GAME THREAD: NHL: MINNESOTA (4-0) at ANAHEIM (2-4)

NHL: MINNESOTA at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 0 2 0 --2
Anaheim 0 0 0 --0
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: W Walz, Min (holding stick), 2:14; B May,
Ana (hooking), 5:08; C Perry, Ana (holding), 8:15; B Rolston, Min
(holding), 8:41; P Demitra, Min (hooking), 9:19; D Boogaard, Min
(major fighting), 14:18; B May, Ana (major fighting), 14:18; N
Schultz, Min (major fighting), 15:28; R Getzlaf, Ana (major fighting),
15:28; K Carney, Min (hooking), 17:37.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 1 (Eric Belanger,
Nick Schultz), 2:04. 2, Minnesota, Mark Parrish 1 (Branko Radivojevic,
Mikko Koivu), 11:50. Penalties: D Boogaard, Min (major fighting),
5:36; G Parros, Ana (major fighting), 5:36; M Skoula, Min (hooking),
6:03; B Rolston, Min (holding), 6:49; B Radivojevic, Min (hooking),
14:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Mcdonald, Ana (hooking), 2:05; K Foster,
Min (cross checking), 3:11; R Niedermayer, Ana (elbowing), 3:11; P
Bouchard, Min (hooking), 8:52; Bench, Ana (too many men served by G
Parros), 18:29.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 9 9 6 --24
Anaheim 14 19 4 --37
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 0 of 4, Anaheim - 0 of 8. Goalies
: Minnesota, Josh Harding (37 shots, 37 saves; record: 1-0-0).
Anaheim, Jean-Sebastien Giguere (24 shots, 22 saves; record: 0-1-0).
A: 17,174. Referees: Brad Watson, Gord Dwyer. Linesmen: Andy Mcelman,
Rody Vaughan.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MINNESOTA 2
ANAHEIM 0</div>

 

By Craig Shultz
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- No Niklas Backstrom, no problemfor the Minnesota Wild.


Josh Harding recorded a shutout in place of the Jennings Trophywinner and the Wild defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 2-0, on Sundaynight.


Brian Rolston and Mark Parrish each scored their first goals ofthe season in the second period for the Wild, who improved to5-0-0 and are the only undefeated team in the NHL.

Backstrom, who started the first four games of the season andrecorded two shutouts, sat this one out. But Harding, whoplayed seven games last season, filled in more than adequately,stopping 37 shots to record his third career shutout.

Harding stopped 14 shots in the first, 19 in the second and fourin the third.


Harding's best save in the first period was a right leg stop ona rebound from Todd Marchant after a breakaway by Todd Bertuzziwas denied. Bertuzzi left the game shortly thereafter with aninjury and did not return.


Minnesota went ahead, 1-0, at 2:04 of the second period whenRolston took a slap shot from the top of the right faceoffcircle and put the puck over the glove of Ducks goalieJean-Sebastien Giguere.


Giguere was playing for the first time this season after missingthe first six games after undergoing surgery for a sportshernia in August.


Parrish made it 2-0 at 11:50, beating Giguere on the stick side.Mikko Koivu passed to Branko Radivojevic in the right circle,who made a nice crossing pass to Parrish in front for the goal.

The game was a rematch of the 2007 Western Conferencequarterfinals, won in five games by Anaheim.


Giguere stopped 23 shots for the Ducks, who were 0-for-8 with aman-advantage.

 

By Craig Shultz
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- No Niklas Backstrom, no problemfor the Minnesota Wild.


Josh Harding recorded a shutout in place of the Jennings Trophywinner and the Wild defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 2-0, on Sundaynight.


Brian Rolston and Mark Parrish each scored their first goals ofthe season in the second period for the Wild, who improved to5-0-0 and are the only undefeated team in the NHL.

Backstrom, who started the first four games of the season andrecorded two shutouts, sat this one out. But Harding, whoplayed seven games last season, filled in more than adequately,stopping 37 shots to record his third career shutout.

Harding stopped 14 shots in the first, 19 in the second and fourin the third.


Harding's best save in the first period was a right leg stop ona rebound from Todd Marchant after a breakaway by Todd Bertuzziwas denied. Bertuzzi left the game shortly thereafter with aninjury and did not return.


Minnesota went ahead, 1-0, at 2:04 of the second period whenRolston took a slap shot from the top of the right faceoffcircle and put the puck over the glove of Ducks goalieJean-Sebastien Giguere.


