GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MINNESOTA (3-0) at PHOENIX (2-2)

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 9:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
PHOENIX 2
3RD PRD: MIN - (PP) MIKKO KOIVU 1 (UNASSISTED) 13:40</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
PHOENIX 2 4:58 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
PHOENIX 2 3:49 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 3
PHOENIX 2
3RD PRD: MIN - (SH) ERIC BELANGER 2 (STEPHANE VEILLEUX) 16:45</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

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

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 1 (PAVOL DEMITRA, WES WALZ) 4:09
PHO - (PP) DANIEL CARCILLO 1 (SHANE DOAN, ED JOVANOVSKI)
14:51
PHO - DANIEL CARCILLO 2 (NIKO KAPANEN) 17:08
2ND PRD: NONE
3RD PRD: MIN - (PP) MIKKO KOIVU 1 (PAVOL DEMITRA, PIERRE-MARC
BOUCHARD) 13:40
MIN - (SH) ERIC BELANGER 2 (STEPHANE VEILLEUX) 16:45

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: MIN - 1 OF 7, PHO - 1 OF 3.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 10 5 11 26
PHO 16 9 4 29

GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
PHO - ALEX AULD

OFFICIALS: REF - DAN MAROUELLI, GORD DWYER
LIN - JONNY MURRAY, LYLE SEITZ

ATT: 12,088</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 2 --3
Phoenix 2 0 0 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 1 (Pavol Demitra,
Wes Walz), 4:09. 2, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 1 (power play) (Shane
Doan, Ed Jovanovski), 14:51. 3, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 2 (Niko
Kapanen), 17:08. Penalties: R Vrbata, Pho (high sticking), 6:10; D
Morris, Pho (cross checking), 7:39; K Foster, Min (interference),
13:08.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Kapanen, Pho (tripping), 4:41; M Gaborik,
Min (slashing), 8:03.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Minnesota, Mikko Koivu 1 (power play)
(Pavol Demitra, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 13:40. 5, Minnesota, Eric
Belanger 2 (shorthanded) (Stephane Veilleux), 16:45. Penalties: E
Jovanovski, Pho (holding), 7:11; S Reinprecht, Pho (hooking), 12:47; M
Gaborik, Min (double minor roughing), 15:02; N Boynton, Pho
(roughing), 15:02; S Doan, Pho (boarding), 18:23; D Carcillo, Pho (
misconduct), 18:23; B Radivojevic, Min ( misconduct), 18:23; P
Bouchard, Min (holding), 19:20; P Bouchard, Min (hooking), 19:21.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 10 5 11 --26
Phoenix 16 9 4 --29
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 7, Phoenix - 1 of 3. Goalies
: Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (29 shots, 27 saves; record: 4-0-0).
Phoenix, Alex Auld (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 1-1-0). A: 12,088.
Referees: Dan Marouelli, Gord Dwyer. Linesmen: Jonny Murray, Lyle
Seitz.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MINNESOTA 3
PHOENIX 2</div>

 

By Bob Huhn
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Coyotes found a wayto score on the red-hot Niklas Backstrom. Unfortunately, theyhad no solution for the special teams of the Minnesota Wild.

Mikko Koivu scored a power-play goal with 6:20 remaining in thethird period and Eric Belanger netted a shorthander 3:05 lateras the Wild rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Coyotes onSaturday.


Backstrom, who started last season as the backup to MannyFernandez, ended up with the best goal-against average and savepercentage in the league. Minnesota traded Fernandez to Bostonover the summer after signing the 29-year-old Backstrom to atwo-year, $6.2 million dollar contract.


Backstrom was in goal for the Wild's first three games thisseason, recording two shutouts in leading Minnesota to a 3-0-0record.


However, after Marian Gaborik gave the Wild an early lead,Daniel Carcillo scored two quick goals against Backstrom late inthe first period to put the Coyotes in front.


During a power play, defenseman Ed Jovanovski unleashed a slapshot from the left point that was stopped by Backstrom. ButCarcillo chipped in the rebound with 5:09 left in the session toforge a tie.


The goal was only the third allowed by Backstrom this season.Carcillo wasted little time giving the Coyotes the lead,blasting a shot from above the right faceoff circle pastBackstrom at 17:08 after receiving a pass from Niko Kapanen.

Phoenix had a chance to extend its lead with 5:16 left in thesecond period, but captain Shane Doan's wrist shot from the leftcircle hit the right goalpost.


That proved crucial as Minnesota tallied twice late in the thirdto emerge victorious.


With Steven Reinprecht in the penalty box for hooking, Koivureceived a pass from behind the net by Pavol Demitra and firedthe puck past netminder Alex Auld from the inner edge of theleft circle at 13:40 to forge a tie.


