Minnesota 3, Phoenix 1
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 29, 2014
Where: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Referees:
Brian Pochmara, Brad Watson
Linesmen:
Steve Miller, Bryan Pancich
Attendance:
16691
By SportsDirect Inc.
Wild 3, Coyotes 1: Zach Parise scored a pair of third-period goals as visiting Minnesota rallied to maintain its hold on the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Defenseman Jared Spurgeon scored the go-ahead goal with just over seven minutes to play as the Wild won for only the fourth time in 13 games (4-5-4) to open a three-point lead over Phoenix. Former Coyote Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 23 shots and captain Mikko Koivu notched two assists as Minnesota improved to 6-22-5 when trailing after two periods.
Mikkel Boedker scored the lone goal for the Coyotes, whose loss allowed idle Chicago to clinch a postseason berth. Thomas Greiss made 27 saves as Phoenix saw its lead over Dallas for the second wild card shaved to one point.
Defenseman Keith Yandle intercepted a pair of clearing attempts with the Coyotes on the power play to set up the opening goal 3:16 into the contest. Captain Shane Doan sent a pass from the right-wing boards that caromed off Boedker and past Bryzgalov.
Minnesota finally broke through and notched the equalizer eight minutes into the third, when Parise buried a wrist shot off a faceoff. Spurgeon put the Wild ahead with 7:03 remaining, hammering a slap shot from the right point past Greiss, before Parise scored into an empty net in the final minute.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Spurgeon has set a career high with 24 points and matched his career best with his fifth goal. ... Wild LW Dany Heatley, who hasn't scored in his last 14 games, was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. ... The Coyotes announced starting G Mike Smith, who hurt a knee in Monday's game against the New York Rangers, will be re-evaluated in a week.
Top Game Performances
Minnesota |
|
Phoenix |
Zach Parise 2 |
Points |
Mikkel Boedker 1 |
Zach Parise 2 |
Goals |
Mikkel Boedker 1 |
Mikko Koivu 2 |
Assists |
Shane Doan 1 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Mikkel Boedker 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Ilya Bryzgalov .958 |
Save Percentage |
Thomas Greiss .931 |
Ilya Bryzgalov 23 |
Saves |
Thomas Greiss 27 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Minnesota
|
30 |
3 |
0-1 |
3-4 |
10 |
21 |
Phoenix
|
24 |
1 |
1-4 |
1-1 |
24 |
32 |
Upcoming Games
-
Phoenix will play their next game at home against Winnipeg. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .432 after a win and .526 after a loss.
-
Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Los Angeles. The Wild have a W/L % of .541 after a win and .474 after a loss.