Giguere was playing for the first time this season after missingthe first six games after undergoing surgery for a sportshernia in August.


Parrish made it 2-0 at 11:50, beating Giguere on the stick side.Mikko Koivu passed to Branko Radivojevic in the right circle,who made a nice crossing pass to Parrish in front for the goal.

The game was a rematch of the 2007 Western Conferencequarterfinals, won in five games by Anaheim.


Giguere stopped 23 shots for the Ducks, who were 0-for-8 with aman-advantage.

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">CORRECTION


** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MINNESOTA 2
ANAHEIM 0</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 0 2 0 --2
Anaheim 0 0 0 --0
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: W Walz, Min (holding stick), 2:14; B May,
Ana (hooking), 5:08; C Perry, Ana (holding), 8:15; B Rolston, Min
(holding), 8:41; P Demitra, Min (hooking), 9:19; D Boogaard, Min
(major fighting), 14:18; B May, Ana (major fighting), 14:18; N
Schultz, Min (major fighting), 15:28; R Getzlaf, Ana (major fighting),
15:28; K Carney, Min (hooking), 17:37.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 1 (Eric Belanger,
Nick Schultz), 2:04. 2, Minnesota, Mark Parrish 1 (Branko Radivojevic,
Mikko Koivu), 11:50. Penalties: D Boogaard, Min (major fighting),
5:36; G Parros, Ana (major fighting), 5:36; M Skoula, Min (hooking),
6:03; B Rolston, Min (holding), 6:49; B Radivojevic, Min (hooking),
14:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Mcdonald, Ana (hooking), 2:05; K Foster,
Min (cross checking), 3:11; R Niedermayer, Ana (elbowing), 3:11; P
Bouchard, Min (hooking), 8:52; Bench, Ana (too many men served by G
Parros), 18:29.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 9 9 7 --25
Anaheim 14 19 4 --37
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 0 of 4, Anaheim - 0 of 8. Goalies
: Minnesota, Josh Harding (37 shots, 37 saves; record: 1-0-0).
Anaheim, Jean-Sebastien Giguere (25 shots, 23 saves; record: 0-1-0).
A: 17,174. Referees: Brad Watson, Gord Dwyer. Linesmen: Andy Mcelman,
Rody Vaughan.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at ANAHEIM

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 0 2 0 --2
ANAHEIM 0 0 0 --0
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: W Walz, Min (holding stick), 2:14; B May,
Ana (hooking), 5:08; C Perry, Ana (holding), 8:15; B Rolston, Min
(holding), 8:41; P Demitra, Min (hooking), 9:19; D Boogaard, Min
(major fighting), 14:18; B May, Ana (major fighting), 14:18; N
Schultz, Min (major fighting), 15:28; R Getzlaf, Ana (major fighting),
15:28; K Carney, Min (hooking), 17:37.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Brian Rolston 1 (Eric Belanger,
Nick Schultz), 2:04. 2, Minnesota, Mark Parrish 1 (Branko Radivojevic,
Mikko Koivu), 11:50. Penalties: D Boogaard, Min (major fighting),
5:36; G Parros, Ana (major fighting), 5:36; M Skoula, Min (hooking),
6:03; B Rolston, Min (holding), 6:49; B Radivojevic, Min (hooking),
14:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: A Mcdonald, Ana (hooking), 2:05; K Foster,
Min (cross checking), 3:11; R Niedermayer, Ana (elbowing), 3:11; P
Bouchard, Min (hooking), 8:52; Bench, Ana (too many men served by G
Parros), 18:29.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 9 9 7 --25
ANAHEIM 14 19 4 --37
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MIN - 0 of 4, ANA - 0 of 8. Goalies :
Minnesota, Josh Harding (37 shots, 37 saves; record: 1-0-0). Anaheim,
Jean-Sebastien Giguere (25 shots, 23 saves; record: 0-1-0). A: 17,174.
Referees: Brad Watson, Gord Dwyer. Linesmen: Andy Mcelman, Rody
Vaughan.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MINNESOTA ANAHEIM
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Gaborik 0 0 even 5 C Perry 0 0 even 2
B Rolston 1 0 +1 4 C Kunitz 0 0 -1 2
S Veilleux 0 0 even 1 R Getzlaf 0 0 -1 4
M Parrish 1 0 +1 3 G Parros 0 0 even 0
D Boogaard 0 0 even 0 A McDonald 0 0 even 6
E Belanger 0 1 +1 1 S O'Donnell 0 0 -1 1
K Foster 0 0 +2 2 T Marchant 0 0 -1 2
K Carney 0 0 +2 1 F Beauchemin 0 0 -1 5
W Walz 0 0 even 1 B May 0 0 even 0
P Demitra 0 0 even 0 C Pronger 0 0 even 5
M Skoula 0 0 even 1 S Pahlsson 0 0 -1 1
K Johnsson 0 0 even 1 M Mowers 0 0 even 0
N Schultz 0 1 even 2 T Moen 0 0 -1 3
J Sheppard 0 0 even 0 J DiPenta 0 0 even 0
B Burns 0 0 even 1 T Bertuzzi 0 0 even 1
M Koivu 0 1 +1 2 K Huskins 0 0 -1 0
B Radivojevic 0 1 +1 0 R Niedermayer 0 0 -1 4
P Bouchard 0 0 +1 0 S Hnidy 0 0 -1 1
P Nummelin HEALTHY D Miller HEALTHY
M Foy HEALTHY M Kondratiev HEALTHY
D Moore ABDOMINAL J Hiller HEALTHY</div>

