WILD 2, BRUINS 0: Niklas Backstrom turned aside a season-high 48 shots for his fourth shutout of the season and Minnesota snapped a seven-game losing streak by holding off visiting Boston.

Chad Rau and Matt Cullen scored second-period goals as the Wild improved to 10-1-1 all time against Boston and halted a five-game skid (0-4-1) on their home ice.

Backstrom was sensational from start to finish in earning his 26th career shutout and improving to 4-0-1 lifetime against Boston.

Boston dropped its second straight and was blanked for the fourth time in nine games this month, falling to 3-6-0 in February.

The Wild, who had mustered a total of nine goals during their seven-game skid, broke the scoreless deadlock midway through the second period.

Rau, called up from the minors earlier Sunday, veered in from the left wing and, while looking away, whipped a shot from the faceoff circle past Tim Thomas to the short side.

It was the second goal in five career games for Rau, a Minnesota native who notched the game winner in his NHL debut on Jan. 21.

Cullen doubled the advantage four minutes later, whiffing on his initial attempt before beating Thomas to end a 15-game goalless drought and register his first point in nine games this month.

Backstrom preserved the lead by withstanding a third-period flurry, including a point-blank glove save on Milan Lucic that had the Boston forward slamming his stick to the ice in frustration.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wild C Warren Peters sat out Sunday while serving a one-game suspension for cross-checking David Backes of the St. Louis Blues during Saturday's game. ... The Bruins went 0-for-1 on the power play Sunday. They have not scored on the man advantage in 11 games all-time against the Wild, failing to convert on 36 chances. ... Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu was sidelined for his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. ... Wild C Erik Christensen has not registered a point in eight games since being acquired from the New York Rangers. ... On "Hockey Day In America," American-born players Rau and Cullen scored the goals.