After Gaborik was given an extra minor for roughing at 15:02,Belanger led a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush before dishing toStephane Veilleux, whose shot was stopped by Auld. But asdefenseman Keith Ballard stood and watched, Belanger followedthe play and deposited the rebound past Auld at 16:45 to giveMinnesota a 3-2 edge.


The Wild got on the scoreboard first when Demitra faked a slapshot from the left circle and passed to fellow SlovakianGaborik, who one-timed a shot while alone in the low slot pastAuld at 4:09 of the first period for his first of the season.

Backstrom, who has allowed less than three goals in 16 straightregular-season games, made 17 saves for the Wild.


Auld stopped 23 shots for Phoenix, which has lost three of fourbut has yet to yield more than three tallies this season.

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 2 --3
Phoenix 2 0 0 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 1 (Pavol Demitra,
Wes Walz), 4:09. 2, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 1 (power play) (Shane
Doan, Ed Jovanovski), 14:51. 3, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 2 (Niko
Kapanen), 17:08. Penalties: R Vrbata, Pho (high sticking), 6:10; D
Morris, Pho (cross checking), 7:39; K Foster, Min (interference),
13:08.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Kapanen, Pho (tripping), 4:41; M Gaborik,
Min (slashing), 8:03.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Minnesota, Mikko Koivu 1 (power play)
(Pavol Demitra, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 13:40. 5, Minnesota, Eric
Belanger 2 (shorthanded) (Stephane Veilleux, Nick Schultz), 16:45.
Penalties: E Jovanovski, Pho (holding), 7:11; S Reinprecht, Pho
(hooking), 12:47; M Gaborik, Min (double minor roughing), 15:02; N
Boynton, Pho (roughing), 15:02; S Doan, Pho (boarding), 18:23; D
Carcillo, Pho ( misconduct), 18:23; B Radivojevic, Min ( misconduct),
18:23; P Bouchard, Min (holding), 19:20; N Schultz, Min (broken
stick), 19:55.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 10 5 11 --26
Phoenix 16 9 4 --29
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 6, Phoenix - 1 of 3. Goalies
: Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (29 shots, 27 saves; record: 4-0-0).
Phoenix, Alex Auld (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 1-1-0). A: 12,088.
Referees: Dan Marouelli, Gord Dwyer. Linesmen: Jonny Murray, Lyle
Seitz.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 1 0 2 --3
PHOENIX 2 0 0 --2
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 1 (Pavol Demitra,
Wes Walz), 4:09. 2, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 1 (power play) (Shane
Doan, Ed Jovanovski), 14:51. 3, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 2 (Niko
Kapanen), 17:08. Penalties: R Vrbata, Pho (high sticking), 6:10; D
Morris, Pho (cross checking), 7:39; K Foster, Min (interference),
13:08.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Kapanen, Pho (tripping), 4:41; M Gaborik,
Min (slashing), 8:03.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Minnesota, Mikko Koivu 1 (power play)
(Pavol Demitra, Pierre-Marc Bouchard), 13:40. 5, Minnesota, Eric
Belanger 2 (shorthanded) (Stephane Veilleux, Nick Schultz), 16:45.
Penalties: E Jovanovski, Pho (holding), 7:11; S Reinprecht, Pho
(hooking), 12:47; M Gaborik, Min (double minor roughing), 15:02; N
Boynton, Pho (roughing), 15:02; S Doan, Pho (boarding), 18:23; D
Carcillo, Pho ( misconduct), 18:23; B Radivojevic, Min ( misconduct),
18:23; P Bouchard, Min (holding), 19:20; N Schultz, Min (broken
stick), 19:55.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 10 5 11 --26
PHOENIX 16 9 4 --29
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MIN - 1 of 6, PHO - 1 of 3. Goalies :
Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (29 shots, 27 saves; record: 4-0-0).
Phoenix, Alex Auld (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 1-1-0). A: 12,088.
Referees: Dan Marouelli, Gord Dwyer. Linesmen: Jonny Murray, Lyle
Seitz.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MINNESOTA PHOENIX
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Gaborik 1 0 even 4 M Hanzal 0 0 -1 2
B Rolston 0 0 even 4 C Weller 0 0 even 2
S Veilleux 0 1 +1 3 D Carcillo 2 0 +1 3
M Parrish 0 0 even 1 M Zigomanis 0 0 even 2
D Boogaard 0 0 even 0 M York 0 0 even 0
E Belanger 1 0 +1 2 R Vrbata 0 0 even 0
K Foster 0 0 even 1 F Meyer IV 0 0 -1 1
P Nummelin 0 0 even 1 S Doan 0 1 -1 5
W Walz 0 1 even 0 K Ballard 0 0 -1 0
P Demitra 0 2 even 3 F Sjostrom 0 0 -1 2
M Skoula 0 0 even 0 M Tjarnqvist 0 0 even 2
K Johnsson 0 0 +1 1 S Reinprecht 0 0 -1 2
N Schultz 0 1 +1 1 D Winnik 0 0 -1 2
J Sheppard 0 0 even 1 N Kapanen 0 1 +1 0
B Burns 0 0 even 0 N Boynton 0 0 -1 0
M Koivu 1 0 even 4 M Jones 0 0 even 1
B Radivojevic 0 0 even 0 D Morris 0 0 even 1
P Bouchard 0 1 even 0 E Jovanovski 0 1 +1 4
K Carney HEALTHY D Aebischer HEALTHY
S Hill HEALTHY P Mueller HEALTHY
M Foy HEALTHY
D Moore ABDOMINAL</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MINNESOTA 3
PHOENIX 2</div>

