GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MINNESOTA (17-14) at LOS ANGELES (12-20)

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
LOS ANGELES 0 9:23 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
LOS ANGELES 0 4:40 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
LOS ANGELES 0 2:57 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
LOS ANGELES 1
3RD PRD: LOS - ROB BLAKE 2 (MIKE CAMMALLERI, PATRICK O'SULLIVAN) 18:48</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
LOS ANGELES 1 0:04 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 2
LOS ANGELES 0 0 1 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 12 (KIM JOHNSSON, MARTIN SKOULA) 3:48
2ND PRD: MIN - (PP) BRIAN ROLSTON 11 (KURTIS FOSTER, PIERRE-MARC
BOUCHARD) 6:06
3RD PRD: LOS - ROB BLAKE 2 (MIKE CAMMALLERI, PATRICK O'SULLIVAN)
18:48

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: MIN - 1 OF 8, LOS - 0 OF 8.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 10 6 8 24
LOS 12 13 11 36

GOALIES: MIN - JOSH HARDING
LOS - JEAN-SEBASTIEN AUBIN

OFFICIALS: REF - MARC JOANNETTE, MICK MCGEOUGH
LIN - DARREN GIBBS, STEVE BARTON

ATT: 16,648</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 1 0 --2
Los Angeles 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 12 (Kim Johnsson,
Martin Skoula), 3:48. Penalties: A Kopitar, Los (hooking), 10:14; K
Johnsson, Min (holding), 15:03; K Calder, Los (holding stick), 19:06.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 11 (power play)
(Kurtis Foster, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 6:06. Penalties: B Stuart, Los
(delay of game), 0:22; J Johnson, Los (hooking), 1:36; M Gaborik, Min
(unsportsmanlike cond), 1:36; K Foster, Min (holding), 1:53; D Moore,
Min (holding), 3:50; Bench, Los (too many men served by J Zeiler),
4:54; A Kopitar, Los (holding), 5:39; K Calder, Los (hooking), 8:55; A
Voros, Min (roughing), 12:38; P Demitra, Min (hooking), 15:38; S Hill,
Min (tripping), 17:56; R Blake, Los (interference), 18:48.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Los Angeles, Rob Blake 2 (Mike Cammalleri,
Patrick O'Sullivan), 18:48. Penalties: M Skoula, Min (delay of game),
10:25; T Fedoruk, Min (hooking), 13:51; M Cammalleri, Los (goalie
interference), 16:05.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 10 6 8 --24
Los Angeles 12 13 11 --36
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 8, Los Angeles - 0 of 8.
Goalies : Minnesota, Josh Harding (36 shots, 35 saves; record: 5-6-1).
Los Angeles, Jean-Sebastien Aubin (24 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-5-1).
A: 16,648. Referees: Marc Joannette, Mick Mcgeough. Linesmen: Darren
Gibbs, Steve Barton.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MINNESOTA 2
LOS ANGELES 1</div>

 

By Joel Bergman
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild completed their sweepthrough Southern California with a 2-1 triumph over the LosAngeles Kings in a penalty-filled contest on Saturday.

Josh Harding stopped 35 shots and came within 72 seconds of hisfourth career shutout as he posted his second victory in as manynights for the Wild, who defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 5-2, onFriday and completed their road trip with a 3-2-0 mark.

The teams combined for 12 penalties in the second period of thisone and 18 total for the game. Minnesota went 1-for-8 with theman advantage, while Los Angeles did not capitalize on any ofits eight power plays.


The Wild jumped to a 1-0 lead early in the first period.Defenseman Kim Johnsson had the puck in the corner of his ownzone and saw Marian Gaborik free at center ice.


Johnsson sent a crisp pass to the Slovakian, who skated down theright side on a breakaway. Gaborik fired a wrist shot from 20feet out over the right shoulder of goaltender Jean-SebastienAubin for his team-leading 12th goal of the season at 3:48 ofthe first.


The Kings came close to tying the game near the 11-minute markof the period on a shorthanded breakaway by Michal Handzus. Butthe veteran center fired a wrist shot on which Harding with anexcellent glove save 30 seconds into Minnesota's power play.

The Wild doubled their lead on a 5-on-3 power play at 6:06 ofthe second period.


After a string of penalties, Los Angeles was whistled for abench minor for having too many men on the ice at 4:54. Just 45seconds later, Anze Kopitar was sent to the penalty box forholding, giving the Wild a two-man advantage.


