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Staal produced the two-point night after the
organization recognized the 35-year-old veteran in a pregame
ceremony with his family. The Wild presented Staal with a
crystal and golden hockey stick to celebrate his point total,
which reached 1,012 -- sixth highest among active NHL players.
Mats Zuccarello also contributed a goal and a helper, and Jordan
Greenway and Jason Zucker found the net for the Wild, who won
for the third time in four games and moved to within five points
of a Western Conference wild-card position.
Matt Dumba added two assists, and Devan Dubnyk, who allowed 10
goals in his previous two starts, made 25 saves to win for the
first time in three starts.
Detroit's Filip Zadina scored two goals, and Trevor Daley
assisted twice for the visitors, who lost their sixth straight
overall (0-5-1) and dropped to an NHL-worst 4-19-2 on the road.
Jimmy Howard posted 29 saves but slipped to 0-14-2 in his past
16 starts.
Playing without six injured regulars, the Red Wings used a
fortunate bounce early in the first period. Zadina's pass
through the slot was redirected in by Minnesota's Joel Eriksson
Ek at 3:08.
Dumba and Greenway evened the score at 1 just 80 seconds later.
The defenseman's point shot struck Greenway, who backhanded in
the rebound with his back to Howard for his sixth tally.
Detroit's 29th-ranked power play cashed in late in the opening
period for a 2-1 lead. Zadina's shot from the right circle
bounced into the crease, and defenseman Ryan Suter inadvertently
kicked the puck in at 16:39 for Zadina's eighth.
Zuccarello wristed a close shot off Howard's chest in the
second, and the puck popped skyward. Zuccarello batted in the
puck before it hit the ice at 1:12 to tie the score at 2, his
13th goal of the campaign.
Zucker scored on a breakaway after getting sprung by an outlet
pass from Victor Rask just 67 seconds later for the Wild's first
lead. It was Zucker's 14th of the season.
Staal potted his 17th marker nine minutes later for the two-goal
margin.
Detroit played the final four-plus minutes of the match with
Howard off the ice for the extra skater.
Minnesota is off until hosting the Boston Bruins on Feb. 1.
Detroit returns to action at the New York Rangers on Jan. 31.
--Field Level Media
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