Minnesota 4, Phoenix 1
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 9, 2014
Where: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Referees:
Jean Hebert, Don VanMassenhoven
Linesmen:
Ryan Galloway, Brian Mach
Attendance:
10075
By SportsDirect Inc.
Wild 4, Coyotes 1: Rookie Justin Fontaine recorded his first career hat trick and Niklas Backstrom turned aside 39 shots as visiting Minnesota secured its second four-game winning streak of the season.
Kyle Brodziak collected a goal and an assist while Matt Cooke and Nino Niederreiter each set up a pair of tallies for the Wild, who also won four straight from Nov. 9-17.
Mikkel Boedker netted his team-leading 14th goal and third in as many contests, but the Coyotes fell for the ninth time in 12 games (3-5-4).
With the contest tied at 1-1, Brodziak chipped the puck ahead of pinching Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle at center ice before his wrist shot from the right faceoff circle handcuffed Mike Smith (25 saves) at 3:21 of the third period. Fontaine provided insurance 4 1/2 minutes later by taking advantage of a carom off the boards following a dump-in for an uncontested power-play tally before adding an empty-net goal to complete his hat trick.
The Wild drew first blood with 1:19 remaining in the first period as Fontaine intercepted Yandle's backhanded clearing attempt before sizing up his shot and beating Smith. Boedker forged a tie by backhanding the puck past Backstrom for a power-play goal 2:04 into the second.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Phoenix D Oliver Ekman-Larsson returned to the lineup after a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The Coyotes were without C Kyle Chipchura, who missed his first contest of the season with a lower-body injury. ... Boedker also tallied in the Coyotes' 3-1 win over the Wild on Nov. 27. ... Cooke has collected six assists in his last seven contests while Niederreiter extended his point streak to four games.
Top Game Performances
Minnesota |
|
Phoenix |
Justin Fontaine 3 |
Points |
Mikkel Boedker 1 |
Justin Fontaine 3 |
Goals |
Mikkel Boedker 1 |
Matt Cooke 2 |
Assists |
Shane Doan 1 |
Justin Fontaine 1 |
Power Play Goals |
Mikkel Boedker 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Niklas Backstrom .975 |
Save Percentage |
Mike Smith .893 |
Niklas Backstrom 39 |
Saves |
Mike Smith 25 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Minnesota
|
29 |
4 |
1-3 |
2-3 |
6 |
32 |
Phoenix
|
40 |
1 |
1-3 |
2-3 |
6 |
32 |
Upcoming Games
-
Phoenix will play their next game at home against Anaheim. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .524 after a loss.
-
Minnesota will play their next game at home against Colorado. The Wild have a W/L % of .652 after a win and .391 after a loss.