The Minnesota Wild got an important two points against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, winning 3-2 in a shootout at Xcel Energy Center. Charlie Coyle and Zach Parise scored in the shootout and goaltender Devan Dubnyk made31 saves to help Minnesota win for the third time in 12 games after regulation this season. Coyle and Parise scored on forehand shots in the first and second rounds respectively before Dubnyk denied Chris Terry's shot in the third round for the victory.
David Jones and Jason Zucker scored in regulation for Minnesota, which ended a two-game losing streak and won at Xcel Energy Center for the third time in its past 14 games (3-8-3). The Wild are one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Each team has played 72 games.
Terry and Jordan Staal scored for Carolina, who have lost four consecutive games (0-1-3) and finished its five-game road trip 1-1-3. Four of the five games on the trip extended past regulation and the Hurricanes have played into overtime in six of their past seven games (2-4). Goaltender Cam Ward made 30 saves.
Jones scored at 15:37 of the first period to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead, shoveling a rebound over Ward after he stopped a shot by Erik Haula in the slot. It was his 11th goal of the season and second since he was traded from the Calgary Flames on Feb. 29.
Less than two minutes later, Carolina tied the game 1-1, capitalizing on a 2-on-1 break. Defenseman Noah Hanifin's outlet pass hit Terry in stride entering the Wild zone. Terry's shot went over Dubnyk's glove for his sixth goal at 17:05.
Minnesota scored on the first shift of the third period on Zucker's 13th goal to take a 2-1 lead. Coyle controlled the puck in the left corner before leaving it for Mikko Koivu. Minnesota's captain wheeled around near the left circle and fired a shot toward the net that Ward stopped. Zucker was waiting for the rebound, and his shot went into an open net 16 seconds into the period.
Coyle has an assist in four consecutive games for the first time in his career and has assisted on five goals in his past six games. Staal tied the game at 2-2 with 6:51 remaining, getting the loose puck near the left post after a shot from Joakim Nordstrom from the right half-wall bounced through traffic.
Nordstrom nearly won the game in the final seconds of overtime, skating free with the puck with the clock ticking down. Nordstrom's spin move around a back-checking Koivu in front of the net put him in position for the game-winner, but Dubnyk sprawled to stop the shot with his right arm when the horn sounded.
Minnesota will play the second end of a back-to-back set against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday at United Center.
Wild Quotes
Devan Dubnyk: "This time of the year, going into the shootout, you work and compete your best and hopefully you get the extra point. But going into a shootout right now, getting one point is not good enough for us. I didn't realize the clock was that low. I think Mikko did a real nice job coming over at him. He makes a nice move but Mikko put some good pressure on him and then it's up to me to stay with him there."John Torchetti: "[Jones] has come in and done a fantastic job, a good pickup for us at the deadline. Good body, good size, confident with the puck and makes the right decisions. That's why you play."
Jason Zucker: "It's always nice to get a goal. But more than that, it was nice to help the team get a win tonight, in any way. Whether that's shots on net, blocking shots or getting a goal, it was nice to help us get that win. It was two very-needed points."
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