November 13th

Wild Tame Coyotes
Mark Christopher, Sophomore Writer


After a 2-2 road trip and following their first shutout of the season, 2-0 to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, the Minnesota Wild returned home Thursday to host the Phoenix Coyotes.

Thursday's game marked the beginning of a stretch in which the Wild will play 10 of the next 12 games at home, and was just their sixth game at Xcel Energy Center this season. Only Edmonton (3) has played fewer home games this season.

This wasn't the first meeting of the season between the two clubs as back on November 1st in Phoenix, Minnesota beat the Coyotes 3-2. Niklas Backstrom recored 25 saves and improved his lifetime record against the Coyotes to 7-0-0 with a 1.29 GAA and .957 SV%. On the other side Ilya Bryzgalov is 0-5 with a 3.28 GAA and .894 SV% in six career games versus Minnesota (5 starts).

Both goalies were sharp early on as Bryzgalov made 13 saves and Backstrom 5 in the first period, with both teams skating a scoreless first frame.

Marek Zidlicky broke the scoreless tie 3:47 in the second period on the power play off an assist from Marc-Andre Bergeron to put the Wild up 1-0. Minnesota added another in the second at 15:43 with a two-man advantage as Andrew Brunette scored his sixth of the season and the Wild took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.

Minnesota again started the third as they did the second period, getting a a power play goal in the periods third minute, 3:11 to be exact, from Eric Belanger who had a two point night (1-1=2) to put Minnesota up 3-0. Right on the faceoff Cal Cutterbuck of the Wild and Keith Yandle of the Coyotes dropped 'em.

"(Right on the faceoff) he (Yandle) came up to me and asked if I wanted to go" Said Cutterbuck who was fresh off the bench and decided why not. "I was excited, it's been a while since I fought anybody and it's always good to get that monkey off your back, it's almost the same as scoring a goal. You don't fight for awhile and you start doubting yourself".

The Wild added another third period, and their fourth power-play, goal at 18:53 when Zidlicky scored his second of the game as Minnesota won 4-0 to defeat Phoenix for the ninth straight time, which ties the Wild record for the longest winning streak against one team as Minnesota defeated Chicago in nine straight meetings from January 20, 2006 to January 11, 2008.

The last time the Coyotes defeated the Wild was almost two years to the day on November 14th 2006 at Jobing.com Arena.

With the Win Minnesota improves to 9-4-1 and Phoenix drops to 8-7-0, and the next meeting between the two is on December 11 at Jobing.com arena in Phoenix.

After a day off Friday, the Wild will host the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night with the face off at 710pm.


Three Stars (Picked by Wally Shaver of Lets Play Hockey):

1--MN--Marek Zidlicky
2--MN--Andrew Brunette
3--MN--Eric Belanger


Post-Game Notes:

Goalie Niklas Backstrom improved to 8-0-0 against the Coyotes, his second best record against any team. He is 9-0-0 versus Edmonton. Having posted his third shutout against Phoenix Thursday, it marked Backstrom's ninth career shutout at Xcel Energy Center - two off Dwayne Roloson's team record.

Minnesota went 4-for-7 on the power play (57.1%), after going just 5-for-43 (11.6%) in the previous 10 games, and 1-for-21 (4.8%) in the last five contests.

Thursday was just the seventh time in team history the Wild have scored at least four power-play goals. The Wild record for PPG in a game is Five (2/7/06 vs LA and 10/7/06 vs Nashville).

Defenceman Marek Zidlicky notched his third career two-goal game and first since February 11, 2006 vs. Columbus. Zidlicky also added an assist, tying a franchise record for points in a game by a defenceman done on eight other occasions, last by Brent Burns, who tallied three assists vs. Dallas on January 3, 2008.

Centre Eric Belanger added a goal and an assist, his first multi-point game since scoring two goals in the season opener Oct, 11.

Defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron registered a career high three-assists.

Left Wing Andrew Brunette scored his sixth goal of the season and his 31st all-time goal at Xcel Energy Center, tying Antti Laaksonen for fifth place on the all-time list.

Left Wing Owen Nolan, activated off injured reserve just before game time, registered two assists, notching his first point since October 27th (an assist against Chicago).

With two goals in the second period, the Wild has outscored its opponents 15-7 in the second period this season.