NHL Update: Minnesota Wild beat Vancouver Canucks, 4-0
Anton Khudobin turned away 32 shots for his first career shutout, as Minnesota Wild held on to notch a 4-0 victory over Vancouver Canucks, at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday night.
Andrew Brunette and Martin Havlat lit the lamp for Minnesota, who halted a three-game losing streak in front of a sold-out home crowd. Matt Cullen and John Madden also tallied goals in their
side’s win.
Cory Schneider, after saving all 11 Wild’s shots he faced in the first period, surrendered four goals on 14 shots the rest of the way for NHL-leading Vancouver, which has dropped only in
its second regulation in 20 contests.
"We do have a couple guys right now that, offensively, we all feel and they feel, can contribute and play better," Alain Vigneault said. "I think that's a good sign. We've been winning hockey
games and we still have room for improvement."
After the goal-less first period, Brunette staked Wild on the board to take 1-0 lead 3 ½ minutes into the middle stanza. Vancouver goalie seemed to be atop the disc as it bounced around in
the crease, but the referee could see it was loose and Brunette was able to tip it past Schneider for his 11th goal of the season.
As it turned out, that was all the offence Wild needed.
"We didn't help ourselves at all. That's kind of what it came to," said Keith Ballard. "There were a few scrambles in front of their net that probably could have went either way and they
went their way tonight."
Approaching halfway into the second period, Havlat doubled the advantage for Minnesota with his 11th goal of the season. He collected the puck on a turnover and rushed in behind the defence
to beat Vancouver netminder through the pads.
Cullen enhanced the lead to 3-0 for Minnesota 3 ½ minutes into the third period. He beat Schneider stick-side on a breakaway for his third short-handed goal of the season.
Finally, Minnesota struck on the board with 4-0 advantage in the middle of the third period. The play was set up when Chuck Kobasew centred a nice pass from the red line to Schneider's left.
Madden was on the door step for an easy straight shot for his sixth goal of the season.
Khudobin needed to block only seven shots in the first period before making 10 saves in the middle period and 15 in the last period as Canucks’ attack picked up pace.
"They play 60 minutes. It doesn't matter what the score is," said Khudobin. "They just play as hard as they can. I was ready for that."
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