Defenseman Kurtis Foster sent the puck from the right point toBrian Rolston high in the left slot. Rolston fired a slap shotfrom 40 feet out that beat Aubin to the stick side throughtraffic for his 11th goal of the season.


Los Angeles finally broke through with 72 seconds left in thegame, when defenseman Rob Blake tallied his second goal of theseason. With Aubin pulled for an extra skater, MichaelCammalleri fired a shot from the point that was deflected infront by Blake past a screened Harding to cut the deficit to2-1.


The Kings outshot the Wild in each period, but Harding made 12saves in the first, 13 in the second and 10 in the third to keepLos Angeles at bay.


Aubin finished with 22 saves for the Kings, who have lost threestraight games.

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 1 0 --2
Los Angeles 0 0 1 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 12 (Kim Johnsson,
Martin Skoula), 3:48. Penalties: A Kopitar, Los (hooking), 10:14; K
Johnsson, Min (holding), 15:03; K Calder, Los (holding stick), 19:06.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 11 (power play)
(Kurtis Foster, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 6:06. Penalties: B Stuart, Los
(delay of game), 0:26; J Johnson, Los (hooking), 1:36; M Gaborik, Min
(unsportsmanlike cond), 1:36; K Foster, Min (holding), 1:53; D Moore,
Min (holding), 3:50; Bench, Los (too many men served by J Zeiler),
4:54; A Kopitar, Los (holding), 5:39; K Calder, Los (hooking), 8:55; A
Voros, Min (roughing), 12:38; P Demitra, Min (hooking), 15:38; S Hill,
Min (tripping), 17:56; R Blake, Los (interference), 18:48.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Los Angeles, Rob Blake 2 (Mike Cammalleri,
Patrick O'Sullivan), 18:48. Penalties: M Skoula, Min (delay of game),
10:25; T Fedoruk, Min (hooking), 13:51; M Cammalleri, Los (goalie
interference), 16:05.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 10 6 8 --24
Los Angeles 12 13 11 --36
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 8, Los Angeles - 0 of 8.
Goalies : Minnesota, Josh Harding (36 shots, 35 saves; record: 5-6-1).
Los Angeles, Jean-Sebastien Aubin (24 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-5-1).
A: 16,648. Referees: Marc Joannette, Mick Mcgeough. Linesmen: Darren
Gibbs, Steve Barton.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at LOS ANGELES

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 1 1 0 --2
LOS ANGELES 0 0 1 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 12 (Kim Johnsson,
Martin Skoula), 3:48. Penalties: A Kopitar, Los (hooking), 10:14; K
Johnsson, Min (holding), 15:03; K Calder, Los (holding stick), 19:06.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 11 (power play)
(Kurtis Foster, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 6:06. Penalties: B Stuart, Los
(delay of game), 0:26; J Johnson, Los (hooking), 1:36; M Gaborik, Min
(unsportsmanlike cond), 1:36; K Foster, Min (holding), 1:53; D Moore,
Min (holding), 3:50; Bench, Los (too many men served by J Zeiler),
4:54; A Kopitar, Los (holding), 5:39; K Calder, Los (hooking), 8:55; A
Voros, Min (roughing), 12:38; P Demitra, Min (hooking), 15:38; S Hill,
Min (tripping), 17:56; R Blake, Los (interference), 18:48.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Los Angeles, Rob Blake 2 (Mike Cammalleri,
Patrick O'Sullivan), 18:48. Penalties: M Skoula, Min (delay of game),
10:25; T Fedoruk, Min (hooking), 13:51; M Cammalleri, Los (goalie
interference), 16:05.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 10 6 8 --24
LOS ANGELES 12 13 11 --36
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MIN - 1 of 8, LOS - 0 of 8. Goalies :
Minnesota, Josh Harding (36 shots, 35 saves; record: 5-6-1). Los
Angeles, Jean-Sebastien Aubin (24 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-5-1). A:
16,648. Referees: Marc Joannette, Mick Mcgeough. Linesmen: Darren
Gibbs, Steve Barton.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MINNESOTA LOS ANGELES
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Gaborik 1 0 +1 5 A Kopitar 0 0 -1 5
B Rolston 1 0 even 3 P O'Sullivan 0 1 even 1
D Moore 0 0 -1 1 M Cammalleri 0 1 +1 4
S Veilleux 0 0 -1 2 L Visnovsky 0 0 +1 4
M Parrish 0 0 even 1 K Calder 0 0 even 2
E Belanger 0 0 even 1 D Brown 0 0 -1 3
K Foster 0 1 even 0 A Frolov 0 0 +1 2
K Carney 0 0 even 0 M Handzus 0 0 even 2
P Demitra 0 0 +1 4 S Thornton 0 0 even 0
M Skoula 0 1 even 0 J Giuliano 0 0 even 1
A Voros 0 0 -1 1 J Johnson 0 0 even 1
K Johnsson 0 1 +1 1 R Blake 1 0 +1 5
N Schultz 0 0 even 0 R Ivanans 0 0 even 1
S Hill 0 0 -1 1 T Preissing 0 0 -1 0
J Sheppard 0 0 even 0 J Modry 0 0 -1 2
B Burns 0 0 even 1 B Stuart 0 0 even 1
T Fedoruk 0 0 +1 2 D Armstrong 0 0 +1 0
P Bouchard 0 1 even 1 J Zeiler 0 0 even 2
D Boogaard FLU B Willsie HEALTHY
B Radivojevic HEALTHY J Labarbera RIB INJURY
K Dallman HEALTHY</div>

