DENVER - Niklas Backstrom helped the Minnesota Wild forget a disappointing loss with a dominant performance.
Daniel Sprong Penguins Jersey . Backstrom had 37 saves for his third shutout of the season and 25th of his NHL career, and
Greg Zanon scored in the Wilds 1-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday
night. Jean-Sebastian Giguere had 20 saves for Colorado, which has lost four
straight and continued to struggle at home against Minnesota. The Wild are
10-1-2 in their last 13 visits to Denver. Backstrom is 9-1-2 in those games and
20-5-2 in his career against Colorado. "I thought he was in control all night,"
Wild coach Mike Yeo said of Backstrom. "He was controlling his rebounds, and
positionally he was just in a great spot. He never looked in trouble." His
standout performance was a much-needed remedy after the Wilds home loss to
Nashville on Tuesday. Minnesota led the Predators 4-1 with 10:38 left but lost
5-4 after giving up three goals in the final 3:21 of the third period. "Last
game was tough for us, so this game was huge for us," Backstrom said. Especially
against a team chasing them for a playoff spot. Minnesota is eighth in the
Western Conference, three points ahead of Colorado, and has played two fewer
games than the Avalanche. "Its great for us with how close the race is," Zanon
said. "It pushes them further behind us with a couple of games in hand." Zanon
gave the Backstrom the only goal he needed on the Wilds first shot of the game.
After an icing by Colorado, Kyle Brodziak won the faceoff to Dany Heatley, who
slid the puck to Zanon. Zanon moved to the centre of the zone before sending a
shot through traffic that beat Giguere with 13:56 left in the first period. It
was Zanons second goal of the season. "It was a shot that went through a bunch
of guys, and its unfortunate but sometimes these things happen," Giguere said.
"Its the story of the game." Backstrom made it stand up, but Colorado didnt make
it easy in the third period. The Avalanche, desperate to score the tying goal,
recorded 17 shots in the final frame. Ryan Wilson hit the post with 15 minutes
left when Colorado was swarming in the Minnesota end. Giguere went to the bench
for an extra skater with 1:46 left. The Avalanche got their first power play 26
seconds later, but managed only two shots. "It was an outstanding effort, coming
off last game," Yeo said. "Emotionally, it was not easy, but to see our guys
respond the way they did says a lot about our group." The game became physical
and chippy in the second period. Colorado forward Cody McLeod fought
Clayton Stoner moments after Stoners teammate Darroll Powe levelled
David Van Der Gulik with a blindside hit. Later in the period, Avalanche forward
Chuck Kobasew and Carson McMillan fought after McMillan hit Kobasew with a shot
to the head. "Were both fighting for that playoff spot so we both dont want to
give up an inch to any team," Colorado rookie Gabriel Landeskog said. "The
physical part is just part of the game. It was just a physical, playoff kind of
game out there so weve just got to make sure to stay on the body and keep
playing like that." Stoner left later in the second period because of an
undisclosed lower body injury and didnt return. The teams traded scoring chances
in the second, but neither broke through. Colorado had 10 shots in the second
and nearly scored on Jay McClements sliding chance in the final minute.
Minnesota came back, but the Wild were denied by a great save by Giguere. After
making the initial stop on Brodziak, Giguere was knocked down when the Wild
centre was checked into him. Cal Clutterbuck sent the rebound toward the top of
the net, but Giguere got a glove on the puck at the last moment and sent it over
the crossbar. NOTES: The Wild, third in the NHL in blocked shots coming into the
game, had 26 on Thursday. ... Landeskog had his four-game point streak snapped.
... Colorados Milan Hejduk has 48 points in 62 career games against Minnesota.
His 12 power-play goals are the most against the Wild. ... Avalanche coach
Joe Sacco has been stuck on 99 career wins for four games.
Patric Hornqvist Penguins Jersey . Grimes signed a $32 million, four-year contract to remain with Miami. The deal, which
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Mark Recchi Jersey .com) - Carmelo Anthonys 27 points and 11 rebounds propelled the New York Knicks to their first winning
streak in over two months by virtue of Wednesdays 98-91 victory over the
Philadelphia 76ers.
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