Recap: Minnesota vs. Phoenix
Sports Network | November 13, 2008
St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - Marek Zidlicky scored his first two goals of the season, and Niklas Backstrom made 24 saves for his second shutout of the year as Minnesota topped Phoenix, 4-0, at Xcel Energy Center.
Andrew Brunette and Eric Belanger also scored for the Wild, who have won three of five overall. Marc-Andre Bergeron tallied three assists in the victory.
Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 28 shots for the Coyotes, whose three-game win streak came to an end.
Following a scoreless first period, the Wild tallied twice in the middle 20 minutes to take a 2-0 lead.
Zidlicky got his first of the season, a power-play marker at 3:28, on a long blast from the point. Bergeron held at the right point and dished over to his defensive partner for a blistering left-point drive.
A second man-advantage goal came courtesy of Brunette at 15:43, as Zidlicky sent a hard pass to the left circle for the veteran's successful wrister.
Minnesota went up 3-0 at 3:11 of the third on another power-play goal. On the score, Bergeron once again gained possession at the left point and slid across to Owen Nolan. He zipped a pass across the crease for a one-timer by Belanger.
Zidlicky put the game out of reach with Minnesota's fourth tally with the extra man with 1:07 left in regulation.
Minnesota has won nine straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings against the Coyotes...Prior to the game, Minnesota activated Nolan from injured reserve and assigned forward Krys Kolanos to Houston of the AHL...Phoenix suffered its second shutout of the season...The Wild clicked on 4-of-7 power-play chances and the Coyotes came up empty on six opportunities.