 

By Joel Bergman
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


LOS ANGELES (Ticker) --The Minnesota Wild completed their sweep through SouthernCalifornia with a 2-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings in apenalty-filled contest on Saturday.


Josh Harding stopped 35 shots and came within 72 seconds of hisfourth career shutout as he posted his second victory in as manynights for the Wild, who defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 5-2, onFriday and completed their road trip with a 3-2-0 mark.

"We needed a goalie that will give us a chance to win, andthat's what we've had these past few games," Minnesota coachJacques Lemaire said.


The teams combined for 12 penalties in the second period of thisone and 18 total for the game. Minnesota went 1-for-8 with theman advantage, while Los Angeles did not capitalize on any ofits eight power plays.


The Wild jumped to a 1-0 lead early in the first period.Defenseman Kim Johnsson had the puck in the right corner of hisown zone and saw Marian Gaborik free at center ice.

Johnsson sent a crisp pass to the Slovakian, who skated down theright side on a breakaway. Gaborik fired a wrist shot from 20feet out over the right shoulder of goaltender Jean-SebastienAubin for his team-leading 12th goal of the season at 3:48 ofthe first.


"I think that they (the Kings) thought that the play was goingto be stopped for icing, and we got some speed on them," Gaboriksaid. "I went in and got it up high on him (Aubin)."

The Kings came close to tying the game near the 11-minute markof the period on a shorthanded breakaway by Michal Handzus. Butthe veteran center fired a wrist shot on which Harding with anexcellent glove save 30 seconds into Minnesota's power play.

The Wild doubled their lead on a 5-on-3 power play at 6:06 ofthe second period.


After a string of penalties, Los Angeles was whistled for abench minor for having too many men on the ice at 4:54. Just 45seconds later, Anze Kopitar was sent to the penalty box forholding, giving the Wild a two-man advantage.


Defenseman Kurtis Foster sent the puck from the right point toBrian Rolston high in the left slot. Rolston fired a slap shotfrom 40 feet out that beat Aubin to the stick side throughtraffic for his 11th goal of the season.


"That 5-on-3 was big," Rolston said. "Parry (Mark Parrish) dida good job of screening their goalie. Their goaltender couldn'tsee the puck, and we capitalized on that."


Los Angeles finally broke through with 72 seconds left in thegame, when defenseman Rob Blake tallied his second goal of theseason. With Aubin pulled for an extra skater, MichaelCammalleri fired a shot from the point that was deflected infront by Blake past a screened Harding to cut the deficit to2-1.


Although Harding lost his chance at shutouts during the finalminutes of both Friday's and Saturday's contests, he didn't feelupset.


"The important thing for me is that the team got a win," Hardingsaid. "For me, it's the team first and personalaccomplishments after that. I knew I had to come up with acouple of good saves and get the confidence back in the team."

The Kings outshot the Wild in each period, but Harding made 12saves in the first, 13 in the second and 10 in the third to keepLos Angeles at bay.


"Goaltending is everything", Wild assistant captain BrianRolston said. "He's been fabulous for the past two games."

An animated Kings coach Marc Crawford felt that there wasn'tmuch difference between a winning and losing effort.

"There is a minuscule difference between getting a frustratingloss like this and having a rewarding win," Crawford said."Maybe it takes a few frustrating losses like this to turn itaround for us."


Aubin finished with 22 saves for the Kings, who have lost threestraight games. With the loss and the Phoenix Coyotes victoryin New Jersey Saturday, Los Angeles sank into the WesternConference cellar with 26 points