Red Wings 3, Wild 2
SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Detroit center Gustav Nyquist's recent hot streak continued on Saturday afternoon, as his third period goal helped the Red Wings win for the fourth time in their last five games.
Nyquist scored his fifth goal in the past four games by threading a shot over the glove of Minnesota goalie Darcy Kuemper to snap a third period deadlock, as Detroit beat the Wild 3-2.
Center David Legwand scored a power play goal, and set up another by defenseman Brendan Smith while goaltender Jimmy Howard had 28 saves for Detroit (33-24-13) in the Wings' only visit to Minnesota this season.
The Wild (36-24-11) got a power play goal from center Mikko Koivu, and a penalty shot goal from center Charlie Coyle, but fell to 2-3-4 since the NHL trade deadline.
Koivu opened the scoring on a power play, taking a pass from defenseman Ryan Suter and lifting a harmless-looking shot on goal that fooled Howard, hitting the upper right corner of the net.
A few minutes later, with Suter in the penalty box, the Wings evened the score when Smith backhanded a rebound past Kuemper after the goalie stopped the initial shot by Legwand. It was just the fourth goal of the season for Smith, but his third in Detroit's past 10 games.
Legwand, who came home to his native Michigan in a trade with the Nashville Predators on March 5, gave the Wings a 2-1 lead with a power play tap-in late in the second period but Coyle even it up early in the third. On a rush to the net, Coyle was hauled down by Detroit center Johan Franzen and awarded a penalty shot. Coyle scored on a backhand shot from the top of the crease to tie the score 2-2.
Kuemper finished with 27 saves for Minnesota, which plays five of its next six games on the road.
NOTES: The new year began with promise for Wild C Charlie Coyle, who had seven points in Minnesota's first nine games of 2014. Since then he has only a goal and an assist in 19 games. ... Detroit D Niklas Kronwall left the game not five minutes after the opening faceoff after he collided headfirst with the end boards during a battle for a loose puck. He appeared unsteady on his skates as he was helped to the bench and headed to the locker room, but returned later in the period. ... The first period goal by Wild C Mikko Koivu, who became the franchise's all-time scoring leader earlier in the week, gave the team captain 14 points in the last 15 games. ... The cheers for Wings D Brendan Smith's first period goal were aided by a good contingent of Wisconsin Badger fans in the crowd. Smith's alma mater played Ohio State on Saturday night in St. Paul for the Big Ten Tournament title. ... The Wild and Red Wings will complete their home-and-home weekend with a game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Sunday evening.