 

By Bob Huhn
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Coyotes found a way toscore on the red-hot Niklas Backstrom. Unfortunately, they hadno solution for the special teams of the Minnesota Wild.

Mikko Koivu scored a power-play goal with 6:20 remaining in thethird period and Eric Belanger netted a shorthander 3:05 lateras the Wild rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Coyotes onSaturday.


Pavol Demitra recorded two assists for the Wild, who admittedlyescaped with a fortunate win.


"Did we steal one? Definitely," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaireadmitted. "We were very sluggish early. We had a lack ofenergy, turnovers after turnovers. But we started to gainmomentum just before the shorthanded goal, and we played ourbest hockey after that."


Backstrom, who started last season as the backup to MannyFernandez, ended up with the best goal-against average and savepercentage in the league. Minnesota traded Fernandez to Bostonover the summer after signing the 29-year-old Backstrom to atwo-year, $6.2 million dollar contract.


Backstrom was in goal for the Wild's first three games thisseason, recording two shutouts in leading Minnesota to a 3-0-0record. He kept Phoenix off the scoreboard in the first half ofthe opening period of this one before being solved.

"It felt like the first period, I was selling popcorn,"Backstrom said. "I was really struggling in the first period.It doesn't matter how the previous games go, you have to makeadjustments and be ready for the next shots. The biggest thingis playing behind a great team. They stepped up, and then I wasable to settle down."


However, after Marian Gaborik gave the Wild an early lead,Daniel Carcillo scored two quick goals against Backstrom late inthe first period to put the Coyotes in front.


During a power play, defenseman Ed Jovanovski unleashed a slapshot from the left point that was stopped by Backstrom. ButCarcillo chipped in the rebound with 5:09 left in the session toforge a tie.


The goal was only the third allowed by Backstrom this season.Carcillo wasted little time giving the Coyotes the lead,blasting a shot from above the right faceoff circle pastBackstrom at 17:08 after receiving a pass from Niko Kapanen.

"We took it to them the first two periods, but we didn't get theresult we wanted," Carcillo said. "We need to be more urgenton the power play. We have to be more disciplined in the thirdto win these games."


Phoenix had a chance to extend its lead with 5:16 left in thesecond period, but captain Shane Doan's wrist shot from the leftcircle hit the right goalpost.


That proved crucial as Minnesota tallied twice late in the thirdto emerge victorious.


"This was a heartbreaker because we played a really good hockeygame against a very good hockey team," Phoenix coach WayneGretzky said. "We did a tremendous amount of good things,including good goaltending and good penalty-kill. But we tookthree undisciplined penalties late in the game, and two of themcost us."


With Steven Reinprecht in the penalty box for hooking, Koivureceived a pass from behind the net by Pavol Demitra and firedthe puck past netminder Alex Auld from the inner edge of theleft circle at 13:40 to forge a tie.


"I had a few chances before but couldn't hit the net," Koivusaid. "It was tight there in front of the net, with a lot ofsticks. You don't have a lot of room, but I kept gettingchances and one finally went in."


After Gaborik was given an extra minor for roughing at 15:02,Belanger led a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush before dishing toStephane Veilleux, whose shot was stopped by Auld. But asdefenseman Keith Ballard stood and watched, Belanger followedthe play and deposited the rebound past Auld at 16:45 to giveMinnesota a 3-2 edge.


"I had just gotten an elbow in the face and lost another tooth.I was mad, but that's the best way to get back at a team -score," Belanger said. "We were on a 2-on-1 and Stephane took ashot. A lot of times, you just swing (into) the corner insteadof the front of the net, but I did go to the net and the puckwas sitting there."


The Wild got on the scoreboard first when Demitra faked a slapshot from the left circle and passed to fellow SlovakianGaborik, who one-timed a shot while alone in the low slot pastAuld at 4:09 of the first period for his first of the season.

Backstrom, who has allowed less than three goals in 16 straightregular-season games, made 17 saves for the Wild.


Auld stopped 23 shots for Phoenix, which has lost three of fourbut has yet to yield more than three tallies this season.

"I feel like I'm playing well, but this was a tough one tolose," Auld said. "I think we played well but had a fewletdowns, and they're the type of team that capitalizes onthose."