconds.
"I thought the second period we picked up our play a little bit,"
Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. "It was tough to give up the one at
the end of the period but good response from us the way we came out
in the third."
Lundqvist did not start the game but entered at the 13:49 mark of
the first period when starter Antti Raanta left due to an apparent
head injury.
A rising slap shot off the stick of Minnesota defenseman Marco
Scandella deflected off Raanta's mask near the left side of his
forehead. Raanta lay face down on the ice for several minutes as he
was tended to before being assisted to the dressing room.
[to top of second column] |
"He obviously has got a head injury," Vigneault said. "We'll find
out a little bit more tomorrow and we, obviously, have to do
something cap-wise; we've got to call up a goaltender for tomorrow."
Raanta stopped three of the four shots he faced, while Lundqvist
allowed four goals on 31 shots.
"I didn't face so much in the first so that was good," Lundqvist
said. "But it's awfully tough to come in like that in the first.
After that I think you're in it. I played good in the second but in
the third I just need to be better."
Minnesota struck first 8:27 into the contest, on Koivu's seventh of
the season when he slipped a backhand shot between Raanta's legs.
Koivu's goal came after Dubnyk stopped defenseman Keith Yandle on a
penalty shot 49 seconds in.
Yandle was hooked by Thomas Vanek but Dubnyk made a glove save.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the penalty shot attempt was
the quickest against in Minnesota history and the fastest in the NHL
since March 6, 2012.
"Obviously Dubey was huge tonight when we needed him to be," Yeo
said. "It's not ideal. He hasn't been in the net for a while and we
spot them a penalty shot early in the game. So, welcome back. But
obviously that's a huge save for us."
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh scored a third-period goal for New York.
NOTES: C Jarret Stoll, claimed off waivers from the Rangers on
Tuesday, made his Minnesota debut Thursday against New York
centering the Wild's fourth line. C Erik Haula was a healthy scratch
to make room for Stoll. ... Rangers rookie D Brady Skjei, who grew
up in nearby Lakeville, Minn., before playing three seasons at the
University of Minnesota, played in just his second NHL game and
first in his home state. ... Minnesota G Devan Dubnyk made his first
start since Dec. 5 after missing five games due to a mild groin
strain. ... Injuries to D Dan Girardi, C Derek Stepan and D Kevin
Klein continue to keep the trio out of the Rangers lineup.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