 

By Craig Shultz
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- No Niklas Backstrom, no problemfor the Minnesota Wild.


Josh Harding recorded a shutout in place of the Jennings Trophywinner and the Wild defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 2-0, on Sundaynight.


Brian Rolston and Mark Parrish each scored their first goals ofthe season in the second period for the Wild, who improved to5-0-0 and are the only undefeated team in the NHL.

Backstrom, who started the first four games of the season andrecorded two shutouts, sat this one out. But Harding, whoplayed seven games last season, filled in more than adequately,stopping 37 shots to record his third career shutout.

"You've got to give a lot of credit to our team, they did agreat job in front of the net, and came up with a couple of biggoals," Harding said. "The defensemen let me see the puck, andthat's all a goalie can ask for."


Harding stopped 14 shots in the first, 19 in the second and fourin the third.


The game was a rematch of the 2007 Western Conferencequarterfinals, won in five games by Anaheim.


"We're playing as a team, we're getting some key goals when weneed them and getting saves," Harding said. "After four wins ina row, we wanted to keep the train rolling and not to let down.We still remember what happened in the playoffs and it's areally good win for this hockey club."


Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said he had no qualms aboutstarting Harding.


"They got a lot of chances on the power play and he was there,he was very solid," Lemaire said. "He's been really good, on topof his game in practices. He's been saying that he feels reallygood and would love to go in and play. That is probably thereason why we put him in."


Harding's best save in the first period was a right leg stop ona rebound from Todd Marchant after a breakaway by Todd Bertuzziwas denied. Bertuzzi left the game shortly thereafter with aninjury and did not return.


Minnesota went ahead, 1-0, at 2:04 of the second period whenRolston took a slap shot from the top of the right faceoffcircle and put the puck over the glove of Ducks goalieJean-Sebastien Giguere.


Giguere was playing for the first time this season after missingthe first six games after undergoing surgery for a sportshernia in August.


"He's got a good shot," Giguere said of Rolston. "It was a2-on-1 (and) I was a little preoccupied with the guy who wascoming backdoor. It's a good shot."


"We just did a great job coming out of our end," Rolston said."I think their (defense) got caught down, and we got a 2-on-1break. I just basically slapped it from the top of the circle,glove side high. I was just trying to go high somewhere andluckily it went in."


Parrish made it 2-0 at 11:50, beating Giguere on the stick side.Mikko Koivu passed to Branko Radivojevic in the right circle,who made a nice crossing pass to Parrish in front for the goal.

"It's nice being on the tail end of those kinds of plays,"Parrish said. "Mikko did a great job of drawing both defensemento him coming through the neutral zone right up to the blueline,and passed it over to Branko. Branko made a pretty pass, rightunderneath the (defenseman's) stick to me. I had the easy part,just burying it from a couple of feet out. It was a great playby my linemen." Meanwhile, Giguere stopped 23 shots for theDucks, who were 0-for-8 with a man-advantage.


"They don't like us, that's for sure," Giguere said ofMinnesota.


"We play a passionate type of hockey, we're very aggressive andwe'll take the body. Sometimes we can rub them the wrong way.They're going to be ready every time we face them. I thoughttonight we had a fairly good game, but at the end of the day,you play to win and you should never be satisfied when youlose."