Kyle Brodziak scores four points to lead Minnesota Wild past Edmonton Oilers
The old adage states that revenge is a dish that is best served cold. But Kyle Brodziak helped to heat things up against his former team as the Minnesota Wild handed the Edmonton Oilers
a 4-2 loss at Rexall Place in Edmonton.
How it happened
Brodziak, who was traded from the Oilers to the Wild on 27 June, 2009, paced the Wild with two goals. He opened the scoring at 2:49 of the first period with a snap shot that beat Oilers’
goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. Brad Staubitz and Brent Burns got the assists on what was Brodziak’s first goal of the 2010-11 season.
Brodziak scored his second goal of the game at 5:34, this time using a wrist shot. Guillaume Latendresse and Cam Barker were the recipients of the assists on this goal. Ales Hemsky would
later reply for the with a power play goal Oilers at 12:42 of the first frame. The wrist shot was his third goal of the season. Latendresse got that one back for Minnesota with a power play tally at 13:55, with a little help from Martin Havlat and Matt Cullen.
While there were no goals in the second period, Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff capitalized on an Oilers’ power play with a goal at 8:09 of the third period. Jordan Eberle and Ryan Whitney
supplied the assists. Burns put an end to any hope for an Edmonton rally at 19:16 with his game-winning empty-net goal. Wild captain Mikko Koivu earned the assist on the slap shot, which was Burns’ second point of the game.
What they're saying
While Brodziak’s two points were a major factor in Minnesota’s victory over the Oilers, he shrugged off his efforts.
“It’s the same as doing anywhere else, I think,” Brodziak said of scoring against his ex-team-mates. “It’s nice to be able to contribute.
“That feels good when you can contribute and the team wins. It doesn’t make any difference where it happens.”
Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom stopped 34 of 36 shots from the opposing team. Despite being kept busy by the Oliers’ shooters, he felt comfortable in the game.
“I felt good out there,” said Backstrom. “It’s been a tough building for us. It's a good team and they play well here. It's a tough place to win, so it's good to get the two points.
“We got the good start and we needed that because it’s been the other way around here a few times. For sure, it’s easier to play when you get a start like that.”
Horcoff said that the Backstrom deserved credit for keeping his team in the game, thus preventing Edmonton from making a comeback.
“We pushed to come back,” Horcoff said. “I think you have to give Backstrom some credit. He made some big saves at big times, but it was good to see the fight in the guys.”
Minnesota returns to action to take on the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, 22 October, while Edmonton faces the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, 23 October.
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