Minnesota 3, Edmonton 1
When: 9:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 21, 2013
Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Referees:
Marc Joannette, Don VanMassenhoven
Linesmen:
Lonnie Cameron, Brian Mach
Attendance:
16839
By SportsDirect Inc.
Wild 3, Oilers 1: Matt Cullen scored two goals and set up another as visiting Minnesota continued its road success against its Northwest Division rival.
Devin Setoguchi snapped a tie early in the third period and Niklas Backstrom made 27 saves for the Wild, who improved to 5-1-1 in their last seven visits to Edmonton.
Ryan Smyth scored on his 37th birthday and Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 shots for the Oilers, who fell to 1-3-0 on their season-high five-game homestand.
After a scoreless first period, Smyth gave Edmonton the lead at 12:26 of the second as he backhanded the puck into the net at the left post on a wraparound. Cullen forged a tie less than three minutes later, getting to a loose puck above the left faceoff circle and gaining a step on defenseman Mark Fistric before sliding a backhander between Dubnyk's pads.
Cullen helped put Minnesota ahead when he pounced on a turnover behind the net and backhanded the puck to Setoguchi, who beat Dubnyk from the doorstep at 2:20 of the third. The 36-year-old gave the Wild some breathing room with six minutes remaining as he put a wrist shot from the right circle inside the left post.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Backstrom improved to 23-3-1 lifetime against the Oilers. ... Minnesota RW Cal Clutterbuck was helped off the ice with 2:33 remaining in the third period after sustaining a knee-on-knee hit from Edmonton LW Taylor Hall, who received a five-minute major and game misconduct. ... The Oilers, who complete their homestand against Phoenix on Saturday before embarking on a nine-game road trip, fell to 1-3-2 in their last six at Rexall Place.
Top Game Performances
Minnesota |
|
Edmonton |
Matt Cullen 3 |
Points |
Ryan Smyth 1 |
Matt Cullen 2 |
Goals |
Ryan Smyth 1 |
Matt Cullen 1 |
Assists |
Eric Belanger 1 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Niklas Backstrom .964 |
Save Percentage |
Devan Dubnyk .893 |
Niklas Backstrom 27 |
Saves |
Devan Dubnyk 25 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Minnesota
|
28 |
3 |
0-3 |
1-1 |
2 |
31 |
Edmonton
|
28 |
1 |
0-1 |
3-3 |
19 |
29 |
Upcoming Games
-
Edmonton will play their next game at home against Phoenix. The Oilers have a W/L % of .167 after a win and .444 after a loss.
-
Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Calgary. The Wild have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .375 after a loss.